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Film Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Welcome back to the blog readers. I recently saw the new film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and I wanted to share my thoughts. As a fan of the first film, Into the Spider-Verse, I was excited for this film and what possibilities it would offer up. And remember that I am not a fan of animated films, this is only the second one I've seen this year (and maybe the last one I will see).


Across the Spider-Verse was directed by the trio of Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson from a script by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and David Callaham. The film features the voices of Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, and Oscar Isaac, and sees Miles Morales go on an adventure across the multiverse with Gwen Stacy, only to come into conflict with the Spider Society on how to handle a new threat to the multiverse.


NOTE: Before I say anything further, I want to emphasize that I will NOT be using spoilers for the film. So if you have not seen it yet, you are safe to read ahead.


I do have to say that hearing all the positive word of mouth before seeing it was nice, although some people have called it not only their favorite comic book film of all time, some are calling it their favorite film of all time. Now I happen to be living in reality and do not plan on souring the good name of my favorite film of all time: Argo. Yeah, I said it. Come at me. But I will say that I had a hell of a lot of fun with this film, with me being of the mindset that it is far superior to its predecessor.


I have to say that the animation is insane. There were things in this film that completely shocked me with how they were pulled off. And the funny thing is that each universe traveled to in this film has its own animation style. The fact that so much love, care, and attention went into the animation says a lot about the passion of the filmmakers. The animation in each universe is slick, engaging, and sticks out just enough for the blind eye to notice. That is all I can really say due to not being an animation expert, but I hope that was able to convey my thoughts on it.


The voice cast for Across the Spider-Verse has leveled up. Shameik Moore shines as the voice of Miles Morales, and he is able to convey different emotions with just his voice. Between love, fear, and determination, Moore delivers a voice performance for the ages. Hailee Steinfeld is always wonderful in everything she is in, and Gwen Stacy is no different. She brings a youthfulness to this character that is infectious, and makes you want to root for her. I love how she was given more to do here, and I cannot wait to see more of her in next year's Beyond the Spider-Verse.


I want to commend two more people for their voice work. Oscar Isaac voices Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 to perfection. I love his blend of ruthlessness and pain that only Isaac could deliver, especially after his turn in Moon Knight. You could feel every word he says, and it is so easy to hang on to them. And finally, I want to give high praise to Jason Schwartzman as the villain of the film: the Spot. The Spot goes from the petulant, "I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing" kind of villain with a backstory, and turns into a legitimate threat to not just Miles's universe, but all of them. And that is all because of Schwartzman. He makes you feel the rage of his character, and the viciousness the Spot is capable of once he realizes his true potential. I cannot wait to see more of him in Beyond the Spider-Verse.


The story of this film is much better than that of Into the Spider-Verse. I see the story as one of self-reflection and self-redemption. Someone looking to change the outcome of the future knowing it may not work, but still taking the chance and diving headfirst into the unknown. I think that story is relatable on multiple facets, and I am glad that this story was told. Although I did have one major glaring issue with the film, and that is with the pacing. It did feel slow at points, but not enough to take you out of the film. And my goodness, that cliffhanger. What a twist ending.


The soundtrack curated and produced by Metro Boomin is unfortunately not as catchy as that of Into the Spider-Verse, but I still was able to point out a few of them as highlights. I may need another viewing and a listen to the soundtrack to be able to fully appreciate the songs. But the score by Daniel Pemberton was off the charts. He elevated every scene to the point of epicness, and truly delivered a Best Original Score contender at the Oscars.


In conclusion, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse dazzles with flawless animation and a stellar voice cast while telling a heartfelt and relatable story. Thank you all for reading, and be sure to get your tickets for Oppenheimer.

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