Krishna
This is a very interesting movie. First of all, after all the ‘reality’ Spiderman movies, Sony animation studio chose to go back in time to an animated version of Spiderman. A very bold move, that, and was risky too. But it paid off in spades. This movie is great.
In addition, they decided to do the comic book thing on top of all the animation and that was another risky move on top of the original risky decision. That pays off too. Those of you who grew up on a diet of comic books would love the gigantic “POW!” or “AAAAAAAAH” in letters that run across the screen, not to mention the angled lines that denote the spider sense tingling! And those of you who have not grown up that way also ostensibly like this, as this movie is raking in the moolah. Nice move, Sony!
There is contemporary humour. When the pig Spiderman (yes, we will come to it) says ‘That’s all folks!’ somone asks him ‘Are you allowed to say that?’ referring no doubt to the trade marked Warner Brothers Animation slogan of Porky Pig. This makes the movie funny and cheeky at the same time and adds more polish to the story.
The story itself uses another of the old time favourites. The comic gurus, and particularly the ever versatile and impressive (Late) Stan Lee used to mix science into this, talking about multiverses, alternate universes and stuff. This movie goes deep into multiple universes and also multiple realities in the multiple universes. The Spiderman in the ‘current’ universe (where we are presumably since we are watching the movie in this universe) Spiderman dies in the third scene. (Looks like real death but then comic book writers have killed off their heroes multiple times without worrying about how they will create a sequel even in their heydays (Fifties and Sixties) so why worry about it now and here?
The story Is about Miles Morales, son of a police officer. He loves his uncle Aaron and is close to him. (All black people – interesting and nice, but do you see a pattern here? Now black heroes are cool, there is a flood of them everywhere)
When Miles goes with Uncle Ben since he is freaked out about going to an ‘elite’ school chosen by his dad, he gets bitten by a radioactive spider. (Yeah, I know). He gets superpowers but does not know how to use them. There are hilarious scenes of his getting the glue caught up in a collegue’s (Gwen) hair and she having to shave it partly off. This was before he saw Spiderman die at the hands of Fisk’s cronies. Fisk is the super-villain in this movie. Fisk is trying to activate ‘the accelerator’ (as in particle accelerator, presumably) that opens doors to another dimension to get his dead family to come back – where, in another dimension, they are not dead, of course.
Spiderman was trying to stop him. Now, our Miles realizes that he has to do the job. He puts on a cheap costume Spiderman suit and goes for it. He now falls into line when in trouble, with several alternate universe versions of Spiderman: Spider Ham, a pig; Gwen herself in a while suit, Spiderman Noir, who wears a black suit. A manga-like Spidergirl; thre is MaryJane who has spider powers, whose boyfriend, Peter Parker, was killed and she was unable to save him!
There is another replica of Peter Parker (who teaches our Miles the tricks of the trade reluctantly). This one is black haired. (You say huh? Peter Parker of the comic books is black haired right? Right, but in this universe the one who got killed was blond.
Ok enough of the background. There are cool scenes where Miles realizes with surprise who the super villain’s super assistant Prowler is; where he meets his father (who does not like ‘the original’ spiderman because his methods were not right) and hugs him, taking his father by complete surprise – because he does not reveal who he is.
Miles realizes that he has two extra powers that are not (at least shown to be) with other Spider folks. He can turn invisible, and also he has a ‘venom blast’ which can knock out people and things.
It all ends well after a lot of great action, which is difficult to narrate here. The total effect is one of fun ride with a lot of humour, some really touching twists, and some comebacks where the pupil exceeds the teacher.
Nice romp, worth your while to see it. ‘
8/10
– – Krishna