Spider-Man. The classic superhero that got bitten by a radioactive spider and was granted spider powers. Spider-Man is a very intriguing character that has experienced many different evolutions. They could be a punk, a Lego figure, or even a dinosaur?! The Spider-Verse is a universe with all kinds of spider people. This Spider-Verse was introduced to us recently through 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” However, we’re here to talk about the newest work from Sony Pictures: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” I myself was anticipating this movie for five whole years and boy does it deliver.
This movie follows Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy, two spider-people from different worlds who become friends by fate, and who take comfort in knowing that they aren’t the only ones with spider blood. All of their worlds were originally connected through a device called the Collider, which was used to bridge the gap between different dimensions. These spider-people are the heroes of their respective worlds until the device ends up in the wrong hands, resulting in the crossover.
Within the movie, there are many elements of comedy and references to other famous works. I personally love the comedic touch added to this movie. The movie consists of a variety of jokes and references to things like the infamous “spideys pointing at each other,” or the bagel in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022). I thought these details were pretty subtle and gave me a good chuckle.
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” also consists of an amazing soundtrack with powerful meanings suited for each song. The soundtrack for this movie is outstanding with many collaborators like Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, Future, and many more talented artists. From rhythm, tempo, and pitch, all of these songs portray different emotions and bring liveliness to many scenes within the movie.
The storytelling and plot twists of “Across the Spider-Verse” are also absolutely mindblowing. There are many turns that you wouldn’t expect and so much character development between Gwen and especially Miles, who eventually figures out his own identity and how he can decide his own fate. I’m a huge fan of the storytelling and especially the sweet touch of heartwarming reunions between Gwen and Miles.
Don’t even get me started on the visuals for “Across the Spider-Verse.” The moment I sat down in my seat, I could already tell how awesome it was going to be. The animation and unique artwork already told me a lot about the movie and how much effort was put in. The art takes on many different visual styles, including realistic, 2D, cartoonish, and even “straight out of a comic book page” art. I love what they did with this whole movie, giving details to even minor things like glitches within the system. The art is just so visually appealing; it’s easily the best part of the movie.
Overall, I thought very highly of this movie and it also far exceeded my expectations. My expectations were already set really high because this movie took five years to even come out. This movie is a must-watch for you, your friends, and your family… it is a must-watch for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a fan of Marvel or not. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” releases for digital streaming on July 18th.
