Spider-Man is a well-known and beloved character, in both cinema and the comics, where he originated. He is a pillar of hope, strength and trust, and knows the true meaning of loss. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse tells a very familiar story, but in a way never seen before...
Get ready to jump into the multiverse... / Picture Credit: Marvel Entertainment
Into the Spider-Verse (2018) put Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in the spotlight this time, rather than Peter Parker. Miles adores Spider-Man, and looks up to him as a symbol of what is right. However, when the Webbed Wonder is killed by Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), Miles is heartbroken.
Before his death, Peter trusted Miles (who was in the area at the time of attack) with something important, something that would stop Kingpin from tearing the world apart – literally.
Miles has a deep bond with his uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), so he calls on him in a dark hour, and the two go to a special underground spot to paint graffiti; this is when Miles’ life changes: he is bitten by a radioactive spider.
Soon, he realises that he is just like his dearly departed idol, Spider-Man, but before he gets a grip on his powers, other Spider-Folk begin to show up, which can only mean one thing: the multiverse.
The movie introduces fans to a group of different Spider-Men, including Spider-Man aka Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage), Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn), and Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld). Miles is, of course, taken aback by all this, but he needs to pull it together if he’s going to help this group of heroes save the multiverse.
Into the Spider-Verse is a movie like no other. It has some incredible traits and themes that make it a stunning standout for Marvel.
The first thing to note about this feature, is its visuals. Into the Spider-Verse looks absolutely stunning; the clear, crisp picture is highlighted by the beautiful animation style that mimics the style of the comic books.
The film really is something to marvel at, as the way each character moves and displays their powers is simply incredible; each scene looks mesmerising and, with the standout style, it should definitely be praised time and time again for the way it presents itself.
As well as the stunning visuals, Into the Spider-Verse also has themes of humour and emotion, but done in such a way that it makes it different to many other movies, whether Marvel or otherwise.
Miles’ character is somewhat anxious and chaotic at times; watching him tackle his new abilities by walking up the side of a building and sticking to everything he touches (a classic Spider-Man scene) is a joy.
The rapport between Miles and the other Spider-Folk is also borderline magical, as they all have something in common – their powers and stories of loss – which unites them and creates an instant bond.
This is but one example of how this film threads emotion into the story, but where there is heartache, there is also comedy.
Marvel have proven to excel at humour in their films, but Into the Spider-Verse is a movie in which the comedy is so well-placed and crafted that you cannot help but be in a whole other world for the entirety of the movie.
We see Miles become a different person throughout the film, all the while keeping the tone of the feature light where it needs to be, and deeper and more emotional in other places. The balance between laughter and seriousness is perfect, and without this, the film would not have the strong holding that it does.
In regard to characters, Miles Morales is someone we’ve never seen on the big screen before in the Marvel franchise, and while Into the Spider-Verse isn’t part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) main storyline, seeing Miles finally come into his own – and in such a brilliant way – was a delight.
He is everything you want in a hero; he is of course brave, funny and skilled, but he also has emotions and while he has traits of Peter Parker, he is by every means his own person, who, despite becoming a super-powered teen and dealing with a multiverse, still knows exactly who he is.
His personality is uplifting, as his quick wit matches with the likes of Spider-Woman and Spider-Ham, as well as the physical comedy being absolutely hilarious, and used in the best of ways.
Essentially, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a visually stunning, emotional story that has a heart of gold, and balances comedy and deeper emotion beautifully. It is a masterpiece not to be missed.
Watch the trailer for Spider-Man: Into the Spoider-Verse below:
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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