It is rare for the second part of a trilogy to be superior to the first. The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 2, The Winter Soldier. Maybe The Godfather Part II. We can add Across the Spider-Verse to this list.
And this, even if Into the Spider-Verse is beyond reproach and was awarded the Oscar for best animated film in 2019. Before diving into the analysis of its sequel, let’s come back to the genius of the initial chapter.
No other superhero movie, live-action or animated, has captured the spirit of the comics. From thought bubbles to Benday stitches to juxtaposing planks; the visual details are incredibly rich. The different styles of drawing and animation, the countless references to pop culture (and comics), a coherent and fragmented multiverse. Not to mention a story filled with phenomenal action and wonderful characters. Everything is flawless.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and Miles Morales (Shameik Moore)
Then how Across the Spider-Verse can it be better? To give a short and colorful answer, it’s as if screenwriters Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham opened the door to the world they created after only allowing us to look out the window.
The film directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson begins with a clever recapitulation of the preceding events. For your benefit – and for the last time – here is a summary: bitten by a radioactive spider, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a teenager from Brooklyn, New York, develops superpowers. He witnesses a fight between Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, and supervillains trying to activate an interdimensional portal. Peter partially prevents them, saves Miles, but loses his life. The portal’s brief opening still causes breaches that bring “Spider-People” from various universes into Miles’ world. The group teams up in order to permanently destroy the path to other dimensions.
Holes (and Spider-Mans) everywhere
IMAGE PROVIDED BY SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy try to stop The Spot (Jason Schwartzman).
Unsurprisingly, not all leaks have been sealed. The biggest is played by The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a man covered in portals who holds Miles responsible for his fate. In order to exact his revenge, he travels through the universes in order to increase his power.
Made aware of his intentions, the Spider Society, a brigade led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), alias Spider-Man 2099, sets out to find him. Miles’ good friend, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), is a new member of the team. This second chapter takes the time to tell the story of the latter. We dwell on the relationship with her father, the impact of the death of her best friend and why Miles is so important to her.
This one, now 15 years old, struggles to juggle his life as a student and as a superhero. His relationship with his parents pays the price, but he can’t stop the lies. These typical issues of the works of Spider-Man have never been so well told. The chat scenes between the characters are all beautifully written and allow you to catch your breath between the chases and the dizzying fights.
turbo animation
There’s a lot going on and there’s Spider-Man as far as the eye can see in Across the Spider-Verse. Then, towards the end, the dust settles and everything becomes clear.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Jessica Drew (Issa Rae) and Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac)
For more than two hours, the stimuli are constant. Everything we loved from the first film is this time offered in a turbo version.
Theses will be written on the quality and variety of animation. The flowing watercolor during an emotional scene and the whole character of Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) are among the masterstrokes of the Sony Pictures Animations studio. The mix of contemporary music featuring renowned artists such as Metro Boomin and James Blake is sublime. Humor, which is also generous towards geek audiences of all ages, is perfectly measured and delivered in a beautiful way by all the talented actors in the credits.
After this tornado of colors, we leave with a feeling that we have all already experienced: the strength of friendship. And we can’t wait to see how the friends fare in Beyond the Spider-Versescheduled for March 29, 2024.
Animation
Spider-Man – Across the Spider-Verse
(VF Spider-Man – Across the Spider-Verse)
Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson
With the voices of Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac
2:20 a.m.
Indoors