Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Review

Rating: Null/10 (15 December 2018)

The Spider-Man origin story about a teen who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and suddenly develops powers has been played out in numerous iterations before. Yet, this animated film is anything but typical - Miles Morales belongs to another reality, and as he's grappling with his new powers, he discovers there are multiple universes, each with their own Spider-Men, Spider-Woman, and... a Spider-Pig! It's impressive that a comic-book story this elaborate and outrageous managed to be green-lit, to begin with.
Directors Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti and Rodney Rothman make the most of it; they ensure that each Spider-entity is given ample screen-time, while the unique personalities of each superhero shine through brilliant performances by their respective voices. There's no weak link in the entire cast; all characters are played brilliantly. Miles Morales is infused with a lot of heart by Shameik Moore, while Jake Johnson does a delightfully laid-back take on Peter B. Parker. Hailee Steinfeld brings spunk to Gwen Stacy while Nicolas Cage is especially hilarious as Spider-Man Noir, and Liev Schreiber perfectly captures the Kingpin's looming presence as Wilson Fisk. The film also uses various styles of animation by taking the whole comic book premise to great heights, especially during the jaw-dropping climax that's a spectacle to behold, particularly in 3D.
'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' is a bold attempt to tell one of the most 'out there' stories in the comic book world. It's amazing to see all the components come together and work as well as they do. The tonality is funny, and heart-warming, while the visuals are exquisitely trippy at the same time. Those wondering if superhero fatigue is upon us would do themselves a favour to experience this in their nearest 3D screens and see how fresh the genre can continue to be through inventive and sometimes downright risky story-telling. Meanwhile, comic fans might as well book second viewings of what's arguably one of the best Spider-Man films to grace the big screen.