'Across the Spider-Verse' thwips into theaters
Miles Morales is back for another action-packed adventure!
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" cements itself as one of the best animated movies in recent memory and does a fantastic job of carrying Miles' story from the first movie ("Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,") and allowing it to bloom and progress further than any of us guessed it could.
As a recap of the previous movie, Miles was an ordinary teen from Brooklyn, NY until he is accidentally bitten by a multiversal radioactive spider and was thrusted on an epic adventure with multiple spider-people. A year later after the events of the first movie, Miles realizes he’s not achieving what he wants to do in life, a visit from his multiverse love interest, Gwen Stacy, sends him on a wild adventure through the multiverse. There he is faced with a decision that sets off a Spider-Verse Civil War and could alter the fate of the Marvel universe forever.
The story of this movie is some of the best Spider-Man-related storytelling you'll ever witness. Every action and movement has meaning and purpose. Absolutely no time is wasted, and the movie kicks off with a great reintroduction to the Spider-Verse, to teenaged Miles' life as Brooklyn, N.Y.'s one-and-only spider person and to how he earned his spot on the web. Even if you are a newcomer to this franchise, there's an inventive recap of the first movie and everything important that happened.This is a film that can bring new fans into the franchise while keeping existing fans hungry for more.
All the characters, both old and new, were fantastic. I did not dislike a single character in this film -- they are all perfect and incredibly intriguing -- but I did have my favorites.
The chemistry between Miles (Shamiek Moore) and Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) continues to be one of the highlights of the franchise. I loved seeing their relationship be tested as the decision Miles has to make sets a course for an intense relationship.
Spider-Man 2099 was a great anti-hero, trying to help the multiverse from collapsing by forcing Miles to make his decision, and the brawl that breaks out between the two of them is some of the best combat I’ve witnessed in a movie theater. The fight scenes, through few, rival "John Wick" in terms of visuals.
I also enjoyed all the different art styles in the movie. When you look at the film and then find out it took five years to develop each style is crazy to me. This movie is literally a moving piece of art, and it’s incredible.
All the comedy landed for me, and all the complicated emotions and story beats showcased in the film. This a film that was meant for everyone. Even if you hate superhero movies, you will fall in love with the characters as everyday people trying to determine what the right thing to do is.
The blend of 2D and 3D animation is spectacular. Every scene has a small Easter egg for Spider-Man fans but also doesn't alienate newcomers and inspires the viewer to see the movie multiple times to catch everything. I loved all the scenes in Spider-Man 2099's universe and the Gwen Stacy universe. I could see both those styles of animation spawning spinoff films and I would be all in!
Overall it’s worth all the hype and may be the best Spider-Man movie of all time, at least until part three comes out next year. I’d give it a 10/10.
Clip courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment via YouTube. (C) 2023; All Rights Reserved.
