SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE is the Next Advancement in Animation and Storytelling Greatness [Review]
Going into seeing SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE I had really low expectations. This had everything to do with Sony dropping the ball. Sony has had a problem making good Spider-Man movies for a while now as evident by lackluster THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 movies, and more recently VENOM. (And let's be honest for a moment... VENOM is not a good movie despite its huge box office haul, but it is half entertaining.)
We all know how Sony had to broker a deal with Disney so they could have Marvel Studios produce and create live-action Spider-Man movies that were much better than Sony could make. So far that deal has been a success as SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING was a great step in the right direction and next summer's SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME will most likely continue that trend.
Getting back to my low expectations and how Sony has sucked at Spider-Man over the past few years. This is now changing as Sony, and more specifically Sony Animation, has found their calling and that is to make a really, really good Spider-Man animated movie.
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE is absolutely fantastic no matter if you're young or old, male or female, or not even a fan of comic books. It's the type of animated film that rarely comes around in the animation genre as it breaks the mold of what an animated movie should be, how it should be told, and how visually engaging it can be. This movie is the next level for all of that and it should advance the animated film genre moving forward, especially visually.
The look and style of this movie is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm usually not a big 3D moviegoer, but I do tend to pay the extra for 3D when I see an animated movie since they are made for 3D tech, whereas live action movies generally are made to be 3D in post-production and sometimes have a bad case of motion-blur because of the post-conversion. But SPIDER-VERSE has the look of both your traditional animated film at times but then it is ripped straight off the comic book pages it gets its source material from. There are word bubbles and a grainy look as seen in comic pages of old, plus so much more unique visuals you really need to go out at see it for yourself. I kind of compare it to when AVATAR was released and word-of-mouth propelled its box office performance because of its use of new 3D tech. I think the same can be said for SPIDER-VERSE and its original style and visuals throughout.
The overall story has lots of heart in it even though it has elements of an origin movie story, but the pacing is so fast you don't mind seeing an origin tale told. In fact, you see the origin tale of six Spider-characters in this movie and it never feels played out as it can in superhero origin movies in today's cinema landscape. And make sure you keep an eye out for Spider-Ham's origin tale because it is the funniest one of them all!
Finally, the characters are really what make this movie work. You get six different Spider-characters and each one has their own moment or two in the movie even though this is all about Miles Morales, who shines brightly. Miles and Spider-Gwen are both new heroes everyone can fall in love with.
After seeing this movie it makes sense why Sony Animation is already moving forward with expanding their Spider-Man Animated Universe with a sequel, as well as a Spider-Gwen spin-off movie, and a potential Spider-Ham spin-off movie. It's just that good of a movie and all characters deserve their individual chance to shine in their own solo adventure movie. I mean... who doesn't want to see a Looney Tunes-esque Spider-Ham movie? I know I do and I'll buy my advance tickets right now if I could.
In closing, I'm going to make a bold statement and say I really do think this is going to be the movie families will be talking about around the dinner table during this holiday season. Even more so than MARY POPPINS RETURNS, AQUAMAN, or BUMBLEBEE.
And stay through the credits.
And stay through the credits.
Written by Daniel Wolf, Founder & Publisher
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