When I first saw the trailer for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” I remember saying to myself “Do we really need another Spider-Man movie?” but after seeing the new Sony Animations film I can say with great emphasis. YES!!!!
This isn’t just a movie this is a Spider-Man art piece. The animation is glorious, and provides us the audience something we have never seen on film. It maintains faithful to the illustration in it’s comic-book roots that you feel like you are engulfed in not just one, but many different books. That is just one of the many things that make this version of Spider-Man perhaps the best in the film franchise. Allowing this to be an animated film gives more wiggle room over some of the CGI filled live-action versions. Not to say any of those are bad films but the best rises to the top and that is what happens here. The story is at times complex but comprehensible the entire way. Even when it hits points of extreme perplexity it finds itself grounded and never having to stop and re-explain to the audience what is happening.
Even when dealing with the idea of different universes and quantum physics it all feels grounded and fresh. We are able to enjoy the fact that not only one but multiple Spider-Men and Spider-Women exist and in the multi-verse anyone is able to wear the mask.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the creative minds behind “The Lego Movie” and “21 Jump Street” wanted to make the best version of Spider-Man and they delivered. This is a fresh stylistic take, filled with a ton of heart and emotion, humor and all the superhero action you need. Even in a time when you might think superhero fatigue exists a film like this comes along and reminds us a great story and characters is what we crave most. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is that film and I can’t wait to see it again in theaters and eventually watch it over and over at home.
4 ½ out of 5
