Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. After being bitten by a radioactive spider on the subway, New York teenager Miles Morales becomes the one-and-only Spider-Man - or so he thought.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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[@chrisparkes]

It would be enough that it’s jaw-dropping to see in motion, but it’s self aware without ever being cynical, irreverent and reverent, and has a huge heart; it really understands that Spider-Man is about facing loss with bravery and sacrifice.

[@bitbandit1678]

The "pseudo-unfiltered 3D" effect was used in moments of intensity and as a sort of faux-blur effect. Here is why: Traditional comic book drawings can't just be blurred the way you'd blur something in photoshop. The artist can't just "draw it blurred," or at least they don't try to. So instead of doing a typical depth of field blur, the art directors for this movie decided to incorporate something from the printing process: offset layer prints. In printing for comic books and in general, a color image is composed of multiple layers of ink--typically one layer each for cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. Each layer is made of tiny dots (called halftone dots) and if one part of the image needs to be very yellow, it'll have a lot of yellow dots there. The halftone dots are what they were replicating in the movie with the dots. If you look very closely at a page in a comic book or a newspaper ad, you should be able to make out the halftone dots. OK now the multiple layers of color are supposed to be aligned exactly right--but that doesn't always happen. Sometimes printers misalign them, so the red layer for example is accidentally printed a millimeter off-center. Which gives you that look where you can see a red edge hanging off one side of everything. That's what they were mimicking. It's part of the printing process used as a representation of blurriness and sometimes as an artistic way to represent tension.

[@jameshughes7947]

Interesting, thanks for that! This is easily the best spidey movie since S2 and is a contender to be in my top 10 of best superhero movies of all time. My only criticism of the film is this process you've so eloquently explained. For me it was distracting, not off putting in the way that some artistic choices can be, but distracting from the perspective that I spent most of the movie concerned that VUE may have F'd up some how and I wasn't getting the best experience I should (They cut the A Star Is Born before all the end credits ran just a couple of weeks ago, claiming they didn't know I was still there - very frustrating when you're looking forward to seeing your brothers name!) So maybe I was still thinking about that. I left the cinema after 10 or 15 mins and told them that I was 99% sure they were running the 3D version. I was polite about it but they could neither confirm nor deny what I was saying, so afterwards, I got free tickets! Interesting to learn about this, but this may go over peoples heads and prove problematic.

[@WhiteWolf496]

TLDR, Another way of creating Depth of Field used in comic books

[@jodystarks6936]

Awesome, thank you!

[@TheGoldSwordSquad]

Finally they made a comic book movie that looks like a comic book

[@Zeus-mh3kw]

Kingsman stylistically is a lot like a comic book

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

The Ang Lee Hulk movie was pretty great that way.

[@ieuanhunt552]

Ang Lee tried with Hulk but it just didn't work

[@HA-ot6uf]

Scott Pilgrim tried the same way The Hulk did, but succeeded.

[@felyxmillicent6538]

Ang Lee's Hulk is awesome.

[@navy0287]

There is no worse feeling than a well-intentioned parent, embarassing the crap out of you in front of friends and other people, none of whom will let you live it down.

[@Yvash]

In a year for great Supers movies, this was the best of them. Phenomenal from so many standpoints.

[@Horrormaster13]

How can I describe this Movie in one Word: *INCREDIBLE* Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is not only the best Spider-Man Movie since Sam Raimi's two Spider-Man Movies but one the best Superhero Movies and one the best Movies of 2018.

[@halloweenfriday]

Horrormaster13 Hell, it may be THE best movie of 2018! It makes Black Panther look like garbage.

[@antoinesaint807]

Connor Morley hear hear

[@citizenwolf8720]

Fantastic animation. Great story. Really enjoyed the movie. Btw, there's a small segment after the credits finish. Very funny :)

[@Sillyfer55]

I saw it in 3D. It was the best cinematic experience I've had all year. The Stan Lee cameo brought a tear to my eye too.

[@richardfairlamb9728]

It’s a pity they couldn’t have dropped in a Kirby & Ditko cameo also.

[@Scerttle]

So Sony CAN do Spider-Man justice...

[@AChimpKnockinAbout]

Something tells me this was a very different team to the one that usually gets their hands on Spiderman. I get the impression a lot of the execs who generally ruin spiderman movies saw this animated film as below them and stayed out of it. Thank god.

[@Scerttle]

Sadly you’re probably right.

[@robo3007]

@@AChimpKnockinAbout In my opinion, the Amazing Spider-Man (the first one) handled the character pretty well. If it was animated and the Robert Patterson-esk performance of Andrew Garfield was dropped the movie could have been genuinely great.

[@alansmith4655]

They made a great game anyway.

[@Scerttle]

IDK if Sony can take credit for the game. If Insomniac chose literally any other Marvel character it wouldn’t have been a PS4 exclusive.

[@alextromagnetic]

I'm was so surprised at how ballsy this was

[@MarkQuick0411]

Lord & Miller Produced animated movies always have a unique look to them

[@Rosengris]

Saw the first and second one yesterday and back to back, and immediately searched if the second one is still on in cinemas. It is! Got a ticket straightaway. I was blown away. Best spider-man by far.

[@MovieFactsVideos]

I don't think Mark was provided the whole explanation for the "3D looking" background. It was a deliberate style choice to replicate the misregistered colours and lines in a comic book. In other words, the printer errors. So, while this was used as a device to illustrate perspective, it was also a bold and innovative attempt to create a new visual language using all the qualities (good and bad) of a comic book.

[@username4570]

Amongst animators the 3d effect he mentions. (it's called chromatic aberration where the rgb starts separating) was a very exciting thing to see being played with in the trailer for such a mainstream movie. It is honestly the reason I got turned onto it and convinced me I should go see it. If they're willing to break the norm in that way it indicates to me that it's wanting to push the limits, which is always attractive in a movie.

[@username4570]

@@Lensman864 I'm sure it's fine, not that I have any vested interest in the preservation of the 3D viewing(stereoscopic) experience. I have yet to meet anyone who works in animation (or none industry viewers for that matter) that has anything but disdain for being forced to make their movies in stereo (3D viewing, with the glasses). Shit's supposed to look cool, can't see why it wouldn't still look cool doubled, blurred, and polarized. If you're into that.

[@username4570]

Lensman just saw it in 3D as my region left me no choice. It looks amazing and the 3D was pretty unnoticeable which was a pleasant surprise.

[@Aaronies]

Absolutely adored this film. My favourite Spiderman film and one of my favourite Animated movies of all time.

[@noemiecansier8466]

Seeing this move in cinemas felt like being repeatedly punched in the chest and face to the rythm of chemical brothers in the best way imaginable.

[@TheRausing1]

The animation style is just so beautiful to my eyes. Look forward to this one

[@jsmith6602]

Watched this film again recently and I was blown away. I think it was even better the second time as I was already on board with the animation and where the plot goes. Absolutely brilliant. Best Spider-Man film and best animated film of all time, in my opinion.

[@DanielHaywood]

Mark, thank you for pointing out the 3d effect! Hadn't seen anyone else mention it. I thought I might've wandered into the wrong screening

[@TheSt1092]

It's not a 3d effect it's layer printing on film.

[@The3rdGunman]

This was to Spiderman what Mask of the Phantasm is to Batman.

[@LiveTorsionParadoxTo]

Wasn't sure about this one but it turned out to be my favourite of all the Spider-Man films. It seemed to balance everything so well and was also visually engaging and original in feel. One of the best superhero/comic flicks.

[@Luvie1980]

I rather see this than aquaman

[@stevendunn2501]

Aquaman would rather see this than Aquaman.

[@emperater]

Me too

[@henrygerard2315]

His name is seaman

[@toragshark]

Luvie1980 I saw both and they’re both good film in their own right and they’re obviously different, you can enjoy both!

[@Keyecomposer]

@@thedreamcapture2681 If they made a sport out of dropping the ball, DC would be the unbeatable champions.

[@GiantSandles]

I would never have expected this to be as good as it was, that was probably the best superhero film I've seen in the past 5 years at least

[@MANIAKRA]

Glad to see spiderverse got the Kermode stamp of approval. Loved this film.

[@tysonmario4418]

The best spiderman movie ever. It is a blast. Amazing visuals, great characters super action jokes and very serious messages. Absolutely amazing

[@arlosteiner8382]

This and the game have really brought back my love for the character(s). The comics themselves too convoluted and due to knowing how the company works gives no stakes and live action have just never got it never mind the awkward characterisations.

[@arlosteiner8382]

mabusestestament okay man no problem. So Marvel has a ton of monthly comics that come out but because they constantly push event storylines like Secret Wars or Siege none of the characters have much in the way of threat or 'stakes' because inevitably they have to be in the next big event. So when say the Avengers and X-Men team up to fight "unstoppable villain #356" you know as a reader that it'll work out because the core flagship characters will have to be in their own series next month to build up to the next event. Spidey is a huge victim of this because it leads to endless reboots and retcons for him because simply put Marvel has too many characters and it's a constant untangling to make a coherent canon that genuine good ideas get wiped or forgotten about.

[@Alpine_Joe]

This and Three Billboards are the two best films I’ve seen this year. Head and shoulders above everything else.

[@charliepugh6049]

Innovation at last :)

[@MrAdonis258]

Just think if WB make Teen Titans movie with this kind of animation.. The potential is insane.

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

With Doctor Who the character stays the same enough that it feels like the same person inside of that body that changes. At least with the modern ones I like how all these different actors manage to bring the same person forth within the quirks of a different body.

[@marty197666]

I was looking around to see if others had the glasses on! Best super hero movie ever.

[@craigoneill8277]

The film genuinely amazed me

[@dstrachan990]

Agree with Kermode on the backgrounds - thought it was overly distracting

[@benjwilliams98]

The best movie of the year for me at least, maybe depending on whether Roma is something I like

[@HolisticHealthWithHarry]

@@mabusestestament bumblebee? Haha

[@Kris-wp3fm]

I am baffled that so many professional film reviewers are confused by simulating rack focus in an animated film.

[@artistsimpression]

Kris but it's not a rack focus effect he's talking about. The effect isn't just having the background out of focus, it's intentionally distorting it and shifting the rgb to give a weird effect, almost the reverse of what a 3D conversion looks like, with the foreground clear. It works well in some scenes but is distracting in at least two conversation scenes where your eyes have time to wander. This film throws a lot of great animation techniques at the wall and looks amazing. Sadly this effect doesn't work all the time.

[@TheGoldSwordSquad]

Can't wait to see this later today

[@benjwilliams98]

Brilliant stay till after the credits! Absolute gem!

[@TheGoldSwordSquad]

@@benjwilliams98 Thanks for reminding me. Probably wouldn't have remembered to otherwise

[@TheKametamis]

Eye candy deluxe

[@DavidHeffron78]

It was really, really good.

[@AndrewStrife]

I noticed that too about the 3d

[@mattjazzfan2288]

Lol the same thing happened to me, I had to turn around to make sure I wasn’t in a 3D screening

[@robgilbert1323]

Spider-Mans true home in film ANIMATION .

[@PursuedByAMemory]

It's called "Chromatic Abberation" Mark.

[@JNeverMindMe]

So thrilled to watch it!

[@benjwilliams98]

Julian Sp make sure to stay after credits finished

[@JNeverMindMe]

@@benjwilliams98 Will do, Ben! :D

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Watched this last night. Really good, good jokes and a real sense of fun and wonder. Best Spider-Man film since the first two Sam Rami/Tobey Maguire ones.

[@HolisticHealthWithHarry]

Best film of the year!

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film is an effective, stylish, well acted, well directed & well crafted animated Spider Man film that’s A treat for kids & adults. (91%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)

[@Pilgs33]

Spot on 👌🏾

[@TheSt1092]

Not quite.

[@Kylerinho]

Worth seeing in 3D

[@carljthatsme94]

For those coming here in anticipation of the DVD release: It's a masterpiece.

[@damonmilline2995]

Best Spider Man Movie Of All Time Hands Down!!!!! Loved Miles and Gwen, can't wait for them to become a couple. They actually get married and have children in the comic book.

[@bebaguette766]

How much Cage do we get? I need more Cage.

[@chrisparkes]

Henry G enough to make an impression.

[@kongwookieedon3303]

Anything like the Comic Book?

[@diccchocolate416]

Well it's like a fusion of 6 different spider man characters from different comic series

[@sgwh2002]

It’s “Spider-Ham” Mark.

[@emperater]

Let's support art like this and not over cgied nonsense. I'm looking at you Aquaman

[@sambam007]

I’d like to watch a dedicated movie on the film noire Spider-Man

[@mathieuleader8601]

hope it wins an oscar

[@TheSt1092]

If it isn't at least on the nominations list for Best Animated Feature/Film at the BAFTA's and Oscars it's a travesty of justice

[@mathieuleader8601]

@@TheSt1092 it would be a shame

[@leocmen]

Better than EndGame

[@patrickwheeler5701]

spider-man : into the spidervers #3 ......come on

[@stingersplash]

Peter Porker? Spider-Woman? I'm pretty sure even in the trailer they mentioned spider ham and spider gwen. Anyway I'm seeing this Tuesday, my first visit in 13 years. I'm that excited to see this right away.

[@mortalhellion]

Mark Kermode: Nice nod to the Doctor Who TV show tying it in with the Spiderman movie. Each incarnation of the Doctor is vastly different from other incarnations giving the show a fresh breath of air and longevity it needs. #TomBakerRules.

[@diccchocolate416]

See the difference is that all of the doctors are at the end of the day, the same person. While Spider-man Noir and Spider-Gwen are completely different people.

[@MARKW8869]

An underwhelming review by Mark. I absolutely loved this, and for me the best marvel film of the year. In 3d it was utterly mind blowing.

[@opszanski]

*Talking about the distracting CG water in Aquaman* "When you start worrying about that stuff... it means that something isn't clicking." *Talking about the distracting unrendered backgrounds in Spiderman* "If you're down to that level of quibbling, then it means that generally the movie itself is working really well"

[@maverickmak]

Nice selective quoting.

[@opszanski]

@@maverickmak 👌

[@BradRapstars]

he's right

[@sakurathornsickle5681]

Haha he always uses the above to highlight that there’s a problem but it’s rare to hear it the other way round

[@Amy-J]

To be fair, both quotes *are* true.

[@FlowerProductions1]

Wonder if Mark has seen series 11 of Dr who...

[@H0lyMoley]

@@mabusestestament It started really rough, got better and better as it's gone along. (Except for "The Witchfinders". Yeah, that one was pretty bad.) "It takes you away" was really good though. If the awkward early episodes put you off this season (and they kinda did that for me as well), episodes like "Kaboom" and "It Takes You Away" might redeem it a bit. Less "preachy" with better writing and better use of the central characters.

[@film79]

He doesn't watch Doctor Who.

[@saxbend]

I had the same visual problem and I felt that that quibbling meant the film wasn't good enough to distract me from it. Didn't enjoy it very much overall. Probably just not my thing, but the style of drawing alienated me.

[@TheMariokart7fan]

It’s the Doctor not Doctor Who

[@twyckoff87]

If he likes it: I had a small problem with the animation, but if your quibbling about that it means the movie is generally working. If he doesn't like it: I had a small problem with the animation, and if your quibbling about that it means the rest of the movie isn't working.

[@coreykitchen5269]

Week 3 of asking Mark to officially review BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

[@maxking2414]

He gets close on his Kermode on Film podcast, where he discusses it with Jack Howard :)

[@kevimca]

Aquaman review - Kermode quibble about breathing underwater and says if he's thinking of this then something isn't working. Spider-Man review - Kermode quibbles about background visuals and says if he's thinking about this then it means everything else is fine. The lack of consistency doesn't lend itself to authority.

[@ajrein4226]

You seem like another butthurt DC fan?

[@kevimca]

@@ajrein4226 You're not qualified to assess that. And you're also incorrect.

[@twyckoff87]

This movie was exhausting.

[@diccchocolate416]

In what way

[@MitzyAndSadie]

Massively disappointed with this. No story, boring dialogue, a tsunami of references that six of the loudest nerds anywhere on this planet wanted to let people in adjacent theatres know they understood (I’m all for audience participation but they really made me hate this experience). The decision to drop the frames of the leads was horribly misjudged IMO. It was simply dull, not funny or charming. Homecoming was infinitely better

[@TheSt1092]

Hogwash.

[@MitzyAndSadie]

Stephen Taylor a matter of opinion, of course. But I wouldn’t recommend this drivel to anyone

[@TheSt1092]

@@MitzyAndSadie You need to lighten up.