Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Going into the 2018-2019 awards season, it seemed like Incredibles 2 was destined to nearly automatically win the Best Animated Feature award at the upcoming Academy Awards with its only real challenger being Isle of Dogs which failed to make a real impact in the early awards season. Yet swinging in nearly at the last moment came a film which not only stopped the Disney powerhouse from claiming another Academy Award but also jumped into the conversation for best film of the year for many. That film was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which had eyes on it for not just being the spectacle of being an animated Spider-Man film but also for the inclusion of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as producers (with Lord also co-writing the screenplay) considering most projects they touch turns to gold.
The very first thing to stand out not even from the actual release of the film but rather the initial footage showed at the films San Diego Comic-Con earlier in the year was the film's animation style which still us unlike nearly anything else. Using CGI to create dynamic and layered visuals that feel busy and alive has never been done to this level especially in the realm of feature animated films. On any given frame, the sheer amount of textures and tiny details is mind-blowing and clearly took a massive amount of effort from the animators which luckily really paid off. Not only does the animation help the film stand out in comparison to other animated features of the time, but also immediately sets the stage for what the movie is going to be. In a fresh mixture of comic book gimmicks and sleek cinematic style, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse becomes an incredibly fun ride that caries both self-aware and effective comedy with legitimate emotion with both being well built and complementary to each other. The hip hope based soundtrack also gives the film an immediate personality and style that also helps the film feel fresh and modern in a unique and effective matter.
Throughout the history of Spider-Man both in comics and film, the idea of responsibility and duty has been well documented and explored often feeling like the dullest part of new Spider-Man stories. In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, these themes are naturally present but feel fresh and more engaging than normal for a variety of reasons. Not only does the switch in perspective from Peter Parker to Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) allow fresh updates and changes to plot specifics but the motivations and influences are also different and effective. Never before have Peter Parker been put in the role of a mentor like he is in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse or someone with the Spider-Man powers have to find themselves in a world where Spider-Man is already loved. These dynamics change the story and character enough to feel inventive and engaging. Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) also is a great choice for a villain. Not only has the character not been cinematically used a ton like other Spider-Man villains (shoutout to Vincent D'Onofrio for his portrayal of the character in the Netflix series Daredevil) but as a character, he physically carries an incredibly effective presence to him which can be done to the highest possible level in the realm of animation. He also has his own motivations that give his character complexity and purpose that elevates him past being just another villain. The final battle in the film is so much more than just a battle of good Vs. evil which is compelling to see.
Where there might be no experience quite like seeing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for the first time on the big screen, on a rewatch from home it still holds up incredibly well. Past the technical achievements of the animation and editing, this is a fresh take on the Spider-Man story that connects with legitimate emotion. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse takes a leap of faith in so many ways and there isn't a single portion of the film that fails leaving the film to sore high as one of the best of the decade.
Where there might be no experience quite like seeing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for the first time on the big screen, on a rewatch from home it still holds up incredibly well. Past the technical achievements of the animation and editing, this is a fresh take on the Spider-Man story that connects with legitimate emotion. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse takes a leap of faith in so many ways and there isn't a single portion of the film that fails leaving the film to sore high as one of the best of the decade.