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Film Of The Week Spider-Man spins new web of wonder

MARIA DUARTE sees a great addition to the superhero series

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG)
Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman

DOES the world really need another Spider-Man film and what more can be said about this working-class vigilante superhero that has not already been covered in the endless adaptations, reboots and TV cartoons to date?

The answer to both questions is yes. This animated version, with six Spideys for the price of one, groundbreaking visuals animates and provides a new spin on a tale that has been done to death.

Plus it features a Spider-Man more befitting of our time in Brooklyn teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). Half Puerto Rican and half African-American he's a budding graffiti artist who was created in 2011 by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli.

As he tries to fit in at a new private school in Manhattan, he encounters five other counterparts from alternate universes. They include an older and bitter Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Noir (Nicolas Cage, who steals the film), Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) and anime Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn).

Together they team up to stop the criminal mastermind Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) from destroying New York.

Basically, the film-makers have recreated a comic book on the big screen and the graphics and animation will literally blow your mind as you slowly adjust to what's happening. At times, it seems like you are watching a 3D animation without the glasses but the blurry backgrounds are deliberate in capturing the comic-book drawings.

It is a visual marvel which is backed up by a rich, smart and engaging coming-of-age story, razor sharp dialogue and plenty of humour as it pokes fun at the Spider-Man universe and folklore.

One of the best and most imaginative superhero films in a very long while, it will appeal to adults and kids alike along with hard-core fans. Make sure to stay to the very end of the final credits — you won't be disappointed.

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