Director(s): Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Bryan Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, John Mulaney, Kimiko Glenn, Nicolas Cage, Kathryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber
The Overview
Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his reality and crosses paths with his counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat to all reality. (Source: IMDb)
The Review
Spider-Man is certainly no stranger to the big screen having been launched, re-launched, and then brought back again with varying success. With tongue very firmly in cheek, Into the Spider-Verse announces it’s doing it again one last time, and the tone is set for perhaps the most enjoyable big-screening outing for Spidey yet.
Many fans have long stood by Spider-Man 2 (2004) as being the best Spider-Man film, and last year’s Homecoming certainly proved the beloved comic book character was in much safer hands following the disappointing The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and it’s subsequent 2014 sequel. The following might perhaps be a bold statement to make, but the pure, unadulterated joy of Into the Spider-Verse makes it a firm contender to steal the crown from Sam Raimi’s 2004 offering and Marvel’s reboot, and against all odds is arguably the most fun superhero movie of 2018.
In a year that has given us Black Panther, and Infinity War, Into the Spider-Verse certainly has some stiff competition, but there is no denying how downright joyful this film is, and for fans of the web-slinging superhero, there is so much to appreciate here; in fact every nerd-bone in your body will be satisfied.
The film moves at a breakneck pace, and is easily the closest a film has come to recreating the pages of a comic book on screen. The animation is beyond stunning, the colours positively pop, and the result is completely breath-taking. The action sequences are incredibly well put together, and as well as being visually amazing, the story and voice work are equally outstanding.
The cast list is full of incredible talent, and it is credit to those offering their voices that they are so in-tune with their characters that the people behind them are almost indistinguishable. In fact, I had no idea Nicolas Cage was even in this until the credits rolled, and it was a wonderful surprise!
Tonally, this film is absolutely spot-on. It acknowledges the ludicrousness of the story and the vastness of the universe in a way that is both smart and accessible, and there is a certain knowingness to the script that really elevates things as well. With the Master of Meta, Phil Lord, penning the script, you know exactly what you’re getting, and Into the Spider-Verse manages to be consistently funny in a way that will appeal to fans of all ages.
The Verdict
I saw this movie and you should too. Into the Spider-Verse is easily one of the most fun cinema experiences of the year, and with its release following the sad passing of Spidey’s co-creator Stan Lee, it is also the perfect tribute to his legacy. Anyone who is a fan of comic books, superheroes, or just wants to have a great time at the movies, will find something to love about this film. Anyone who had perhaps lost hope with Spider-Man’s big screen adventures, may just find their passion reignited, and frankly, I could watch sequels to this film every year until the end of time, and be happy. Stay right until the end of the credits, and enjoy every single second of this web-slinging masterpiece!
Sarah Saw a Movie 
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