The only thing I want to do right now is talk about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It is phenomenal.
Now, I know some people are wondering what happened to Chelsea. Why is she so critical of the movies coming out, saying, “I hate it”? I still stand by my The Little Mermaid (2023) review—I hated it. However, everything bad I said about that movie can be completely flipped for this one. I was honestly left breathless and speechless at the end. I was stunned at how good Across the Spider-Verse was and how deeply it drew me into the story. From the animation to the soundtrack, to the meticulous planning of the story, it was everything. It was a perfect movie. I haven’t seen a movie like this in a very long time, and I just have to say—it is phenomenal.
I’m not going to give any spoilers because I want you to experience this movie as freshly as I did. I had already seen Into the Spider-Verse—sorry, Across the Spider-Verse. What is up with this naming? That’s the only bad thing I can say about this movie—the name is too much. First, he goes “into,” then he goes “across.” Okay. I loved it.
The animation style in this film is worthy of a doctoral thesis. It was just so amazing. Every character had a distinct and defined animation style, color scheme, and unique attributes. If you are a Spider-Man fan, you will absolutely love this film. Even if you have never seen anything Spider-Man before, the film does a good job of catching you up. I had already seen the first one, so I didn’t need all the recaps, but I understand why they included them for newcomers.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse picks up a year and a half after the events of the first movie. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has grown, both figuratively and literally. He’s about 15 years old now, taking on more than most people his age. He struggles with having no friends or anyone to turn to, debating whether to confide in his parents while trying to keep everyone safe and do what he loves.
We also get more about Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), who is Spider-Gwen in her universe. She’s moody and a drummer, struggling with the fact that she can’t tell her dad who she really is. He thinks she killed Peter Parker, her best friend. Watching the movie, you know that’s not true. These are characters we met in the first movie, but this time we dig deeper into their motivations and struggles. Everything is very humanizing, even though they are supernatural spider beings.
The overall arc of the story will leave you thinking and contemplating the story’s deeper meanings. I loved how every Spider-character’s storyline was treated with respect and love. The writers and directors clearly put their hearts into this movie, aiming to advance the story and the lore, not just to add their own spin.
Go see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and go see it yesterday. It’s that good.
★★★★1/2
