Into the Spider-Verse Review: The Movie Couple Says This Is 'Hands Down' One of the Best Animated Films of 2018

We are calling it now: Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse is, in our words, "definitely on the top animated list of 2018." This is our non-spoiler review of the film starring Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, and Hailee Steinfeld, which follows Miles Morales as he gains the power of Spider-Man and discovers he is not the only one wearing the mask.

For longtime comic fans, this movie matters because it finally brings Miles Morales to the big screen in a real way, and we think it matters even more for casual moviegoers who have only vaguely heard the name.

We Were Thrilled the Moment We Saw the First Trailer, But Also Scared It Wouldn't Deliver

When we heard this movie was coming, we were thrilled and excited. We had seen some of the early art and thought a cartoon Spider-Man bringing in Miles Morales was going to be awesome, giving fans everything they wanted. Then the first trailer, which we believe was the Tease trailer, came out and we "lost it." We were sold immediately.

That excitement came with fear once we sat down in the theater. We worried the film might just be a collection of the best moments already shown in the trailers, and that was one of our biggest concerns going in. As we put it, "it's a fear because I wanted to succeed so badly." We wanted Miles to finally get his storyline told well on the big screen after years of general audiences barely knowing his name, even though hardcore comic book fans and collectors have known his story for years.

Into the Spider-Verse Finally Introduces Miles Morales to a Wider Audience the Right Way

We think this movie is a great way to introduce general audiences to the Miles Morales storyline, especially through his meetings with his counterparts like Peter Parker and Spider-Gwen. Watching that play out even just in the trailer had us saying "wow, they're really doing this."

We see this as a smart move for Sony because it takes material with a dedicated but limited fan base and puts it in front of the generic moviegoing audience. If it succeeds and is done well, it can expand the Spider-Verse immensely, which we believe is something Sony needs badly.

The Animation Blends Manga and Comic Book Styles in a Way We Have Never Seen Before

Beyond the Miles Morales story itself, we were blown away by the animation. We called it "nothing I've ever seen before," a top-notch, creative blend of styles you would see in manga and in a comic book, all made to work together seamlessly for the Spider-Verse concept. Even small touches like the squiggles and background shifts used to emphasize a story point stood out to us. Our reaction to the creative team was simple: "hands down, I bow to you."

We felt the film captured the feeling of reading an actual comic book, where each panel pushes emphasis and drives part of the story or character forward. We think the movie brought that same sensation to the screen so viewers could feel it and become part of it.

Obscure Comic Characters Are Given Real Emotional Weight

The film also brings in characters who are fairly obscure in the source comics, and we felt the movie did a great job making audiences care about them. It would have been easy to make this just Miles' story with other characters as background, but instead each character got enough investment that we cared about their individual arcs and storylines.

We Hope Success Here Opens the Door to Spinoffs Like a Live Action Spider-Gwen

If this movie is a big success, we said viewers might eventually see a live action Spider-Gwen or other characters getting their own spotlight. We feel the film lays solid groundwork for a wider universe, giving fans different kinds of Spider-Man stories beyond the version connected to the mainline Marvel Earth, while still letting Sony tell its own separate corner of the story.

The Movie Also Shows Miles' Home Life, Not Just His Life as Spider-Man

We appreciated that the film does not focus solely on Miles Morales as Spider-Man and his heroic journey. It also gives a look into his personal life, including his relationships with his family, his dad, and his mom. We felt that was something audiences needed to see, because it is not just about being Spider-Man, it is about the person underneath the mask.

Our Verdict: Catch It on Opening Night, Even if You Are Not a Spider-Man Fan

We loved this movie, and we recommend catching it on opening night. Even viewers who are not Spider-Man fans can still go in and have fun with it. As we said, "it is amazing."

Have you seen Into the Spider-Verse, and do you think it deserves a spot on the best animated films of 2018 list?