Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Swinging through the crowded superhero-movie skyline, this bold, Oscar-winning animated spin on the Peter Parker story boasts a pulsing hip-hop soundtrack and dazzling visuals that give Spider-Man a welcome refresh. The film follows teenager Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) as he deals with a new school, puberty, girls - oh, and being bitten by a radioactive spider. While caught between his cool confidante of an uncle (Mahershala Ali) and strict NYPD cop dad (Brian Tyree Henry), Miles must save the city as the greedy Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) threatens to destroy his universe with a space-time collider. When the malfunctioning machine lets in different versions of Spider-Man from alternate dimensions, Miles meets a jaded, divorced Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), whose spark is just bright enough to help him mentor the young Spidey. The clever combination of realistic character animation with comic book-style graphic bursts results in a glossy and slick film that is packed with inventive design. The script's youthful humour maintains the human charm that is typical of other Spideymovies, but the highlight here is the other versions of Spider-Man that we meet along the way. Each brilliantly written and innovatively animated, they bring vibrant energy to this colourful masterpiece.