Longtime fans of Spider-man make up an outrageously large
number of people in this world. The box office results for every Spider-man
movie have proven that as well as the longevity of the comic book series. But
the less than die-hard fans aren’t familiar with the name Miles Morales when it
comes to the character. They grew up with Peter Parker in comics, cartoons, TV
series and movies. So who is Miles Morales?
In 2011 Marvel comics came up with an innovative plan. They
were going to relaunch their mainstay comics into a new universe called the
Ultimate Marvel universe. They wouldn’t get rid of the ongoing series but would
create this new one for young readers just coming into comics at the time. This
would mean they would have their own Marvel heroes without the baggage of
decades of stories to catch up on. These new series were a success and among
them was a new Spider-man, Miles Morales. It was inevitable that he would show
up on film and SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDERVERSE offers a fantastic introduction
to the character as well as bringing in the classic.
The film takes place in this new Marvel universe where young
Miles Morales lives. His father Jefferson Davis is a police officer who isn’t
keen on Spider-man. Miles dreams of becoming a graffiti artist. While his
father isn’t keen on the idea his Uncle Aaron is and takes him to an abandoned
subway tunnel to use as his canvas. While there Miles is bitten by the
inevitable radioactive spider and the following day he begins to show signs of
his spider powers.
Returning to the tunnel to find out what happened to him,
Miles discovers that Wilson Fisk has created an accelerator that will allow him
to move through different dimensions, his goal being to reunite with his wife
and daughter, killed in a car crash while he was escaping from Spider-man. But
Spider-man is there to stop him, fighting his henchmen Green Goblin and
Prowler. Miles has to step in to help and the original Spider-man (at least
here) is killed but not before he gives Miles a USB device and tells him to use
it to stop Fisk.
After the funeral of Spider-man, Miles buys a costume of the
hero and tries to use his powers. At the graveside he runs into someone else
there to pay his respects who seems like a bum. This is Peter Parker (our
Spider-man) whose been brought over from his dimension. After being chased by
the police, Miles and Peter begin talking. Peter agrees to help train Miles
while at the same time attempting to get himself in shape again. But they
aren’t alone.
It appears the accelerator while turned on for a small
amount of time not only brought Peter here but several other versions of
Spider-man from various other dimensions as well. Now this group of heroes,
alternate versions of the same character from different dimensions, must unite
to fix the dimensional portal that Fisk has created, get themselves back to
their own worlds and close the door behind them never to be used again. Easier
said than done.
The movie is an amazing thing to watch visually, done in
computer animation with such skill that within moments you’re not aware you’re
watching an animated film. The story is so engaging that it doesn’t matter.
It’s a solid film that stands on its own as a movie without thinking about it
being animated. This might be why the film won the Oscar this year for best
animated movie.
That depth of story is what makes it so exceptional. We have
the usual tale of the secret identity issues that our hero faces as well as the
loss that he experiences along the way. Even more so when we learn there are
different versions of Spider-man that have all had their share of tragedy. Add
to that the fact that this hero isn’t a well-trained adult but a teenager
learning to cope not only with his powers but life itself and what we have is a
well-crafted tale.
I may have spoken too soon by saying you’ll get so lost in
the story you’ll forget it’s animated because the animation here is amazing.
Not only are the standard scenes of going to class with Miles well done but the
chase sequences are a visual feast. Add to that the battle sequences and this
is one amazing film.
Don’t think of this as a kid’s film, even though kids will
love it. Think of it as a movie that the whole family can enjoy together. Why?
Because that’s exactly who will have fun watching this one.
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