‘Spider-Man: 

Into the Spider-Verse’: A Fresh Take on a 

Venerable Hero

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” 

contains a vital element that has been missing from too many recent 

superhero movies: fun. This animated 

reworking of the Spidey mythos is 

fresh and exhilarating in a way that 

very few of its live-action counterparts — including the last couple of “Spider-Man” chapters — have been. 

Its jaunty, brightly colored 

inventiveness and its 

kid-in-the-candy-store appetite for pop culture ephemera give “Into the Spider-Verse” some of the kick of 

the first “Lego Movie.”

And, as I was saying, a lot of fun. 

The story is clever and just 

complicated enough, 

moving quickly through silly bits, 

pausing for moments of heart-tugging sentiment, and losing itself in wild 

creative mischief. It is referential 

(and reverential) enough to Marvel 

traditions to please the geek armies, 

and perfectly accessible to new 

recruits or part-time warriors.

It finds realism, too. 

This may be the first “Spider-Man”

feature to qualify as a great New York movie, drawn from the life of the city 

rather than outdated stereotypes. 

Streets and subways, apartments and schoolyards are beautifully and 

faithfully drawn, as are humans of all 

ages, shapes and hues. The people 

talk fast, the music is loud and 

sometimes hectic, and everyone is in motion all the time. 

Even the tourists from other universes are sorry to leave.

Glossary:

take/teɪk/

n. a way of looking at a thing; perspective; view:

venerable/ˈvenərəbl/

adj. profoundly honored

exhilarating/ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/

adj. very exciting and enjoyable

e.g.

Riding is an exhilarating experience.

Riding makes me feel exhilarated.

jaunty/ˈdʒɑːn.tɪ/

adj. lively

e.g.

Lala is walking the jaunty walk.

ephemera/ɪˈfemərə/ 

n.  things which last for only a short time

kick/kɪk/

n. Great fun

e.g.

go skating for kicks

get kicks out of skating

lose oneself in

indulge

e.g.

lose oneself in thought

mischief/ˈmɪstʃɪf/

n. bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm（mischievous, adj.）

e.g.

the God of Mischief

reverential/ˌrevəˈrenʃl/

adj. full of respect or admiration

hue/hjuː/

n. a colour; a particular shade of a colour

hectic/ˈhektɪk/ 

adj. very busy; full of activity

be in motion

 revolve; turn round

e.g.

Her long hair is constantly in motion.