The latest in a long line of Spider-Man films, Spider-man- Into the Spider-verse is one of the most memorable and well-made superhero films so far.
While every other Spider-man film has centered on Peter Parker, this time we see the story of Miles Morales, the Afro-American teenager who takes over the role after Parker’s death. His story hasn’t been told on screen until now.
But it’s not only about morals, Into the Spider-verse tells the story of not one but five spider-people.
The basic plot is that arch-villain The Kingpin is trying to bring together multiple dimensions into one, in order to bring his family back.
As a result, Spider-people from four different dimensions are dumped into Miles’ own and have to work together to get home. It’s not a complicated or nuanced story by any means, but the skilled animation, its heartfelt moments, and the unapologetic fun of the film makes it shine.
The first thing you notice, and probably the most special thing about the film, is the animation. The style is entirely unique. In fact, it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before. With text worked into the graphics, it feels like you’re watching a comic book. It certainly makes a change from the house style of studios such as Illumination, which dominates the animated film industry.
Into the Spider-verse has something for everyone. In many ways, it’s the perfect kids film, with plenty of action, diverse characters and far better writing than you’ll find in the likes of Hotel Transylvania. But it also contains enough humour and good film-making for adults, who will find plenty to enjoy.
4/5