Bringing the Heroic Back Into Super Hero Movies: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
This film deserves its reputation and accolades. The animation and variety of animation styles is stunning — it is artistic and clever, but also engaging and fun. Unlike many of the recent MCU offerings, it is wholeheartedly enjoyable: in that whilst it mentions the multiverse, the story is incredibly strong and dynamic, the characterisation is stunning and the narrative completely draws you in. Essentially doing what old skool movies used to do — present a world on the screen and keep you there for a couple of hours and send you back out changed and enchanted.
Marvel! There are things to marvel at — literally! The individual character’s animation styles and techniques are impressive — such as Spider Punk or Pavitr Prabhakar (Spider-Man India). There is diversity and gender equality without making themselves a thing in themselves- although they are riffed on cleverly for different characters. Pavitr Prabhakar is delightful in the ways he highlights social and cultural concerns and justice. I want Captain and Mrs Morales (Miles Morales parents struggling with having a growing teen in their midst with a secret identity) to have their own spin-off show — their characterisation, tone, relationships, emotional responses in relation to their son are wonderful and deep (not to mention very funny!) And very, very moving. Not to mention diving off into LEGO or live action at points. It’s such an intelligent movie digging its subject and yet not mocking it cynically or milking it for merch in itself — the story is the main thing.
The Spot and The Vulture. Whilst these characters are essentially villains, The Spot’s fight with himself and his unwanted powers are very, very funny. We also end up feeling compassionate towards him, as he had his spottiness thrust upon him through an industrial accident and has been rejected by those who should have helped him. The animation of The Vulture as a come to life Leonardo Da Vinci doodle is tremendous, copying the notations of Da Vinci throughout — contrasted with lots of Pop and Modern/Post-Modern art. He even unleashes Greek Fire to fight those trying to get him back to where he belongs!
The Artistry. It is a true art work — the backgrounds, the way that noses or cheeks in profile are captured, the comic book style with captions appearing throughout. Not to mention the fight in the art museum or Miles Morales (Spider-Man) fleeing a whole universe of Spider-Men (women, persons and a cartoon pig), playing on the conventions (the canon) of the genre and yet never completely harsh or belittling. This movie loves its subject and subject matter and is a love letter to the Spiderman story.
The Soundtrack. It is a Daniel Pemberton orchestration, so it’s no surprise that it matches perfectly with the screen — but the deeper scene setting and emotional pull and guidance created by a highly crafted musical score is a thing of beauty here. Not to mention the way that other songs and tunes are worked into the film. Seamless perfection (and causing me to veer widely into pseud’s corner in my appreciation!)
The Tension. Yet another movie which ends on a cliffhanger — can’t wait for another. It’s playful, deeply creative and the uniqueness of the characters from a Peter B. Parker juggling a baby (Mayday) and fatherhood alongside fighing crime to Miles Morales wanting to study beyond his neighbourhood (whilst fighting crime), not to mention Gwen Stacy juggling her own hidden Spider-Gwen identity and a fraught relationship with her father, who can’t accept who she is and even wanting to please and remain part of a new adopted family. So much depth here about family, adoption, belonging, parents and children and what it means to be authentic. (Even in the realism of the fight between Miles and The Spot around a local neighbourhood general store and the store owner’s reactions). And yet Captain Stacy is not one dimensional — he feels for the family penguin… and wants a good relationship with his daughter.
A Sequel As Good As The Original. So thrilling and gripping and it looks gorgeous, whilst being a perfect action movie. Not to mention Daniel Kalyuua as Spider Punk (Hobart “Hobie” Brown)!!!! Furthermore, characters also follow their own motivations and behaviours throughout — endings are not completed inauthentically, which is refreshing — although they do have ethical and heart changes along the way. Such as the super cool and thoughtful Jessica Drew, Spider-Woman of the Spider-Verse, or Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) who’s been trying to keep it together for far too long and is full of grief. Go and watch it — it combines story, characters and artwork in clever and engrossing ways and restores the heroic to super hero movies.
