Review: Into the Spiderverse
Dec. 18th, 2018 06:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidewaysLike many people lately, I went and watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse last week, and the short version of the review is yes, I loved it, and yes I would highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in the animation style and/or the franchise. The large cast means not everyone gets much development, but Miles (backed by Peter at a gratifyingly respectful distance) successfully carries the heart of the narrative as he finally gets the front page, big screen debut story he deserves. It was laugh-out-loud funny sometimes, surprisingly serious others, and ultimate-ly (har har) a gorgeous, heartening experience.
"I can't believe I've had to watch two Peter Parkers die this year!" has been my melodramatic groan in the days after. I have to give the Spiderverse marketing team kudos: I've watched every trailer they've released and they still blindsided with numerous twists, of which actually killing Spider-Man onscreen was just one. Actually killing the Prowler onscreen was another! Memories of wailing children in the middle of HTTYD 2 meant I kept shooting nervous looks at the ten year old in the seat in front of me, but he seemed to make it through alright.
I am glad they went for that more serious tone, though, because it meant giving Miles a surprisingly faithful adaptation - his Peter Parker is supposed to die and leave Miles regretting not stepping up, his uncle is supposed to perish wrapped in a villain's uniform (no issues with the shift to a softer, better Aaron Davies though; it worked well). He was allowed to doubt and struggle and grieve as well as be clever and dorky and earnest, and it gave the narrative and the character proper weight. I still wish, a little, that it had been a Mostly Miles Alone story - there was a period after the very first trailer where I thought that's what it was, that there was just going to be a small cameo from a single Peter, and approved - but at least it was undeniably his story.
And he was so likeable! He was so likeable. I don't think I've seen a single person who hasn't walked away enthusing about what a good, enjoyable character he is. Having witnessed a decent chunk of the struggle its been to get him accepted as anything but a "social justice PR stunt", this fresh rush of praise has been real nice to watch.
Of course, I'm somewhat wedded to Peter as my favourite Spidey, and man alive it was nice to go back to a world where he's anything but a meme-spouting Stark-worshipping cinnamon roll please Tumblr let me rest. The universe split was really quite effective in that way - got to see Peter at his most competent (witty, compassionate, and self-sacrificial) and at his most mid-life crisis (sardonic, belligerent, and still self-sacrificial). I was a little bit meh on the divorce with MJ stemming from child issues, but I guess that's still a definite step up from Satan issues. And oh, that funeral. Thanks guys. Thanks.
As for everything else:
Lastly: between the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, the Insomniac game, and this movie? I'm hovering on the brink of petitioning Sony to get dibs on Spider-Man again. I didn't love the Webb / Garfield movies so much, but I have to grudgingly admit they were truer to the character in a lot of ways than Homecoming was.
"I can't believe I've had to watch two Peter Parkers die this year!" has been my melodramatic groan in the days after. I have to give the Spiderverse marketing team kudos: I've watched every trailer they've released and they still blindsided with numerous twists, of which actually killing Spider-Man onscreen was just one. Actually killing the Prowler onscreen was another! Memories of wailing children in the middle of HTTYD 2 meant I kept shooting nervous looks at the ten year old in the seat in front of me, but he seemed to make it through alright.
I am glad they went for that more serious tone, though, because it meant giving Miles a surprisingly faithful adaptation - his Peter Parker is supposed to die and leave Miles regretting not stepping up, his uncle is supposed to perish wrapped in a villain's uniform (no issues with the shift to a softer, better Aaron Davies though; it worked well). He was allowed to doubt and struggle and grieve as well as be clever and dorky and earnest, and it gave the narrative and the character proper weight. I still wish, a little, that it had been a Mostly Miles Alone story - there was a period after the very first trailer where I thought that's what it was, that there was just going to be a small cameo from a single Peter, and approved - but at least it was undeniably his story.
And he was so likeable! He was so likeable. I don't think I've seen a single person who hasn't walked away enthusing about what a good, enjoyable character he is. Having witnessed a decent chunk of the struggle its been to get him accepted as anything but a "social justice PR stunt", this fresh rush of praise has been real nice to watch.
Of course, I'm somewhat wedded to Peter as my favourite Spidey, and man alive it was nice to go back to a world where he's anything but a meme-spouting Stark-worshipping cinnamon roll please Tumblr let me rest. The universe split was really quite effective in that way - got to see Peter at his most competent (witty, compassionate, and self-sacrificial) and at his most mid-life crisis (sardonic, belligerent, and still self-sacrificial). I was a little bit meh on the divorce with MJ stemming from child issues, but I guess that's still a definite step up from Satan issues. And oh, that funeral. Thanks guys. Thanks.
As for everything else:
- The other four inter-dimensional spider-people were great, and the way they handled intros and origins was beautiful. I do wonder how confusing it was to people whose Spider-Man knowledge is the standard basics (radioactive bite, uncle dies, MJ Watson is there), however. Gwen Stacy isn't exactly an unknown quantity, but if you're not familiar with her story then does she feel like a baffling stand-out amongst a cast of multiversal variations on Peter Parker?
- Overall I really liked their pick of Spiders, though, since it worked as both nice nods to the actual characters and walking genre jokes that can be interpreted easily enough.
- Liv was incredible, even if her tentacles grossed me out something fierce.
- The music was really good? I don't know why I was surprised; I just hadn't given it much thought, I guess.
- Prowler's screechy leitmotif was especially effective. (Little bit Orphan Black's Helena, come to think of it.)
- I loved that Miles designed his own uniform, and that May gave him the webshooters.
- GANKE
- Of course dead Peter has blonde hair. Of course he does.
- The Stan Lee cameo was bittersweet. Yeah, we are gonna miss you.
- The credits and end-credits easter eggs nearly did me an injury.
- As did the bit with Miles and the pigeons, because apparently I am still a sucker for good slapstick.
Lastly: between the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, the Insomniac game, and this movie? I'm hovering on the brink of petitioning Sony to get dibs on Spider-Man again. I didn't love the Webb / Garfield movies so much, but I have to grudgingly admit they were truer to the character in a lot of ways than Homecoming was.
