‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is a dazzling animated delight
- Sequel took five years to make but surpasses expectations, with a fast-paced storyline and brilliant visuals
- Use of typical comic book characteristics blends seamlessly with the charm of the movie screen
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is a brilliant work of animation and an overall entertaining film. Photo: Sony PicturesSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse quickly became a massive success after it was released in December 2018 and was widely acclaimed by both audiences and critics. Though a sequel was soon announced, it took five years to make. The wait was worth it, since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse surpasses all expectations.
Following the events of the previous film, Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) has become the new Spider-Man of the neighbourhood. Living a double life isn’t easy, however, and a threat from Miles’ past returns, threatening the stability of the multiverse. Thus, Miles embarks on a journey with his friends, including Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B Parker (Jake Johnson) from his last adventure, to fix everything.
The plot of travelling through the multiverse may be cliché at this point, but the film utilises the set-up well, and the different worlds allow for more characters and locations. Ultimately, the story belongs to Miles as he tries to keep his life together. He is relatable because, like many of us, he struggles to balance his duties with making new friends and staying close to his parents.
The multiverse concept also offers an alternative look at Spider-Man’s relationships through Gwen’s storyline and a post-happy-ever-after story about how Peter B Parker starts a family. It encourages the audience to stay engaged and watch the story unfold.
Like the first movie, the animation for Across the Spider-Verse is absolutely stunning. The first film used different art styles for different characters, and the sequel takes this concept a step further by using various styles to represent the many worlds in the multiverse, including a booming metropolis in India and a futuristic world where the surface and underground are divided by social class.
The use of typical comic characteristics, such as word boxes and dividing the screen into multiple blocks, turns the film into comic book pages and blends it with the charm of the screen. On top of that, the animation is incredibly smooth and detailed. The film is a visual feast and should be admired for its animation achievement.
It’s also a fast-paced, entertaining flick that demands audiences stay engaged. In return for your attention, the film overwhelms you with new information in each frame and tons of jokes, including the appearance of unconventional Spider-People and Miles’ awkwardness as he explores being a teen.
However, the plot does suffer from set-ups that are left as cliffhangers, especially in the last 20 minutes when the climax has passed, but the film continues so it can get to a place for the next movie to start. It makes the end feel unsatisfying, as it is not really the end and is instead filled with foreshadowing.
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This issue can easily be overlooked, however. Films such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Avengers: Infinity War suffered from the same problem. As soon as the next part is released, it wraps up the viewing experience. Watching the film is more enjoyable if you remember it is part of a series.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an instant classic with dazzling visuals and a refreshing story. So, find the biggest screen, grab all your friends, and check it out. The experience is worth it.