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

 

What does it mean to be Spider-,Man? I think nearly every single Spider-Man story out there has tried to tackle that struggle in some form. What makes a Spider-Man? Is it their never ending struggle to balance their personal life with that of the web slinger? Is it the losses they all share with Uncle Ben? Gwen Stacy? Aunt May? Through the infinite spread of the Spider-Verse, there are many variations of the super hero, but a lot of their journeys remain the same.  That struggle that each Spider-Man faces is something Miles Morales has to face and confront in his journey in Sony Animation's motion picture; Across the Spider-Verse

Released on June 2nd 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse serves as the 2nd installment in the Spider-Verse trilogy from Sony Animation Studios.  Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson and written by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham; Across the Spider-Verse follows titular character Miles Morales as he get's thrusted into another dimensional adventure which will send him spiraling across the infinite spread of the Spider-Verse. It's cast includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman and many more 

Sixteen months have passed since Miles Morales became the "one and only" Spider-Man in his own universe. Since then he's been trying to adjust to the struggle and responsibilities that come from being Spider-Man. With his school performance being flagged as a cause for concern, Miles finds himself opposing his parents as he strives to define his life as both Miles Morales and Spider-Man. Before he can tackle that issue however, he soon comes to meet his dimensional crush Gwen Stacey aka Spider-Woman as she comes into his universe in seek of aid in dealing with a dimensional anomaly.  Assisting Gwen takes Miles on a journey into the infinite Spider-Verse and into the heart of a new Spider-Society. The society is run by Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099, who takes an instant disliking to Miles and his presence in the society. Before too long Miles and Miguel come to blows and Miles has to face the reasonability of being Spider-Man in ways he never could have imagined.

The narrative behind Across the Spider-Verse impressed me beyond measure. I was initially expecting a fun adventure across different Spider-Verse but the film turned out to be a lot more than just that. I love how despite everything that's happening, the film pivots around Miles from start to finish and focuses on that key question of what defines his Spider-Man. Being around so many other Spider-People, he learns that they all share some similarities with one another and destiny has to unfold to make them who they are. In a wonderful twist, Miles is the one anomaly which apposes that idea and seeks to defy the destiny that awaits him. The film does a fantastic job in showcasing why that defiance is so in key with who he is as a person, the life he lives is a struggle but Miles seeks to make his own course and this defiance is what sets him at odds with the Spider-Society.  In a lot of ways it tackles the key question of what it means to be Spider-Man better than any other material I've experienced. 

The visual element of this film is something on a whole other level too. I cannot comprehend the amount of frames and animation cells used to create such a clearly distinct experience. The film looks amazing in the standard format of Miles universe, but when he jumps into different universes halfway through the film, it genuinely feels like we've entered a brand new film with how sharply the animation style jumps about. That ability to keep the animation centralized around Miles' own style but incorporate him in a lot of larger than life environments speaks to the technical craft the animators put into this film. That animation, color, sound and music all just blend to accompany this film to it's superb quality from start to finish.

Across the Spider-Verse may be the best Spider-Man film I've seen in my life. It truly get's the idea of what the struggle being Spider-Man is. It takes that struggle and spins it on it's head to give Miles Morales that much appreciated difference from all of the other Spider-People. It's a perfect film on both a visual and storytelling level and my only true hope is this level of quality will be matched or even surpassed when the final film in the trilogy; Beyond the Spider-Verse comes out in 2024.