Director: Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson
‘Sensational Sequel’
Few superheroes are as relatable as Spider-Man. Following his 1960’s inception, the icon has become etched in our memories. It’s easy to relate to a teen turning to teachers to save a train. We connect with a hero that’s far from perfect following mentors to beat venom neglect. Peter Parker is a hero with whom we can empathize because he’s a teen that cries as his wise uncle dies. On a personal level, I find Spider-Man to be relatable. I remember my bonds with an English teacher. A kind soul, he gave students a goal. He was a comic-book fan in love with Spider-Man. He would pay tribute to the hero with no way home by bringing him up in class every day. He put classes throwing everything everywhere all at once in silence through his sheer presence. Since we both adored Spider-Man, we got along well with stories about the hero to tell. At every parent-teacher conference, he boosted my self-confidence. As school turned my life inside out, he was a guide in whom I could confide. When exams became tough, it was comforting talking with a movie-buff. However, with graduation our bond came to an endgame. Attending university far from home ended our bond abruptly. I never got to say thank you to a teacher I came to value. In graduation, his advice to pursue passions left lasting impression. Without his words of wisdom, I wouldn’t have pursued film criticism. Like Peter Parker’s uncle, he was a role model. Years later, Spider-Man reminds me of a teacher I treasure. The friendly neighborhood hero is a symbol of a teacher I understood.
Now, the superhero returns in Joaquim Dos Santos’ “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”. Action-packed, heartwarming and sweeping, it weaves powerful tributes to teachers motivating superheroes to believe. Dos Santos commemorates teachers shaping Spider-Man’s identities. Boasting awe-inspiring animation, soul-stirring storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s an extraordinary sequel. Although “Across the Spider-Verse” is riveting, it isn’t flawless. It weaves tangled conclusions. Nevertheless, it offers crowd-pleasing entertainment for Spider-Man fans.
“Across the Spider-Verse” follows the web-slinger experiencing adventures alongside teachers. Shameik Moore portrays Miles Morales, the web-slinging hero mourning mentors’ disappearances. Miles’ dreams become reality embarking on journey with his mentor girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld). However, Miles’ expectations are shattered following identities discoveries. Following teachers’ soul-stirring advice, Miles discovers web-slinging superpowers come with excruciating sacrifice.
Joaquim Dos Santos is a newcomer to Spider-Man. An animator, Santos has never told web-slinger’s stories. With “Across: The Spider-Verse”, he animates heroes. It’s Santos’ attempts reimagining heroes through animation, but he succeeds. Despite being new to the animated genre, Dos Santos showcases control behind camera. Celebrating Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2”, Santos uses storyboarding to showcase parents developing Miles’ journey. Like storyboards demonstrating Peter Parker juggling responsibility of Spider-Man with pizza-delivery, drawings demonstrate Miles ignoring parents due to web-slinging. Santos captures role parents play shaping soul of superheroes with a goal. Storyboards are complicated. As Pete Docter’s “Soul” suggested, storyboards commemorate animation about musicians’ soul. Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” suggested storyboards elevate science-fiction. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Alongside animator Kemp Powers, Santos celebrates the web-slinger. Santos manufacturing a blockbuster demanding theatrical viewing.
If web-slingers don’t attract you to theaters, however, there’s reasons to see “Across the Spider-Verse”. From a technical point-of-view, it’s the greatest Spider-Man movie you’ll view. If “Into the Spider-Verse” ignored teachers. the sequel addresses mentors. Assisted by production-designer Patrick O’Keefe, Santos employs footage demonstrating teachers’ impact on superheroes. For instance, footage elevates the death scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Miles realizes sacrifice of being a hero viewing footage. One acknowledges footage recalling Jon Watts’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. It reminded me of grief losing a teacher’s relief. Footage is tricky. As the Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All At Once” suggested, footage elevates Asian movies. However, it works. Furthermore, music is breathtaking. Emulating Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3”, it manufactures venomous atmosphere. Through production-design, Santos commemorates professors.
Another extraordinary “Across the Spider-Verse” aspect is the screenplay. Phil Lord’s screenwriting strength is capturing women’s influences on superheroes through voice-over narration. Spider-Man movies infrequently address women shaping heroes’ identities with success. As case-in-exemplars: Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” portrayed women as damsels in distress rescued by superheroes from villains causing electrifying stress. Fortunately, however, “Across the Spider-Verse” avoids misogyny. Sensibly, Lord endeavors addressing women influencing Spider-Man’s success. Celebrating Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man”, Lord uses voice-over narration demonstrating Miles’ girlfriends showcasing direction. Like Peter Parker’s narration recommending Uncle Ben’s lessons, Gwen Stacy narrates how her advice gives Miles direction. In a franchise commonly pushing women to sidelines rescued by superheroes swinging across skies, it’s a refreshing surprise. It reminded me of my teacher’s advice that guided me before he departed. Voice-over narration is complicated. As Pete Docter’s “Inside Out” demonstrated, voice-over elevates animated movies about children that are conflicted. Nevertheless, it works. Through soul-stirring storytelling, Santos commemorates Spider-women.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Shameik Moore delivers a breakthrough turn as Miles Morales. Moore achieved appreciation in “Into the Spider-Verse”. With “Across the Spider-Verse”, however, he embodies the hero’s maturity. It’s challenging to capture persona of a superhero in the animated genre, but Moore succeeds. Evoking Tom Holland in Jon Watts’ “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, Moore portrays a teenager idolizing stark teachers in homecoming. Through commanding voice, he captures angst, desperation and resentments of a teenager discovering superhero identity comes with significant sacrifice. It’s a breathtaking performance.
The supporting cast is superb, crafting chemistry. Hailee Steinfeld is fantastic, capturing larger-than-life acknowledgements of a teen girl keeping her superhero identities hidden from nosy family. Brian Tyree Henry is brilliant, showing fear of a policeman unaware his son is a superhero soaring in air. Last, Jake Johnson merits acknowledgements. As Peter Parker, he’s hilarious.
Finally, “Across the Spider-Verse” accumulates appreciations of everyone with amazing teacher recollections. Evoking Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man”, it commemorates teachers influencing superheroes. It discusses topics including adolescence, identities and responsibility. Audiences aren’t required to be Spider-Man fans to appreciate it. As someone impacted by teachers, I connected with it. Therefore, “Across the Spider-Verse” is a blockbuster everyone will adore.
Despite universal subject, however, “Across the Spider-Verse” weaves webs without strength of predecessors. Dos Santos’ decisions to use cliffhangers is commendable, but doesn’t work. It’s an abrupt conclusion without resolution. Whereas this conclusion elevated Jon Watts’ “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, it contradicts this movie. Scott Derrickson’s “Doctor Strange” demonstrated cliffhangers elevate blockbusters about sorcerers that are disoriented. As the Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Infinity War” suggested, cliffhangers enhance teamwork blockbusters. The Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Endgame” suggested superhero movies need memorable endings, and in this regard the film falters. Consequently, “Across the Spider-Verse” loses webs.
Nevertheless, Spider-Man fans will appreciate “Across the Spider-Verse” and so will moviegoers giving acknowledgements to teachers. A superb sequel, it honors grand teachers guiding heroes to use great powers with great responsibility. A wonderful salute toward a web-spinning superhero following teachers that are wise, it’s a commemoration of teachers that could motivate teens to recognize inspiring mentors miles ahead of their commencement they idolize.
A powerful depiction of wise mentors shaping superheroes swinging webs in skies, it’s a rousing reminder of humanity of a hero that cries watching benevolent uncles die in front of their eyes.
Like raindrops that keep falling on the head, it’s a blood-red reminder of tension endured by teens that struggle to rescue trains that head for disaster without teachers ahead of their time that are dead.
If movies can pay tribute to heroes with no way home overcoming loss of stark mentors that passed away, hopefully it will shine ray of light into lives of teens mourning teachers’ losses today.
As wonderful as webs Miles weaves to protect his family, it has made me treasure cheerful memories of a teacher whose love for superheroes with web-shooting abilities led me to turn far-fetched dream to become a film critic in accomplishable reality.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 