Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Is Visually Stunning Masterpiece, That Is Arguably The Best Spider-Man Film To Date

Visually stunning and not only the best Spider-Verse film to date, but arguably the best Spider-Man film to date as well. If you loved the first Oscar-winning Spider-Verse film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. You are sure to love the newest addition to the award winning first animated feature film with its sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Which takes the story of Brooklyn’s Miles Morales into new unparalleled heights never seen before in an animated feature film.

The sequel to the first Spider-Verse film that picks up a year and a little over a few months after the first film. Starts with the very dark tone we see throughout the film. As Gwen Stacy aka Spider-Gwen, who is once again voiced by the great Hailee Steinfield. Who is trying to keep her secret identity from her police captain father. While a villainous Vulture that isn’t from her universe drops into her reality and is trailed by two of the new main characters, Miguel O’Hara aka Spider-Man 2099 and the super confident Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman voiced by the great Issa Rae. Who is the badass pregnant motorcycle riding leader of the Spider-Society. That they both reveal to Gwen has been cleaning up inter-universe messes. Capturing villains who end up in the wrong ones and sending them back to their own universes. After Gwen’s identity is finally blown by her dad, she is invited to and joins the Spider-Society. Helping correct the errors of the multi-verse. With Miles Morales, if anybody remembers from the first film being one of them.

Like in the first film, Miles, is once again perfectly voiced by Shameik Moore. Now 15, he is trying to balance the demands of his universe of being a good son, while also trying to keep his secret of being Spider-Man. That he struggles with if he should actually tell his parents about. Gwen almost virtually the only other person in his world that knows he is Spider-Man. Their complicated relationship that is on full display throughout lots of the film. Including about midway through the film. A very flirtatious and colorfully bright first reunion of them swooping and swinging in the sky throughout the city. Which culminates with one of the most beautiful shots of the film that sees them just sitting upside down next to each other. The skyline so beautifully inverted behind them.

Not only is a lot of the original cast brought back. But a lot of new characters such as the already mentioned Miguel and Spider-Woman. Plus The Spot, Hobie aka Spider-Punk, Pavitr Prabhakar, and May ”Baby May” Parker are also introduced. Like the first film the sequel takes us across many different universes of the Spider-Verse. Really if we are being honest even more so this time. As it shows many different cultures and races of Spider-Man not experienced in the first Spider-Verse film. Such as Miguel’s Latino version of Spider-Man, the India version of Spider-Man with Prabhakar in Mumbai. Plus Hobie with his London/U.K. punk-rock version of Spider-Man that is so brilliantly voiced by Academy Award-winning actor, Daniel Kaluuya. There is virtually a version of Spider-Man for almost everybody throughout the whole film that everyone can relate to.

What makes, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, so great too. Is the great 2D animation and realistic comic-like visually stunning stylings. That at times makes you feel like you are in your own room, dorm or personal space flipping through and reading an actual comic. The great heart and emotions of trying to balance what is good and wrong in not only being a superhero, but also trying to find the balance of being a good son, family member, friend and student. While also still trying to find the balance of being a teenager. Is on full display throughout much of the film too. It’s that classic struggle we all go in throughout life as not only teenagers, but as people throughout almost our whole lives. Which is among the core reasons why Spider-Man is so beloved by so many of us throughout generations and continues to be.

Without giving away any spoilers. If you are a true fan of Spider-Man in all mediums. You will love all the nods and surprises to not only our friendly neighborhood web-slinger. But also to such classic films as Blade Runner, The Lego Movie, TRON and Alita: Battle Angel. That shows how far we started with futuristic visually stunning films to where we are now and still going.

The very amazing action sequences throughout to go with the beautifully stunning visuals, stellar soundtrack that was helmed by producer Metro Boomin and great storytelling. That builds characters like, The Spot, from as Miles quotes towards the beginning of the film. Just a ”Villain of the Week.” To an actual formidable foe and possibly great arch nemesis of Miles by the end of the movie, who has learned to use his powers to now take over many different Spider-Verse’s and portals with his growing power that can destroy many worlds. While characters like Spider-Man 2099, who is the humorless multiverse protector voiced by Oscar Isaac. Virtually steals almost the whole movie with his very stellar performance and is one of the highlights of the film with how his character is built from someone you think is an alley cause of this futuristic great universe he has built for all Spider characters to live and thrive in. Only to find out he is really not cause he is trying to make sure everything in each Spider-Verse goes according to how he sees fit and not any other way. Which makes you question who is the real superheroes and what truly makes a superhero, morally good or bad. Does every hero really have to have the same arc, destiny and tragedy for one to be born? Or can empowering new ones be broken through and built?

There is plenty of laughs, humor and balance of great action throughout the film. That builds up to the epic cliffhanging final scene. Which had the whole theater that was the most packed I have seen for an early screening preview/premiere post-pandemic here in Chicago. Clapping and cheering with many standing as well. As the screen read, ”To be continued.” Building up the great hype, hope and anticipation for the third and final film in the Spider-Verse trilogy, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. That is set to release next year on March 29, 2024.

In the meantime though be sure to check out Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. When it hits all theaters this Friday, June 2nd with some early screenings also tomorrow, June 1st. With as great as the film was. I may even do something I rarely do by seeing a movie in theaters for a possible second and maybe even third time.