I feel like every movie I talk about on this blog, I should begin talking about by saying "On a personal note." Because, I mean, all of these films I talk about are because I love them, and everything I write about them is coming from my own heart. This is truly just a blog about movies that I love. Nothing more, nothing less. I say this because on supreme number of levels, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a movie that truly, deeply reaches me on a personal level. For one, I have been an avid reader of the character, and comic books in general, from a very young age. I remember when I was younger my older brother and I both saving up our allowances of like, $5 just so we could go to Target and get another toy of Spider-Man and his incredible rogues' gallery. I remember how excited I was going to theaters to see both Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3. I remember this character always being a huge part of my love of comics and a big reason I loved growing up in the time and place that I did. Hell, living in New York I can sometimes look up at the sky and see the web head slinging around town. Point being, I have always loved the character, and it's hard to put a Spider-Person in a piece of media that I don't enjoy. For two, I love sometimes just staring at the many frames of this film, all painstakingly made to look as though every shot, every single fraction of a second is its own frame in and of itself. If you sit back and really want to analyze every single frame of this movie, I can almost guarantee there is something to admire in every single one. Every part of this movie is beautiful to look at and analyze. For three, I love any movie that tells its audience just how special and beautiful. I've always felt a connection to the film's protagonist, Miles Morales, even in his early days in the comics when his character was, I'll say, less than interesting. And recently the character has been receiving the treatment he properly deserves, especially in this film where he is our spotlight Spider. Into the Spider-Verse has a message for everyone, an inspiring message and story about acceptance of the self that I adore and makes the film only better. This film is a viewer's feast, filled with lines and characters that are memorable, music that enhances every scene perfectly, beautiful animation that will hopefully redefine future movies of this medium to come, and a story that can make anyone think they can be Spider-Man.
I find it difficult to fully word my love of the film because of how much of it comes from actually watching it. I mean, duh. It's a movie. The point is to watch it. But with some films, you can still look away from the screen for a moment and you'll still be able to catch what is going on. But with Into the Spider-Verse, if you look away from the screen for one second, you've missed the biggest highlight of this incredible film: the animation and character design. Not every animated film really and I mean REALLY pushes the medium as far as it can. But everything within Into the Spider-Verse pushes the boundary of what can and will be done within an animated film in the future. Some shots in the film look like a total mix of mediums, like the shot above to the right showing what looks like Miles thrown into something of a Jackson Pollock painting. Every good movie ever made has a scene THE scene to watch, the one that defines the film and makes it worth watching. But, truly, there is no single scene like that in Into the Spider-Verse. When the movie was first announced, it was announced with the single goal to look and be unique, and compared to any other animated picture ever made, it truly is. Don't ever avert your eyes. Turn off the phone, and watch it on the biggest possible screen you can, because this movie demands and deserves your absolute full attention and nothing less. And with the character design, this is another department that the film truly could only be done in animation. And even then, it is a true wonder how it could even be fully accomplished. Between all of the Spider-People, we see at least four distinct art styles all coming together and never seeming out of place. Peni Parker and Sp//dr mixing looks and poses out of anime and never looking odd, Spider-Ham fighting with giant cartoon hammers and having every hit land with a classic Batman '66-esque onomatopoeitc word like "Wham!" or "Thwack" to really emphasize his origins and even Spider-Man Noir never being shown in color, living entirely in black and white with the classic 30s inspired design and art. And then with Miles, Peter and Gwen Stacy all being slight variations on the same base look and art style of the original world. Every detail put into every character and every frame makes it clear just how unique and fascinating the world we are living in truly is. This movie is a film that truly pushes the boundaries of animation and really shows how this movie could not have been done anywhere else. Yes, they could have made fake billboards to say "New York Red Sox" and changed police vehicles to say PDNY and not NYPD, but could live action made every frame live and breath in the way it does here? Could live action make you live in a comic book the same way this film does? Absolutely not. This film could only be made one way and that use of that one way to make the film was absolutely brilliant. Stare at this movie, analyze every single frame, every single fraction of a second of this movie. Of course not literally, because if you did do that, you'd be studying every moment for years on years finding something to love in each one. Here's an easier challenge: watch the film and find five exact moments of pure art that you'd hang on your wall. Everyone's list will look different. Sure, it might have similar moments, but everyone's list will look different, as everyone's favorite shots will be unique, just like every single frame of the movie.
So, I talked about the character design, but not the characters themselves. Let's start by looking at Miles Morales, our films lead. I wrote earlier about my personal connection to Miles, even when his original character wasn't the strongest. Miles originally was introduced to fill the shoes of a Peter Parker who died in the Ultimate Spider-Man story line, much like what Miles does in this movie. The difference being, Miles was seen by many viewers as a character far too similar to the original Peter, and not really giving a good reason to fully replace the character outside of seeming dramatic shock. But Miles in this movie is a completely different story. Miles isn't the next Peter Parker, he's the first Miles. Unlike Peter who is often seen in stories rejecting wanting to be Spider-Man, Miles jumps in immediately, ready to sacrifice himself for New York, and maybe even the world. Even knowing the dangers of what is about to come, he still is ready to learn and fight to save the day. He's an eager and excitable kid, perfectly captured by a marvelous vocal performance from Shameik Moore. His journey through the movie is handled with grace. From just another kid who happened to get bit by a radioactive spider into the next Spider-Man, thrust into saving his city out of necessity. Miles' journey is similar to every other Spider-Persons in that whenever they get down, they get right back up. Always ready and willing to continue the fight, as that's what the world needs. Someone to inspire others to get back up, even when it seems like the only option is to give in. As for the other Spider-People, the one we get to spend the most time with and has the most time given is the alternate universe Peter Parker. Peter is the main Peter from our comics that we know and should love. Voiced by Jake Johnson, seeing a much older and tired Spider-Man work with and teach Miles to be the next is a wonderful dynamic to watch. I think a really excellent scene that showcases exactly what Miles is dealing with is in the burger restaurant. Miles asked the original Peter what he needed to know before being Spider-Man. Get a mask, hide his face, don't let anyone ruin the sanctity of the hero, the standard inspirational hero stuff. But when he asks alternate Peter, he gives him practical advice. Use baby powder, wash the suit, he's realistic, almost to a fault. So when in the end Miles reinvigorates his want to be Spider-Man and fix his life, it is completely earned and feels good to watch. A, because we see the Spider-Man become Spider-Man once more, and B, because their arc closes cleanly and wraps up in a satisfying fashion. All the other Spider-People shine through and through as well, largely in part to the amazing voice cast of the film. Nicolas Cage, John Mulaney, Hailee Steinfeld (I did not plan to have her in back to back films by the way, I mean it) and Kimiko Gleen, as Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Ham, Gwen Stacy and Peni Parker all do an amazing job selling the absolute strangeness of their characters, but are never over the top or unbelievable. The Spider-People are the main selling point of this movie, but if you want more, okay, no problem. Mahershala Ali as the amazingly terrifying Prowler not good enough for you? How about Liev Schreiber as the head Kingpin in charge? If you want more, I'm sorry I can't talk about literally every performance in the movie, nor every character. I gave a lot of time to Miles and Peter, but that's only because they are my favorites. Every actor and every character is handled brilliantly and it cannot be overstated how incredibly they were all handled.
If you couldn't tell based on the fact it's on this blog; yes. This movie is amazingly spectacular, the ultimate Spider-Man cinematic experience and is superior to all previous appearances of the character on film. I absolutely adored Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. From a fan perspective, this is a miracle. From a standard viewer looking for a good story, it is a thrill. For someone looking at beautiful frames to gawk at for two hours, it cannot be topped. For someone who needed to be told that it's okay to be okay with yourself, this movie will inspire. Into the Spider-Verse truly has something for everyone and I cannot recommend it enough. As for me though, take my word for it. Because when I see this movie, I cannot help but think maybe I can make headlines or be the next top story on the evening news for saving the day. Okay, maybe that's pushing it. But even if I can't, I can still be my friendly neighborhood me, and that's really all I need to sleep at night.
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