Mark Costello’s review published on Letterboxd:
So I finally get round to the cinematic second coming of last year. Good job I didn't let the hype get to me then...…...
Its very much a film of two halves for me - firstly, the story and narrative. Its fantastically well done, with all the requisite nods and winks to both comic book and cinematic lore (loved the glossing over of Spider-Man 3's infamous dance sequence) tucked in nicely alongside a decent narrative and more importantly great character work.
Whilst its main plot is typical 'bad guy builds world destroying device which needs shutting down', every single character within it is given a huge amount of depth, even sometimes with very limited screen time. The relationship between one of the Parkers and Morales is brilliantly drawn and nicely touching and even the fringe characters (most of the Spider People and King-Pin) get their own quirks and moments to shine that all feel part of a cohesive whole.
Its simply great story telling that manages the balance of adult themes (outsiders fitting in, growing up, family relationships), more family friendly story telling (the humour, both childishly slapstick and knowingly wry, and the simplicity in which it wraps everything up in) and pulse quickening action setpieces wonderfully.
But the second half that is less successful for me is its art style. Huge kudos for trying something so different to the norm, but it didn't work for me at all. For the first 15 minutes I kept thinking I'd got a 3D disc and was watching it without glasses - the pin sharp foreground juxtaposed with the fuzzy and out of focus background just grated and whilst it had some really great art work going on (the animation, some of the compositions, the comic book panels), I just didn't like that overall style. I didn't let it get in the way of the story after a while, but it was just something that didn't click with me at all.
On so many levels it fully deserves all its plaudits from last year. Genuinely great storytelling, focussing on all the stuff we're constantly told isn't in these kiddy comic book movies - character, humour, character, emotion and a little bit more character just for good measure. Story-wise, so good, yet style-wise, be prepared for a possible marmite viewing experience...….
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