‘Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse’ Movie Review: Fanboy’s Heads Will Explode
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 01 June 2023 15:11
- Written by Lupe R Haas
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is artistry at its best. The amount of animation styles is crazy, and the numerous Easter Eggs keep your eyes ping-ponging trying to catch all the Spider-verse characters. The stakes and visuals are intense, and it will require multiple viewings to take in all the overwhelming animation and surprising plot twists.
Miles Morales continues his adventure as Brooklyn’s Spider-Man, but when he follows Gwen Stacy into the Multi-verse, he encounters dozens of Spider-People including Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) who may not be an ally.
Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Luna Lauren Velez reprise their roles with Oscar Isaac, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Samberg, and Jason Schwartzman joining the voice cast.
ANIMATION
Watching SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is overwhelming. The sequel digs deeper into Gwen Stacy’s background, and the animation is different for her world, as is for the different multi-verses the film visits with the introduction of new Spider-people. The best way to describe ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is eye candy for comic book fans. The visuals take their influence straight from the comic books. Sometimes it’s jarring but it keeps the momentum going for a film with a two-hour and sixteen-minute running time.
At the Los Angeles premiere, executive producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord revealed the film was completed one week before its release on Friday, June 2. It’s not hard to see why with the different worlds coming to life in the sequel to the Oscar-winning film. ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is not just a movie, but a piece of art and meriting another win for Best Animated Feature.
STORY
Messing with the Multiverse has consequences and previous films like DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS and the upcoming THE FLASH share similar themes. INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE introduced the multiverse through Spider-people who helped defeat the villain in Miles’s world but the animated flick takes it further.
The multiple worlds of Spider-people are fascinating and diverse. As a non-comic book fan, it’s overwhelming to watch all the characters that existed in comic books brought to animated life. Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, is a much more challenged character in the sequel. He continues to be endearing, and someone to root for especially after he finds out what’s at risk.
The first half of the sequel contains a lighter tone with humor, but when the stakes become higher, ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE gets into dark territory much like the first movie but more intense.
MUSIC
Like the first film, the somber soundtrack adds a sense of danger to the action. The sounds are unique and fit the visuals beautifully. That’s another worthy soundtrack to own.
CONCLUSION
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE may not be for everyone. It’s a busy movie, and casual fans will be assaulted with tons of information and characters. If you’re not invested or versed in this comic book style of storytelling, this may be out of your league.
Fanboys will appreciate the movie so much more since it serves up fan service. Non-fanboys will also like the movie if you can keep up. That is why SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is one of those movies that will need a few viewings to really appreciate the beautifully-crafted animation and story.
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is now playing in movie theaters.