As you know, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE was a film that I was highly anticipating this year and I just assumed it was going to do alright. Nothing too amazing, however, early impressions so far suggests otherwise.
A lot of people have had the chance to go see the movie early and almost everyone seems to have enjoyed the hell out it. The movie is seating at a nice 100% Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, which is subject to change of course but that’s still a very impressive feat nonetheless.
Here’s what some of the big dogs have said so far:
Variety gave it a (Positive):
Presented in a playful, pop-culture-savvy comedic package, the movie effectively expands Sony’s hold on the Spider-Man character to include a potentially infinite number of spin-off projects, the first of which — a femme-centric installment featuring all the women from Spidey’s world — has already been announced, with countless permutations to come. From here, Sony can slice and dice the so-called Spider-Verse (a comics conceit in which Marvel first tried to unite the many different versions of the Spider-Man character) for audiences’ infinite amusement, and the studio’s infinite remuneration. (Peter Debruge)
The Guardian gave it a 4/5!
Though they occupy the same frame, each of the Spider-friends moves with their own distinct animation style informed by their home dimension, and that’s just one in a smorgasbord of clever visual flourishes. Not since Sam Raimi’s godly mid-2000s run has the kinetic exhilaration of web-swinging felt so tactile, and the Manhattan through which our hero sails felt so specifically realised. While the computerised cinematography roots our assorted Spiders-man in a coherent physical space, the production design gleefully sprints as far as it can in the opposite direction. The animators indulge in fits of vibrant psychedelia worthy of comparison to the Wachowski sisters’ candy-coloured Speed Racer, culminating in a retina-searing grand finale that crams a tempest in a lava lamp. At long last, a Spider-Man cartoon that goes well with MDMA! (Charles Bramesco)
Mashable also gave it a (Positive)
All those other Spider-Men, then, become not just a way to celebrate the weirdness and variety of the comics, but a reaffirmation of the notion that it could be anyone behind that mask. Spider-Verse not only returns Spider-Man to his comic-book roots, but reinstates that fundamental idea. In this telling of the story, it truly could be anyone behind that mask – a little girl, a grizzled detective, a middle-aged sad sack, maybe even another unassuming New York kid – and all the people wearing it are better together than they are apart. (Angie Han)
Voxtoo joined in on the(Positive)
Rest assured, true believers: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won’t let you down.
The new animated movie is a sleek and soaring, a wonderful paean to the spirit of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s legendary web slinger, embodying the relentless hope and optimism of its hero in such a classic way. But it also unearths exhilarating new ground – by way of spectacular deviations from the norm that the Marvel Cinematic universe and live-action filmmaking don’t always allow for – that makes it feel like something tremendously innovative, while still traditionally Spidey. (Alex Abad-Santos)
LA Times gave the movie a (Positive) too!
While there is plenty to mock here – Lord and Rothman’s script gets in some choice digs at Peter Parker’s relationship issues – what distinguishes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in the end is that it takes its mission seriously, even when it’s being transparently silly. There is nothing cheap or snarky about the way the movie festoons its action sequences with “POW!” and “BLAMMO!” word bubbles, or shows us squiggly little lines whenever someone’s Spidey sense tingles. It’s a sign of a movie not just embracing its hand-drawn comic-book roots, but also striving to be the fullest, truest version of itself it can be. (Justin Chang)
I don’t know about you, but my hype for this movie kinda shot up. Now, there is one concern I’m worried about and that’s the legitimacy of these reviews. I’ll be honest, I keep getting this weird feeling that this film might be getting boosted because of the whole diversity agenda, rather than it been judged for what it is, a super hero movie.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for diversity, but I really don’t want this movie to be praised simply because it has a black kid and a white girl as starring characters, you get me? I want it praised for its merits, which it seems be in this case as this new trailer suggest, if this small segment of the movie and if it’s anything to go by, it’s looking like a solid movie experience.
