Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 

By Emily Hubbard 

A new version of the beloved web-slinger leads to the best Spider-Man film ever made.

• 5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥 
• Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman 
• Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Kathryn Hahn, et al 
• Where to find it: Film 4 - 19th December - 6:45pm GMT 

No Copyright Infringement Intended 

When you think of Spider-Man, you also probably think of Peter Parker. The world-famous web-slinger’s human name is equally as famous as his superhero one, with this iteration of the character being the focus of countless films and TV shows, both live-action and animated. Fans of the comics, however, will be aware that a new version of Spider-Man, Miles Morales, was introduced to the Marvel Universe in 2011. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sees Miles make his long-overdue film debut, in a piece of cinema that I believe to be the best Spider-Man film ever brought to the silver screen.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces audiences to Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) flawlessly, telling the story of a teenage Miles as he becomes the Spider-Man of his universe. An unexpected Miles is then thrown in at the deep end of the superhero world and must join forces with other Spider-People from parallel universes in order to save New York from Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber).

Introducing mainstream audiences to a new version of an established character like Spider-Man was always going to be a difficult task, but Miles Morales’ (Shameik Moore) debut feature film appearance cements the character as one of the strongest the Marvel Universe has to offer. Miles’ characterisation as a teenager struggling to fit in at school, who is also dealing with newly found superpowers and a family tragedy, makes him feel more fleshed out than many other characters introduced by Marvel in the past. This leads to an instantly likable character that you can’t help but root for.

With the largest crew used by Sony Pictures Animations on a feature film to date (a whopping 140 animators were used), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was always going to be a special film. The use of a unique mix of computerised animation and hand-drawn art makes for a truly eye-popping and memorable experience that places it miles above the rest in comparison to other animated films. Each shot and character movement feels like it’s been pulled straight from the pages of a comic book, vibrant and a genuine pleasure to look at, making it a real gift for comic book fans everywhere.

Having interconnected universes is a common feature in comic book literature, although it is a feature big-screen adaptations have failed to utilise until recent times. The seamless way Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduces audiences to the idea of a multiverse sets the precedent for what upcoming Marvel releases Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will no doubt be trying to achieve in the coming months. Yes, a lot is going on in this film, but it never feels hard to follow, and constantly finds new ways to keep you hooked on the story it’s telling.

One aspect of the multiversal storytelling that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse manages to perfectly capture, is the introduction of different versions of our main character, Spider-Man, ‘Spider-People’ if you will. For example, Peter Parker himself appears twice in the film, once as the version from Miles’ universe, voiced by Chris Pine, and once, and more prominently, as Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), a version of the webbed hero, who’s let himself go after divorcing Mary Jane (Zoe Kravitz), and unwillingly becomes Miles’ mentor. It’s this relationship between Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and Miles (Shameik Moore), as well as Miles’ relationship with his father, Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry), that makes for some of the most heart-warming moments in the film, as well as some of the funniest. The real star of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s ‘Spider-People’, however, is Spider-Gwen, another long-beloved character from the comics. Brought to life by the incredibly talented Hailee Steinfeld, Spider-Gwen brings a fun, rebellious nature to the film, and who much like Miles, is an instantly likable character who leaves you wanting more immediately. Outside of Spider-Gwen, this film is packed with outlandish cameos, from John Mulaney as Spider-Ham to Nicholas Cage as Spider-Man Noir, but I would be doing the world a disservice if I didn’t mention Kathryn Hahn’s appearance as Doc Ock, where she is as tremendous here as she is in everything else she graces with her presence.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse may well be the best Spider-Man film ever released, the film is a joy to watch from start to finish, introducing a new version of a beloved character, whilst also keeping the essence of what made people fall in love with the character in the first place. Its unique animation style has already proved to be the inspiration for other great films such as The Mitchells vs the Machines and has ensured that its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) is at the very top of my most anticipated films of 2022.