Movie review: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Baldwin Williams, Staff Writer

A new Spider-Man movie has been released and it’s not the usual live-action Spider-Man film one would expect. 

The focus of the movie is not on Peter Parker but on a new, different Spider-Man in a somewhat similar universe named Miles Morales. 

Morales is an Afro-Latino teenager in the bustling city of New York. Morales is a relatively new character when compared to the character of Spider-Man, Parker. 

The character Morales was created in 2009 by Marvel Comics writer and artist, Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. Morales soon gained popularity in the comic book community for being a new person to dawn the webbed mask. 

Last year, there was an announcement that an animated Spider-Man film was in the works. Fans were excited to hear that it would be focusing on a new character and how he became Spider-Man. 

However, Morales is not the only Spider-Man or rather Spider-person in this film. Different universes consisting of different Spider-people make their debut. 

There is an older Peter Parker who reluctantly dawns the mantle of Spider-Man for reasons to be revealed. He assumes the role of a mentor to Morales throughout the film. 

There is also a teenaged girl named Gwen who is Spider-Woman, a 1930’s noir detective named Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker a young girl from the future who commands Spider-Man robot and lastly, a wacky cartoon pig version of the Web Slinger hilariously named, Spider-Ham. 

The movie is vibrant and so deliciously animated, the film has elements by its transitions that makes it feel the viewer is experiencing a comic book. 

The entire cast gives stellar performances throughout the movie, with celebrities such as Shameik Moore, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, and Nicholas Cage. The soundtrack for the movie sets the mood of each scene appropriately, giving the feel and perspective for young Miles. Artists such as Post Malone and Vincent Staples contributed their talents to the soundtrack. 

Fans of Spider-Man, young and old, will take delight in all the Spider-Man references displayed in the movie. Even though this isn’t a Marvel Studios film, there is an end credits scene which leaves a small opening for the sequel. 

Overall, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was not only a phenomenal film but a spectacular Spider-Man movie. The film has the grandeur, comedy, and heart that perfectly depicts a sensational Spider-Man story. 

The film presents itself displaying everything about the original Spider-Man mythos while having new elements to bring satisfaction and amazement within older and new generations alike.