At one point in the movie, we’re told that “anyone can wear the mask.” And that transcends not just in the story of young Miles Morales but also in the manner in which Sony Pictures presented Phil Lord’s vision for the webslinger we’ve all grown to love.

“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” is a complete surprise for this writer. Maybe it’s because there’s already been tons of iterations of the story. So I came into the cinema with very little expectations.

By the end of the movie, “Into The Spider-Verse” is among my top 3 Spider-Man movie of all time.

Directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman put together their genuius caps and worked off a great script by Lord and Rothman to create one of the most memorable superhero movies in history. No exaggeration there.

Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a smart young lad from Brooklyn who feels like he has no choice over his life. Despite his refusal, his police offer father, forces him to study to a new posh school so he can hone his skills and talents. He misses his friends and can’t seem to do what he wants so he reluctantly obeys.

His only confidante is his uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), which is father disapproves of because of Aaron’s previous brushes with the law.

Just like in the other Spider-Man movies, the teen gets bitten by a radioactive spider, he wakes up to a new skill set. A little distraught and clueless to what he should do, he encounters the real Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Chris Pine) who came from another universe.

It’s also important to note that the Spider-Man (Jake Johnson) Miles knows is dead–killed by Kingpin (Liev Schreiber). How it’s possible to have two Peter Parkers at the same time will be (awsomely) explained by the movie.

Reluctant and unable to decide for himself (again) at first, Miles starts to come to terms with his destiny with the help of the many Spider-Men.

Since it’s a story we already know, there’s the risk of becoming too familiar to the point of boredom. But that isn’t the case in this movie thanks to the stunning animation.

I think it’s safe to say that the animation is groundbreaking. The style is fresh and definitely something that will tickle your fancy. It’s perfect for retelling a familiar story. Revolutionary, in fact.

The animators were able to combine various styles. Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage) is clearly different from the other characters. And so was Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) who was drawn manga-style.

The filmmakers were able to showcase their creative sensibilities in this one. And the result is a stunning movie that can hold its ground in the Spider-Man franchise. It’s compelling, entertaining, and awe-inspiring.

In fact, compared to the other Spidey films, “Into The Spider-Verse” tackled a grander, more universal themes. Here, Miles not only has to deal with his teenage woes. He also has to come to terms with his destiny as New York’s newest savior. Story-wise, it’s also evidently challenging because there are five other Spider-Men (and women) whose stories need to be told.

And we didn’t get the short end of the stick when it cames to that. The directors and writers were able to tell their stories in a creative way, without the risk of digression.

I absolutely love how they made it like you’re reading an animated comic book and alluded to different scenes from the previous Spider-Man interpretations. It’s genius how they were able to pay homage to the earlier movies while making its own mark. Oh, and don’t forget the touching Stan Lee cameo.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was, in every aspect, a visual feast.

^{Photos by Columbia Pictures}