“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is a Spectacular, Phenomenal Masterpiece

A spectacular and phenomenal masterpiece, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is one of the best films of 2023.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Review

PLOT/STORY

In Across the Spider-Verse, we follow Miles (Shameik Moore) as he tries to balance his ordinary life with being Spider-Man.

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy (Haliee Steinfeld), a new villain begins to wreak havoc across the multiverse, forcing Miles to face Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), the Spider-Man of Earth-2099 and leader of the Spider Society.

EXPANSION & ELEVATION

Originally set for release last summer and only one-half of the film …

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse“ comes to us once again from screenwriters/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. This time, working with writer Dave Callaham and directors Joaquin Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, the filmmakers manage to craft a fun, hilarious, intense, and epic sequel. One that not only expands the story and the world but elevates the characters in new directions. All while delivering some major surprises, reveals, and cameos. This is despite an over two-hour running time, making it the longest for an animated film. However, thanks to editor Michael Andrews, the story progresses at a substantial pace with everything else flowing naturally.

EVERY. SINGLE. FRAME.

Also present within that running time is …

Some of the most breathtaking animation ever put to celluloid, courtesy of the animators at Sony Pictures Animation. Furthermore, the animators continue to deploy different animation styles ranging from purple hues to brown earth tones, to even watercolors. Thus, making each and every universe unique, interesting, and brimming with details.

SCORE/SOUNDTRACK

As for the score …

Composer Daniel Pemberton and company knocked it out of the park with Pemberton mixes and matches different beats like a DJ. Pemberton also reuses a number of themes from the original but remixes them using a whole slew of instruments. As for the soundtrack itself, that’s a bit of a different thing. Produced by Metro Boomin’ and containing songs from artists like Future, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, Offset, Coi Levay, Lil Uzi Vert, Swae Lee, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and A$AP Rocky among others, the new songs represent the mental headspace Miles and Gwen are in. As a result, there’s not really an audience banger like Swae Lee ft. Post Malone’s Sunflower or What’s Up, Danger. However, this is not a negative as the soundtrack blends well with Pemberton’s score.

PERFORMANCES

Finally, there is the voice cast …

Reprising their roles from the original, Steinfeld and Moore quickly slip back into their characters. The two not only deliver some great performances themselves but also bring a ton of chemistry. This then continues on to Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker, who brings a nice, hilarious emotional beat. This extends to Velez and Henry as Miles’ parents Rio and Jefferson with Velez representing the film’s heart.

Joining the cast, Isaac and Issa Rae are perfect as Miguel O’Hara and Jessica Drew, conflict with Miles and Gwen. Meanwhile, Schwartzman is hilarious, but menacing as the primary antagonist The Spot. Subsequently, Daniel Kaluuya and Karen Soni were also great as Hobbie Brown aka Spider-Punk and Spider-Man India, with Kaluuya bringing an anarchic nature to the role while Soni is more light-hearted and traditional.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

After a year-long delay, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a spectacular and phenomenal masterpiece.

Filled with the most breathtaking animation, the filmmakers crafted a fun, hilarious, intense, and epic sequel. One that expands a long, but nicely-paced story, but also elevates the characters into new directions. Along with this, is an amazing score by Pemberton and an amazing soundtrack to complement that score. And then voiced by an excellent cast led by Steinfeld and Moore. All of those elements combined and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is one of the best movies of the year!

And we still have another half of the film to go!

SCORE: 5 out of 5