Will's Watches - Vol. 16
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
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For this week, we’re covering what some are calling “the best Spider-Man film of all time” with the newest entry into the Spider-Verse franchise, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Spoiler Free Section:
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023):
What a BANGER
Probably the most beautifully and impressively animated movie I’ve ever seen. I mean just what an incredible, groundbreaking film. I loved all the different scores, Spider-Man 2099’s, The Spot’s was great, and I loved the new Prowler score (you’ll recognize it when you hear it).
There are so many multiverse movies out there (I’m seeing another one literally this week) that it is so refreshing to see one done right (looking at you Multiverse of Madness, yuck). Grounding the stakes and making them relatively simple within a super complicated back story of the multiverse is what helps this movie succeed.
I completely get why some people call this one of the greatest comic book movies made, because just like the last one, it literally is a comic on screen. Every character has their own meticulous design and so much care is shown in this movie. I could watch it five more times and I’m sure still find more Easter eggs.
This movie is also hilarious. I’ve had a problem with comedy in superhero movies lately since the writing has been terrible, but they’re able to make jokes and have moments that are genuinely funny and then have very serious and emotional beats, they balance that so well here, way funnier than I expected
I think it’s important to note that there is another movie in this trilogy. The film is not wrapped up, there are plot threads that will lead directly into the next one, and I think it’s a good idea to set expectations for that so you aren’t mad at the end.
Also, I had a pepperoni pizza at SMG that slapped. Really good. But they forgot my ranch. Unforgivable and I will be taking my hard earned money back to Alamo.
TLDR: Incredible animation, great humor, amazing story that will leave you wanting more. One of the most unique and captivating comic book movies I have seen in a long time. Don’t let a movie being animated stop you from seeing it. Highly recommend.
Ranking: 4.5 stars (93 raw score)
FUN TRIVIA TIME: Minor spoilers here, but there is a short sequence on Earth-13122, the Lego universe, that was animated by 14-year-old Preston Mutanga, who was hired after Phil Lord and Chris Miller were impressed with his Twitter video recreating the entire trailer with Legos.
Coming Soon: For next week, I’ll be seeing a second multiverse story in two weeks, with the newest entry into the DCU with an INCREDIBLY long and troubled production that people are saying… might be good? I need to see it to believe it
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SPOILER SECTION:
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023):
Gwen’s dad just has some awful deescalation techniques, are you allowed to just do a desk pop as a cop in the field??
The Spider-Men chase scene of miles was some of the most fun I’ve had in a movie in a long time - I mean just incredible
And throughout the whole movie, not just this sequence, the movement is just so well thought out, it’s not just swinging it’s so creative. Even in Miles and Gwen’s swing around the city, it’s so unique and everyone just has their own style beyond just their animation
The concept of canon events (events that occur in every Spider-Person’s life that have to happen for them to become Spider-Man) is just BRILLIANT. Such a creative way to tie everyone together
The reveal that miles was bitten by a spider from another universe is incredibly well done, basically tying everything together
I was genuinely on the edge of my seat when that eerie score starting playing when there was the reveal of Miles being in the wrong universe; a universe who never had a spider man since the spider went to Miles’ universe, and a universe where Miles’ father died and he became the Prowler
Our Miles mean muggin Prowler Miles while he starts using electricity on his chains, mirroring the “don’t watch the mouth, watch the hands” moment from the first movie was a great touch
I personally think by the next one Miles will end up working with Prowler Miles and will redeem him
I saw a tik tok that focuses in on a blink and you’ll miss it (there’s a billion of these) frame of when The Spot takes the spider from Earth-42, and it was about to bite that universe’s Miles
I’m assuming the reversal of fate will play into the next movie, our Miles was SUPPOSED to be the Prowler (or at least just not Spider-Man) and Earth-42’s Miles was supposed to be Spider-Man, but instead that universe is left a whole lot worse off with no Spider-Man
Something I am confused about - if Spider-Man India’s canon was messed up with miles saving his version of Captain Stacy, did they have to reverse time and kill him to fix it? Or can they just solve all of the problems by using whatever machines they were using to stop the universe from collapsing? And if that’s the case, why don’t they put their time into saving the second person that dies for every spiderman? I think uncle Ben dying is enough to get the whole with great power comes great responsibility thing
But clearly the canon events aren’t end all be all, because Gwen’s dad avoids his death by just resigning as captain… and nothing happens. Not to mention spider man dying in Miles’ universe should be a canon disrupting event
My favorite of the fun moments/easter eggs in this film, in the order I’m thinking of them
T. Rex Spider-Man
Peter Parked Car
Insomniac Video Game Spider-Man
Donald Glover Prowler from the MCU (especially cool since Donald Glover appearing in Community wearing a spider man shirt is what inspired the creation of Miles in the comics)
Ben Reilly spider man (who is actually a clone) voiced by Andy Samberg
Spider-Punk was incredible
Metro Boomin Spider-Man
Lego Spider-Man
Plushie Spider-Man (the little baby looking one, I loved him)
Popsicle Spider-Man (yes there is a popsicle during the chase scene)
Web-Slinger and his horse with a mask on it
Jake Johnson’s Peter Parker with little Mayday Parker was great
We see Mrs. Chen from the Venom Sony-Verse (crossing fingers for a Morbius appearance)
We get to see Tobey’s Spider-Man with Uncle Ben and Andrew’s Spider-Man with Captain Stacy
It appears that JK Simmons is the voice for J Jonah Jameson in every universe which is PERFECT
I’m not sure if they’ll ever actually include Tobey, Andrew, or Tom in these movies actually participating since a live action person actually embedded into a cartoon world might not work, but let’s be real, those three would be the first ones to line up on Miles’ side
I genuinely don’t know how they will top this in Beyond the Spider-Verse. It’s slated to come out in March of next year, but I’m skeptical that it won’t get delayed
I think a great opening to Beyond would be a more fleshed out version of the Earth-42 spider about to bite Miles before it gets transported out of the universe
So many other great things I could include here, can’t wait to see this movie again
