Review - Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse
Bad things are going to happen. It’s what makes us who we are.
Directed by: Joaqium Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, David Callaham
Starring: Shamiek Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Issac
Running Time: 140 minutes
Rating: 4.5/5
I remember being extremely naïve when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse first came out in 2018. Granted, I’ve always been a life-long fan of Spider-Man - ever since I can remember whether it was the second hand comics I would get from thrift stores with my parents, watching the old animated series back in the 90’s or the video games and Raimi-verse…I’ve always had a soft spot. Maybe it was just pessimism or even super-hero blues - when the first Spider-Verse was announced, I shrugged it off - “oh cool, another spidey film. is this mainline MCU or another Sony spin-off?” Yeah, it was probably another cog in the Marvel Machine (I know it’s Sony, relax). Another animated cash grab that’s built on nostalgia and a different art style to kick-off a multi-verse trend blah, blah, blah.
Buddy.
Yeah, I know. I was wrong. Into the Spider-Verse vastly separated itself from its contemporaries - from its absolute originality in narrative, superb and crisp art direction and stunning production design; it solidified itself as a new creative foundation for animation and comic book film. It was definitely not another cog in that machine. It was the first time in a long time where I felt absolutely enthralled and blown away by its originality and beautiful art direction in an animated film! I was bamboozled!
Five (long) years later - Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; an absolute powerhouse of a sequel that reaches for the skies - an ambitious rollercoaster adventure that electrifies, dazzles and leaves you breathless. A stunning spectacle, an open canvas of mish-mash water colour wavelengths whose heartbeat pulses with a raw, emotional core and an absolute beautiful feast for the eyes.
Across the Spider-Verse is the swing in the right direction. It not only elevates Miles’ world in scope, style and stature, but it continues to build upon webs strung from the first film. Identity and love are themes that are not unknown to Spider-Man lore, but this film is as much Gwen Stacy’s (Hailee Steinfeld) story as it is Miles (Shameik Moore). The film opens on her prologue, a waterfall of watercolor hues define Gwen’s world; the background canvas sifting through of blue, pink and white, subdued shades that differentiate itself from Miles’ world and art style. Like the other multi-verses, Gwen’s world is familiar but distinctly different. Her father, like Miles’, is a cop - but George Stacy is hell-bent on finding Spider-Woman. Jeff Davies, Miles’ father, is the same, but working in tandem with Spider-Man. Gwen’s position as Spider-Woman puts her at odds with her father, causing a rift in their relationship and an apparent loneliness in her soul. Miles is similar, but different - Jeff and Rio Morales are loving and supportive but Miles is absent and irresponsible. Two different worlds. Two similar Spiders.
“What if they only knew?”
The parallel that both divides Miles and Gwen in their worlds. What would life be like if their families knew who they really are? As much as Miles and Gwen seem star-crossed in their longing and love for each other; they are bound by their love for their families and the curse (or gift) of their abilities. This fuels a drive in the film’s narrative, both characters are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Miles is thrust back across the continuum of space and time when Gwen re-enters his world. He follows Gwen across the infinite realms of different Spidey worlds until he is caught in the midst of the destruction of one. An anomaly in the passage of time and narrative, Miles was never supposed to leave his world. When Miguel O’Hara, (Oscar Issac) Spider-Man 2099 captures Miles, Miles realizes that his identity is to be forged with an incoming tragedy. The choice is laid out before Miles - a chance to change his written destiny or one that he can define for himself, a tightrope of duty, love and honour; Miles’s decision challenges the stability of the multi-verses and ensues a chase against space and time.
I want to say that as much as the narrative and emotional beats carry the pulse of Spider-Verse, the film’s mastery in its art direction, production design and fluidity in its animation is its absolute star of the show. The film is a jolt of electricity in every frame - with boom!, whooooooosh, BAM! present in every set piece, colours fade in and out to match mood, tone and emotional beats - and even for the quiet moments, every frame paints a picture of joy, wonder and awe. The comic book world is ripped off the page to the screen with a beauty that astounds and mystifies. Depending if Miyazaki churns out his come back film, How Do You Live? this year - I think Spidey’s got another Oscar incoming.
Just short of a perfect review - I suspect some viewers may find this film too long, clocking in close of two and a half hours, the climax may feel whipped from under your feet (for a clear reason) as some viewers do not realize this is a clear part-one of the narrative that concludes next year in Beyond the Spider-Verse. Some viewers may find this film akin to Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest - a set up for the climax. Again, this was not a problem for me - but judging by the reaction of the crowd at the end of my screening - they were bamboozled.
In addition, my experience was dampened by the strange sound mixing throughout moments of the film. Watching this in Canada in a premium setting (UltraAVX) I was baffled that lines of dialogue were too quiet or even lost in the mixing during some sequences (especially in the opening narration or a climactic set piece) though, I wasn’t sure if that was just an unfortunate theatre experience or a true technical blunder of the film. Twitter seems to point to the latter but I’ll leave that up to you.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an animation God-send. A beautifully crafted adventure that stuns and amazes with every swing across new heights. Cathartic and poignant, the heart and soul is not lost even in the chaos of its kinetic pace. A vibrant explosion of dynamic storytelling and emotional weight.
Miles & Gwen’s story has just begun. There’s no cobwebs here, folks.
