Review – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (Spoilers!)
By Ashley Spring | Observer Contributor
Winning an Oscar and exciting Marvel fans, Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse pays attention to detail and puts a twist on the hero’s story, reminding movie viewers that “you could wear the mask.”
Before the movie begins, the logos help set the mood of the film by showing them in the same art style as the movie itself. The film’s art direction resembles a comic book, and this is further solidified by the comic code logo that you would see on the front page of a comic book. After a quick introduction from Spider-Man himself, we are introduced to the main character of the movie, Miles Morales. Morales is set up to be an average teenager in New York and follows previous Spider-Man movies, showing that anyone can be a hero.
There are two main plot points in the film. First, there are multiple universes and in each one is a different versions of yourself. This is explained by one of the later villains in the background of the scene.
The second plot point involves Morales trying to find himself – his teacher gives him an assignment to write about himself to better define what he wants from his future. Morales, being a teenager, doesn’t really know what he wants to do or who he wants to become. Even when he gains Spider-Man’s powers and goes through training, Morales struggles to be himself, and as the movie puts it, “take a leap of faith.”
The editing is a standout feature of the film. The cuts are designed to help simulate the feelings Morales is going through. There are faster, more chaotic cuts between camera angles when Morales is stressed out, and slower, longer shots when Morales is sad or shocked. Color scheming also plays a part in the film, showing darker, cooler colors for when the uncle appears before we find out he’s a villain. Warmer colors are used when in the Morales home environment and grey tones for when Peter Parker passes away.
Spider-Man has always been the idea that anyone can be a hero, and this movie emboldens that notion. This point is made stronger at the end with a quote from Spider-Man creator Stan Lee: “That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it’s the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”
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