‘Across the Spider-verse’ expands on and improves on nearly every aspect of its brilliant Academy Award winning predecessor, ‘Into the Spider-verse'
The animation alone for the film is so beautiful and optically stimulating, it immerses the viewer into the narrative. The visuals maximize style and substance. The animators were meticulous, sometimes experimental, and pushed boundaries to creatively and organically include as many art styles as they could. I found the filmmakers approach to the color palette, as well as camera placement, reminiscent of German Expressionism in the 1920s in which the moods and psychological state of the characters in the film were conveyed by the sets and visuals.
With the MCU having launched their Multiverse Saga and last year’s Best Picture winner 'Everything, Everywhere, All at Once' building a multiverse story from the ground up, cinema has entered the age of the cinematic multiverse. ‘Across the Spider-verse’ exemplifies the immense heights this film trend can reach.
The voice work is pitch perfect. The dialogue is poignant, punchy, while still feeling natural as it pushes the story forward without being exposition heavy.
The ‘Across the Spider-verse’ score and soundtrack function in such harmony with the animation that they elevate the film’s themes and moods.
‘Across the Spider-verse’ stresses the importance of the dramatic weight of canon while also making a strong argument for breaking molds and exploring new narrative territories. Identity is also major motif, as many of the main characters toggle with what they can and can't control about aspects of their nature, and how external events define them.
'Across the Spider-verse’ is a masterpiece and raises the bar for comic book films, animated films, sequels, and multiverse films.
MY STAR RATING 4.5/5
Visit the Brown Deer Public Library and catch up on all things multiverse available for checkout.
