“It’s a leap of faith. That’s all it is,” -Peter B. Parker

Look, I’ve watched many Spider-Man movies in my time. From The Amazing Spider-Man, to the more recent Spider-Man: Homecoming (and everything before and after and in between), it’s safe to say I’ve had my fair share of Peter Parker over the years. He’s a character I’ve grown up with, a pinnacle part of my childhood; a character that I’ve come to be attached to, even if I’m not quite out on Twitter tracking down spoilers for the upcoming Marvel movie or over analyzing clues from previous ones. And so, with that I’ll say, no matter how much I love the live action films and the Spider-Men Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland gifted us, take Peter Parker’s advice and take a leap of faith; watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

This movie is a force to be reckoned with. It follows teenager Miles Morales, an Afro-Latino kid from the Brooklyn, through his journey in becoming the next Spider-Man (in this universe). One thing to note is that this is a multiverse movie, so there are various different spider-peoples/animals that’ll pop up throughout the film. It’s action-packed, with every moment serving a purpose no matter how much or how little was really happening up on screen; and despite there being moments that could have caused the movie to drag, Miles, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker, and Spider-Ham (all the different spider-men/women/pigs. Don’t ask. Watch the movie) makes it very difficult to feel bored at all.

Let’s talk visuals. While I had decided months ago that I would eventually watch Into the Spider-Verse, I still initially felt put off by the idea of seeing an animated movie; but this was not “just a kid’s movie” by any means. I can’t say much about the technology and the different techniques used, but I can say that it’s like watching a live-action comic-book. The way that the movie flowed and characters moved, it’s insane what the producers of this movie managed to do. It is truly unlike any other animated film I’ve ever seen.At the end of that day, Into the Spider-Verse is more than just action and adventure. It’s more than just another superhero movie, because Miles’ story and character isn’t merely fiction; it’s real life. From his family, his school, and his life in Brooklyn, all of it is familiar to so many, and that’s what truly makes Into the Spider-Verse so great; the fact that a kid like Miles, and a kid like Peni Parker, and a kid like Spider-Woman, are all out there, right in the audience, finally seeing themselves up on the big screen. What makes this movie so great is the message it sends to every kid, teenager, and adult as they make their way out of the theater: “anyone can wear the mask” -Miles Morales