Colorful, dazzling and possibly the most original superhero movie to date

Rating: 9/10 (23 April 2020)

In "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" it's all about Spider-Men, as we don't get one version of Marvel's classical superhero but seven. This enjoyable action film follows high school student Miles Morales who, drum roll, gets bitten by a mutated spider which gives him similar superpowers to that of the legendary Spider-Man (plus invisibility). As ruthless crime lord Kingpin experiments on cross-dimensional travels, Spider-Men from various alternate timelines joins Miles in his quest to stop him. There are plenty of superhero movies out there, and it might be hard to persuade non-fans of the genre to watch them. A comic book fan myself, I won't lie and say that the majority of Marvel and DC films are cinematically groundbreaking. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is however a fresh sip hero comic book adaption that combines bold, vivid animation with eccentric storytelling. Apart from its eye-popping action sequences and colorful imagery, the film wraps its exciting plot with inviting humor and emotional weight, all lifted up tremendously well by the ensemble, in particular Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, and an unexpectedly funny Nicholas Cage. There are no tedious moments in this timeline-traveling film, from the most sit-at-the-end-of-the-couch fighting sequences, to the dramatic revelation that Miles' beloved uncle is a brutal criminal, I hope to see much more well-crafted, animated films in the Spider-Verse. In a time of superhero hysteria, the amazing "Into the Spider-Verse" might be crucial for the genre's future.