THE FILM
TITLE: Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
RELEASE DATE: 30 May 2023
WATCH DATE: 06 Aug 2023
TYPE: animated feature film
ACCESS: movie theater, now streaming on Netflix
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
PRODUCER: Avi Arad, Christina Steinberg, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Alonzo Ruvalcaba, Amy Pascal, Rebecca Karch Tomlinson, Julie Groll
ACTORS: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman, Oscar Isaac, Brian Tyree, Henry Luna, Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 2h 20m
STORYLINE: Miles Morales is thrust into a multiverse where he faces conflict with other ‘Spidermen’, battles a new and powerful enemy, and races against time to save his family
GENRE/THEMES: superheroes, action, coming of age, responsibility, family
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Jaw-dropping.
Flawless.
A 6-star film. There isn’t a single weak link in this captivating chain.
Dare I say... THE BEST SPIDER-MAN MOVIE EVER MADE (Far From Home might be the only competition for this status). Let's face it - there are a lot of Spiderman films. All of them are great. The concern with yet another trilogy is a repetition of the same story. If you have avoided the Spider-Verse movies because of this - YOU ARE MISSING OUT! The Spider-Verse saga feels original and unlike anything we've seen in other Spiderman films before.
This series has gotten better with each installment. Into the Spider-Verse was a breath of fresh air, new and original storytelling for the timeless character, and Across the Spider-Verse carries on that same excellence. One can tell that the filmmakers thought about the greater story and character arcs across all three films. The first film displayed expert animation… this second film takes it even further. This is true artistry. Multiple art styles bring each universe to life, but it all works together for the story.
Profound scriptwriting illustrates a young person growing up faced with large-scale life choices.
We see through Miles’ eyes as a young person thrust into a complicated world with many layers of conflict, and how he handles his great responsibility. The voice acting is on-point - you forget you are watching an animated film. Each cast member's performance shows dedication to the story and the characters. The character arcs carry seamlessly from one film to the next.
Across the Spider-Verse is a prime example of an animated film for all audiences. This isn't just a movie for kids - adults can also enjoy it. It is also a prime example of a movie trilogy that carries the story from one film to the next. The story naturally continues the story from Into the Spider-Verse, leaving you with a MASSIVE cliffhanger at the end, starving for more of the story! (When I tell you my jaw was on the floor…)
One of the top, best films of the year, which is a significant achievement for an animated film.
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: JAW-DROPPING
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: storyline, animation
REWATCH: YES
RATING: 4.5 // 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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