Spider-Noir Review: Nicolas Cage Finally Gets His Perfect Superhero Movie
By Vlixx Magazine Entertainment Section
LOS ANGELES – After many years and many failed attempts with many comic book heroes, Nicolas Cage, an actor nominated for an Oscar, finally got a superhero role that matches his personality.
Spider-Noir, a new Spider-Man series by Amazon MGM Studios set to air on Prime Video starting May 27, sees Nicolas Cage donning a trench coat to chase criminals in 1930s New York City. And what emerges is perhaps one of the most bizarre and confident superhero shows to date, winning critical acclaim with its unique narrative and visual style, as well as Cage’s quirky leading role.
While the majority of superhero shows try to recreate the formula of comics in movies, Spider-Noir decides to ignore them completely.
No threatening aliens shooting out of the sky. No obligation to build a franchise around this movie or any other. In this, the main character is just a regular detective with the ability to use spider powers.
A Spider-Man Tale Unlike Any Other
This cartoon introduces us to Ben Reilly, a tired private detective and former Spider-Man called “The Spider.” This series takes place in an alternative New York city of the Great Depression epoch, where everything is ruled by gangsters, corruption, peculiar cases, and bitter personal experiences.
This is really something that deviates much from what fans of Spider-Man may imagine.
Instead of the familiar story of Peter Parker, who grows up in the childhood, here we see a grown man with many emotions inside who tries to find his way through the enigmas of the city.
And this decision seems to be absolutely justified.
The atmosphere of a noir film gives much room for the hero to reflect on himself, which allows us to dive deep into his inner world.
Unleashing Nicolas Cage
The only justification for seeing this movie, if there ever was any, would be Nicolas Cage.
In the past, Cage has always been someone who could do anything. Whether on big-budget films or smaller independent productions, Cage can effortlessly slip through all kinds of roles.
In some cases, Cage makes films that deliberately try to be inexplicable.
But in this, he raises the bar on that tradition.
Ben Reilly is the kind of character you will find somewhere between a typical noir detective and a comic book villain.
When it comes to acting, critics have noted that this one goes from Hollywood’s golden age to contemporary Cage style.
All this adds up to a man that is at once absurd and fascinating to watch.
While he tells the tale of his adventures with the traditional noir detective voice, he just throws caution to the wind and dives into a fight realizing what a strange story it all is.
Black-and-White Version of the Experiment Works Very Well Indeed
What makes this different from all the other television series on the market is the fact that there will be two versions of the series available on Amazon. On first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than just a marketing scheme.
It is quite possible that it may turn out to be the best decision yet.
This technique really brings out the strengths of the series in almost all aspects. Darkness, light, cigarettes, rain and all the rest create a sense of nostalgia. The black-and-white version of the series has even been suggested by some critics.
Although the color version will still exist, the black-and-white version gives the series its uniqueness.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Gets a Well-Earned Victory With Spider-Noir
There is no better time than now for the release.
Recently, Sony’s attempt to establish an extensive Spider-Man universe hasn’t been very successful, as illustrated by their films like Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter. These movies struggled with establishing that there are indeed characters connected with Spider-Man who could establish themselves as part of a movie franchise.
What makes Spider-Noir successful is its refusal to be relevant within the greater universe.
It does not try to fit in with anything else. It is a mystery series, a period piece, and a superhero movie, but sometimes it is also something else entirely.
Conclusion
All audiences will not like Spider-Noir.
Fans of the Spider-Man comics might find the dark tone and unique take on the show somewhat off-putting. The others could have difficulties tolerating Nicolas Cage mania present in every episode.
But for everyone sick of typical superhero shows, Spider-Noir offers a rare commodity in today’s landscape—uniqueness.
It is chic, oddball, funny, and doesn’t give a damn about conventions.
Even more importantly, it knows something that many other adaptations of superheroes fail to realize.
Difference is a superpower, too.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
Yahoo! Entertainment: Should Fans Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ In Black And White Or Color? The Cast Weighs In
IndieWire: ‘Spider-Noir’ Review: Nicolas Cage Slings Peak Strangeness in Amazon’s Slick Spider-Man Spinoff
mashable: ‘Spider-Noir’ review: Nicolas Cage rules in a Spider-Man story unlike any you’ve seen before
Featured Image Courtesy of James H.‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image #1 Courtesy of Tim White‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image #2 Courtesy of Tom Hamilton‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
