PIC of the Week – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Okay, I know there’s a lot out there to choose from: If Beale Street Could Talk, Stan & Ollie, Vice, and Bumblebee. Those are some great releases for a two week span. All of them worthy of catching, and if you’re not a Transformers fan, Bumblebee may very well change your mind. Now, taking them all into consideration both in what they have to offer as far as story and technical presentation wise, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment swings into action with one of the very best 4K presentations of the year, Spider-Man: into the Spider-Verse.
To the more sophisticated adults out there, you may think this is the most ridiculous title to be released. Many of you probably wondered how this could have possibly won best animated film over Disney, Pixar, and Wes Anderson’s ingenious Isle of Dogs. I know I did, until I saw it.
Take one long look, and you will discover one of the smartest and innovative movies of last year. The story could be one of the best adaptations of our friendly neighborhood spider-guy. It’s definitely one of the most humorous. And, if you are a fan of animation, you cannot help but be blown away by how well directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, writer/director Rodney Rothman, writer Phil Lord and their team of animators crafted this spectacular presentation that represents Marvel at its very best.
In the beginning, we are re-introduced to the Spidey we all know and love. He goes over his adventures, recalls and pokes fun at one of his lesser loved movies, and reminds us of his merchandising. But, that’s the Peter Parker/Spider-Man we know.
In an alternate universe, a young Miles Morales, awkward high school student, is about to accidentally become Spider-Man as well. But, this young man does not have an “Uncle Ben” or “Aunt May”. Instead, he has a loving but overbearing father who happens to a cop who is not an admirer of the web-slinger. He’s also about to come face-to-face with our Spider-Man while trying to stop the Green Goblin and Kingpin from unleashing a particle accelerator.
Okay, if I’ve lost the adults right now, it’s my fault. This film is less complicated than I’m making it out to be. In a nutshell, the Miles/Spider-Man ends up meeting with four other alternate universe Spider-Men, each one stranger then the other. It’s great fun, full of action and laughs with some very talented voices including Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali, Lily Tomlin, Zoe Kravitz and many more.
Visually, this film is a stunner, one of the greatest 4K presentations available. The color palette is damn near eye-popping. To be honest, if you had any appreciation for comic books as a kid (or as an adult), you will fall in love with this movie. No one has ever captured the pure feel of a comic strip come to life like Spider-Man: into the Spider-Verse. The Blu version can be a pure delight, but the 4K version provides such a greater attention to detail, and the colors – it actually is the epitome of the old slogan from the Walt Disney show, the wonderful world of color. The 4K feels like it has been lifted right off the pages of Marvel.
Audio-wise, this presentation delivers incredible spatial effects for both the Blu and 4K. The difference being, well, let’s say for some of us, more is better. Yes, the 4K does make great use of the Dolby ATMOS and those extra two speakers for those lucky enough to have a 7.1 system. But, where this 4K really shows off is in the films climax. How can one have so much going on and still keep it distinct and not have one thing overpowering the other: effects, dialogue, music. The ATMOS works overtime to bring it all together to an ear pleasing effect.
Bonuses! Holy cow, Batman! Oops, wrong universe. Sony slings plenty of fun extras including on the 4K side:
• Audio commentary with directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman and producers Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
• Spider-Ham Caught in a Ham short subject (no disrespect to Spider-Ham)
On the 1080p side:
• Alternate Universe Mode Viewing Option (this adds 25 extra minutes of cut and unfinished material – a real joy for fans)
• Audio Commentary featuring directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman with producers Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
• Spider-Ham Caught in a Ham Short Subject
• We Are Spider-Man
• Spider-Verse A New Dimension
• The Ultimate Comic Cast
• Designing Cinematic Comic Book Characters, Heroes and Hams
• Designing Cinematic Comic Book Characters. Scoundrels & Scorpions
• Tribute to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
• Spider-Verse Super Fan Easter Egg Challenge
• Sunflower music video by Post Malone & Swae Lee
Did I mention the Dolby Vision streaming download available from the 4K package? Giving you all the more reason not to purchase this one as a used copy which happens so often. This is one 4K that is slinging into my library.
Lowest Price: $27.96 Amazon/Walmart/Fry’s Electronics
