I waited a goddamn year for this film.
And I guess the first thing to say after that is “and it was completely worth it”. Sony Pictures Animation ends the year with a banger, delivering a film packed with origin stories that keep the Miles Morales universe exciting throughout..
And while the universe may involve his world, at the end it is a universe of Spider-People.
I like to think I know enough about Spider-Man’s lore to comprehensively “ooo”, “ahhh” and “guffaw” at the story they present on-screen. But even I wasn’t ready for how far they would take it and what an experience it would be.
It’s safe to say the audience don’t really care for the origin any more. Especially with Spider-Man, who’s undergone three cinematic reboots.. But Into The Spider-Verse takes you through multiple origins and it’s GLORIOUS.
Thrusting us into a deliciously realised world with a style that is very much its own (as intended by Producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller), we join Miles. Played by Shameik Moore, he becomes the Spider-Man of his universe. Vibrant neons and silhouetted 3D shaders bounce around as much as he does. Additionally, comic panels and speech bubbles playfully jump up on the screen, as Miles comes to grips with his responsibility. And it’s the type of feature which should clean out the awards next year with its beautiful scenes and fresh styling.
Enter…uhhh…Spider-Man.
Played by Jake Johnson, Peter B. Parker reluctantly takes Miles under his web and decides to teach him the ways of great power and greater responsibility. Playing like a “Mr. Miyagi if Mr. Miyagi didn’t know anything“, Parker throws Miles into the perils of becoming the ultimate web-slinger.
And then enter…wowwww…Spider-People.
Increasing the scope of the team dynamic, universes collide as Spider-Man, Spider-Man and Spider-People work to save the day from Kingpin and his group of evil-doers.
Melodiously mixing in a phenomenal soundtrack with a script which echoes the constant, humorous beats of Lord and Miller’s previous works, Into The Spider-Verse may be the first film for a character which reaches past their famous mantra and makes them more than that. Moore’s Miles is deeply relatable, capturing the anxiety of discovering he’s Spider-Man while reflecting Stan Lee’s idea that a true superhero helps others simply because it’s right.
That leap of faith is effortlessly rewarded in this spectacular film..
There’s a mid-credits AND end-credits scene, so make sure you hang around!
Miles Morales bursts on to the screen, bringing the rest of the Spider-Verse with him in a story that could quite possibly be the best of Spidey yet.
And I absolutely cannot wait to see more.
