\u00a0 \u00a0But it seems that the best was saved for last, when in December \u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d was released.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0If you told me that we would get another Spidey offering from Sony in 2018 that would tell a story using seven different spider-people, I wouldn\u2019t have wanted it. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0I was skeptical. \u201cHey look, Sony\u2019s attempting to cash in on those Spider-Man rights again,\u201d I thought. \u201cAnd how would they be able to juggle so many different characters and timelines?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0However, I was proven wrong and this turned out to be a fantastic journey into Spider-Man lore that told the harrowing and emotional story of Miles Morales. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0His parents Rio, a nurse, and Jefferson, a police officer, have huge expectations for him and push him to be his best.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Yet all Miles wants to do is be a normal guy and let his creative mind shine. He feels immense pressure to succeed and he looks to his Uncle Aaron to help him relieve this stress. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0From there he gets bitten by a radioactive spider and struggles to control his newfound powers. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Then the Kingpin unleashes all hell, turning on a machine that brings several different Spider-people into his dimension, and kills this universe\u2019s blonde version of Peter Parker.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0From there, Miles has to work with a colorful cast of characters and try to figure out how his own powers work to stop Kingpin and bring balance back to the universe.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0So before I talk more about the plot, let\u2019s take a look at all the characters and what they bring to the table. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0We have Miles, a Brooklyn youth who is pretty fresh into being Spider-Man. Miles has all the usual spider powers, with two extra ones unique to him. He can turn invisible in different situations and is able to unleash a venom strike that is incredibly powerful. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Unfortunately, he doesn\u2019t know how to control these powers and can never seem to use them when the time is right. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Through the film, he feels immense pressure; first from his parent\u2019s expectations for him to excel at his new school, and then from the other Spideys, who don\u2019t believe he has what it takes to save the day.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0He is the heart and soul of this film, and watching his journey from bumbling Spider-Boi to someone who can go toe to toe with the Kingpin is something to see. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Then there\u2019s Peter B. Parker. He\u2019s a pretty experienced Spider-Man, but not all of those experiences were good. His Aunt May died and Mary Jane Watson divorced him. He has a lazy demeanor (best demonstrated by him wearing sweatpants over his suit) and seems pretty jaded at the world.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0After a lot of persuasion, he\u2019s goaded into teaching Miles how to control his powers, with minimal success. He has some solid lines in the movie, especially when he meets that universe\u2019s MJ. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Spider-Gwen comes from a universe where Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider and later fails to save her best friend, Peter Parker. She and Miles meet at school and the two of them have nice chemistry.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0She also plays in a band and is fearless in everything she does, which doesn\u2019t help Miles in the confidence department.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Spider-Noir is a crime fighter from the 1930s and is a loose cannon. Donned in all black and carrying a gun he uses stealth to his advantage. Nicholas Cage voices him and while he doesn\u2019t have a whole lot of lines, he makes them count and steals the show in my mind. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0John Mulaney portrays Spider-Ham, a character who was originally a joke one off in the comics and then became his own \u201cLooney Toons\u201d esque cartoon that hits people with a large mallet. Ham is consistently funny in this film.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Rounding out the cast is Peni Parker, a Japanese-American teenager who co-pilots a biomechanical suit with a radioactive spider that she shares a telepathic link with. Sounds awesome, right? She doesn\u2019t do a whole lot in the movie and left me wanting more.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Each character is truly unique and brings something different to create a hell of a team. While Gwen, Peter and Miles are the main focus, the other three do get some time to shine and they make the most of the lines they\u2019re given.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Now, this might sound cliche or silly, but \u201cInto the Spider-Verse\u201d captures the comic book aesthetic incredibly well. This is a breathtaking movie to look at. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0You can tell that the best of the best of Sony Pictures Animation (famous, or infamous for making \u201cOpen Season,\u201d \u201cThe Smurfs,\u201d \u201cHotel Transylvania\u201d and the freaking \u201cEmoji Movie\u201d) to work on this film. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0The goal from the beginning was for the team to make this look like a comic book, and it was such a massive undertaking that by production\u2019s end there were 140 animators on board.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Each spider-person is animated in a different style as well. Spider-Gwen didn\u2019t have a lot of harsh lines drawn in, matching the style of her comic book. Spider-Noir is shrouded in shadow and Spider-Ham is drawn in the most over the top, cartoony way possible.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0The texture and style of this film is incredibly unique. The work put in by the design team show the ability the studio has, and \u201cInto the Spider-Verse\u201d stands out as a project that looks very special.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0There will be some minor story spoilers in this section. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0A colorful cast of characters and a gripping visual style can only do so much. For a movie like this to succeed, the story has to do the difficult job of balancing introducing six different heroes, establishing a universe destroying conflict with several villains and keep the focus on our central character, Miles. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0It manages to do this and then some. Kingpin is given an emotional motive for crossing through dimensions, the time is balanced properly between all the spider-people and we see these events unfold through Miles\u2019 eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0The script also manages to really make Miles stand out as a well developed character. We get a feel for what is important to him: his family, his creative spark and his desire to stay true to himself and where he came from.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0This is undoubtedly Miles\u2019 movie, and there are a few moments within that nearly brought me to tears. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0One moment in particular, when his father tries to reach out to him and painfully breaks down and give him words of encouragement, all while Miles is unable to respond, broke my heart.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Throughout all the chaotic action, great one-liners and funny jokes the film never fails to keep Miles\u2019 perspective in focus. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0His journey from a shy teenager who has his whole world turned upside down, to someone with the confidence and inner strength necessary to control his spider powers and go toe to toe with incredible danger is so engrossing and holds \u201cInto the Spider-Verse\u201d together. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Another crucial part of this film is the music. It is anchored by Post Malone and Swae Lee\u2019s hit single \u201cSunflower,\u201d a song Miles\u2019 sings in the movie. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Other songs such as \u201cWhat\u2019s Up Danger\u201d and \u201cScared of the Dark\u201d are used as phenomenal cues to accent important parts of the film.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0It has a perfect mix of pop and rap tracks. It all fits in well with the context of the movie while being fun listens on their own. I definitely recommend you listen to the soundtrack. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d stands on its own merits as a great comic book adaptation. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0And in addition to everything else I\u2019ve pointed to, the film includes so many callbacks and easter eggs to other Spider-Man games, tv shows and films that makes it feels like a true love letter to the character.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0There is such an abundance of secrets hidden throughout the film, and these include but are not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Several scenes and plot points from the Sam Raimi \u201cSpider-Man\u201d trilogy are referenced, some c-list villains such as Tombstone and Scorpion are The Kingpin\u2019s minions and the fact that the film\u2019s version of the Green Goblin is based on the Ultimate Comics version, which is more of a hulking beast than a crazy guy on a glider.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Stan Lee also makes his usual cameo appearance, which I won\u2019t spoil here. Apparently, the directors have stated Lee is hidden in almost every crowd shot in the film.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0As this was the first Marvel film released after Lee\u2019s passing, the mid-credits scene includes a classy tribute to both Lee and Steve Ditko, co-creators of the Spider-Man character.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Yet perhaps my favorite reference is the post-credits scene, which pokes fun at one of the oldest and funniest Spider-Man memes. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0I don\u2019t want to spoil too much for you, but if you have any knowledge of Spider-Man history, there\u2019s a nifty callback for you. However, if you just want to see a fun superhero movie, \u201cInto the Spider-Verse\u201d has you covered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0I know I\u2019ll be watching this movie again to find all of the great easter eggs I\u2019ve missed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0If you couldn\u2019t tell by now, I love this movie. It is a carefully crafted chaotic look at what makes a superhero a true superhero. As MJ said in the film, \u201cAnyone can be Spider-Man.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Six different spider-people are faithfully introduced to cinema, and all of them bring something worthwhile to the table, with funny one liners and exciting action setpieces.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0The animation style and soundtrack are unique and it\u00a0gives the project a fantastic atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0All in all, \u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d is an incredible film that offers exciting action, some great characters, callbacks and secrets related to other Spider-Man media and a whole lot of heart.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0It might be my favorite Spider-Man movie of all time. It is so dynamic, heartfelt and funny, while not skimping out on the action and lore. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0However, it is hard to compare it to \u201cSpider-Man 2\u201d or \u201cSpider-Man: Homecoming,\u201d as they are completely different kinds of movies.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0Either way, this is one film you should check out if you have even a passive interest in it.<\/span><\/p>\n Henry Wolski<\/strong> Warning: Minor spoilers follow for \u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0As previously mentioned, Spider-Man had a fantastic 2018. The year started off with \u201cAvengers: Infinity War,\u201d and in the fall we were gifted \u201cMarvel\u2019s Spider-Man\u201d and \u201cVenom.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0But it seems that the best was saved for last, when in December \u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":22629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2104,2112,2109,3],"tags":[1386,366,2000,1672,2141,1384,74,2577,2923,2668],"class_list":["post-22617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-films","category-opinion","category-tartan-news","tag-entertainment","tag-films","tag-henry-wolski","tag-marvel","tag-online-exclusive","tag-opinion","tag-reviews","tag-spider-man","tag-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse","tag-superheroes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5s3vR-5SN","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spider-Man_Miles_Morales_Minimalist_Poster_descktop.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22617"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22634,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22617\/revisions\/22634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.30.38-PM-300x159.png\")
\u00a0 \u00a0He is the center of this film, as he is a youth living in Brooklyn starting his first day at a prestigious boarding school downtown (something he feels guilty for, having only attained entry to the school as a result of a lottery). <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.30.54-PM-300x126.png\")
Meet the Spider-Folks<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.26.08-PM-300x126.png\")
A Real-Time Comic Book<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.27.28-PM-300x125.png\")
Walking a Mile in His Shoes<\/b><\/h2>\nHit the Music<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.31.44-PM-300x125.png\")
A Labor of Love<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-14-at-4.29.06-PM-300x151.png\")
The Verdict<\/b><\/h2>\n
\nExecutive Editor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"