Review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) by Royrobles — 16 Dec 2018

I came into this movie with larger-than-life EXPECTATIONS. After a horde of online praise from both critics and users alike, not to mention instant Oscar buzz, I was primed for disappointment as I thought a movie can never be that good.

I was huge Spider Man fan, from the first Sam Raimi movie to the 2nd, and then it stopped there. I watched the third movie in the franchise (and had to re-watch it just to make sure I didn't see it on a bad day) and was just thoroughly confused. The Andrew Garfield movies were just awkward to me and I just gave up.

This new movie however? BALL-BUSTERS!

From the opening image referencing the Comics Code Authority (I promise that would be the last and only spoiler this will have!) I knew right then and there that this movie means business, the business of not taking itself too seriously.

I had my doubts about having "another" Spider Man or any other Spider Man for that fact. I never was a fan of the early nineties story arc of cloned versions of Peter Parker. I thought this would be another way of today's media just pissing on already existing beloved IP like the way CW is doing to Superman in their Super Girl series. I was ready for Sony to just poop all over Spider Man, especially now that he's part of the MCU. More on this point later.

We're introduced to Miles Morales, a brilliant kid from Brooklyn who just wants to make his own mark in the world and find his own special place, just like everyone of us. He is a character that all us can relate to with his constant struggle with the mundane. Even worse, being a teenager while he's at it.

It is a totally down-to-earth story filled with everyday stories about growing up and handling expectations, until that is, he gets bitten by a radioactive spider. If you feel like that's a spoiler, where the hell have you been hiding the past few decades? It's every Spider Man's right of passage, get bit by a Spider, be Spider Man.

He then gets thrust into a the bizarre world of being Spider Man and along the way realizes that it's not all fun and games and yes, indeed, with great power comes great... No I won't finish that sentence, Peter!

Being a comic-book movie, the action is non-stop but what really sets it apart from a sea of such movies is the absolute grandeur of all it.

The wonderful set-pieces beautifully drawn and rendered, will make you believe that this alternate universe of Brooklyn really does exist, and makes you wish you live there instead. It's captures Brooklyn's hipster and art culture beautifully, just that short of being artistic. Mind you not Blade Runner 2049 artistic, It wont give you headaches and make you think about the meaning of life or anything. Just wonderful.

The best part, apart from the visual orgasm, is the soundtrack. It is never obtrusive and always on point. Lead by the promotional singe "Sunflower" by Post Malone and Swae Lee, the hip-hop and pop inspired score and soundtrack is absolutely blissful. Ever since the Black Panther soundtrack blew me away, I feel that I now love this music in EVERYTHING.

This may be a super-hero movie but this is an offering I highly suggest the whole family watch. It has everything for everyone, with nostalgic (and I do mean NOSTALGIC) easter-eggs and shout-outs for even the snootiest of fans to references to the culture for today's youth. I give that an absolute perfect score. This is what a super-hero movie should be like. Hands down MY favorite movie of the year.