This week will see the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the newest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise that has been at least 15 years in the making and will make for Harrison Ford’s last go around as this beloved character. It’s a movie that thus far has left plenty of people with a lot of questions before it’s release. Will it be better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Can Harrison Ford still play Indiana Jones even at 80 years old? Does the movie even need to exist in the first place? And the most important question on everyone’s mind, is it the w word?! All of these questions and more I’m sure plenty will get the answers to this weekend when the movie comes out in theaters, that’s assuming they haven’t read the online leaks for it. However, no matter how Dial of Destiny does in terms of box office and audience reception, I do think attention should be turned to another movie that can basically be described as a Indiana Jones flick even if it’s not strictly Indiana Jones. Not only because it’s a damn good flick in it’s own right but it’s arguably a better Indiana Jones flick than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and even Temple of Doom (Yeah I said it!). That movie I’m referring to is The Adventures of Tintin, also known in other areas as The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.
In case for anyone that’s not aware, The Adventures of Tintin is an animated, action adventure film that was released in 2011, based on the comic books of the same name. It was directed by the co-father of Indiana Jones himself in Steven Spielberg, had a screenplay written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish, and was even produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and *bullet shield* Kathleen Kennedy. Oh, and also composed by the legendary John Williams, who is still doing strong music work at 90 years old! It’s a film that follows the title character of Tintin played by Jamie Bell, his lovable fluffy dog, Snowy, and his mentor figure Captain Haddock played by Andy Serkis, has they search for the treasure of the so-called Unicorn, a ship once captained by Haddock’s ancestor Sir Francis Haddock. However, the pair face dangerous pursuit from Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine played by Daniel Craig, the descendant of Sir Haddock’s nemesis, Red Rackhlam, and must find the treasure before it’s too late.
When looking through all of that, it’s easy to see why one would mistake this for being an Indiana Jones movie. It’s got some of the main people that were involved in the Indiana Jones franchise from Spielberg to Kennedy to Williams, there’s an adventure that leads to the main character needing to look for a McGuffin before it falls into the enemy hands, there’s plenty of action set pieces that the main character will have to go throughout their journey, and it even has an unlikely sidekick or two that sounds like the most oddest yet awesome pairing ever. However, the one element that Adventures of Tintin captures just as well with the original Indiana Jones trilogy and arguably does it better than either Indiana Jones movie that has come out in the 21st century thus far, capturing that exact feeling of adventure, excitement, and discovery.
Tintin himself is a really fascinating character who acts as a professional journalist who will do whatever it takes to uncover the story he needs even if it will put himself in great danger. Snowy makes for possible the most useful yet lovable pet in cinema history. Archibald Haddock makes for a great leader/mentor for Tintin and helps add great intrigue to the McGuffin that is the treasure of the unicorn with the connections he has with it and his. The main antagonist of the picture in Sakharine and his personal thugs feel right at home with the other traditional bad guys in the Indiana Jones franchise, even if none of them are Nazis or Russians. The amount of action and tension that Tintin constantly throws himself into feels like everyday occurrence just as it is with Dr. Jones. And of course, the treasure of the Unicorn, would be something that the young Indy in Temple of Doom would certainly put a grin on his face and lusting over the potential fortune and glory that would come with it.
It’s all these elements and more that make The Adventures of Tintin the most worthy spiritual sequel to the original Raiders trilogy imaginable and more than just another Indiana Jones knock-off. The action is there, the adventure is there, the characters are there, the banter is there, the intrigue and lore is there, and most importantly, the heart is there. So, the bigger question is how come this one didn’t get any sequels made? It’s a complicated story.
The film was considered a success at the time of it’s release grossing 374 million dollars worldwide. Because of that, a sequel was greenlighted. However, next time around, it wouldn’t be Spielberg that would be taking over directing duties but it would be Peter Jackson this time around. According to Spielberg, the pair agreed to take turns when it came to directing new installments in this franchise. It was initially suggested that the second movie would based on Hergé’s The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun. Unfortunately, this project still has yet to see the day.
For the past several years since the original Tintin came out in theaters, the cast and crew have given significant updates on the process of the sequel while constantly claiming that the picture was not dead and would eventually see the light of day. However, 12 years later, that has yet to be made and has remained in development hell. Even though, there has yet to be a confirmation that a Tintin sequel has been officially cancelled for good, it is looking less and less likely that a follow-up will ever get made.
It’s a massive shame that Tintin and Snowy has never gotten a proper sequel or franchise. I along with many others that have watched this movie would certainly love to see more adventures with this pairing and learn more about the whole that Tintin himself inhabits in. It’d give that perfect Indiana Jones vibe without actually being Indiana Jones and possibly even showing off a better younger Indy than any episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Even though it’s been over a decade since The Secret of the Unicorn got released, I still believe there is a proper way to re-introduce this character for a worthy follow-up in the 2020s. Not only because of the cast and crew still have desire to do another one but because they could take a page for what Dreamworks did with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Just like with Tintin, Puss in Boots 2 was also a sequel that was multiple years in the making and took over a decade to come out but it exceeded possibly every expectation that anyone had for it. The main key ingredient with that was the way they were able to update the animation style that the Spider-Verse movies had and used it as a template to tell an incredibly story in a way you could never do in live-action. It could fit perfectly for the world of Tintin as that too had animation that at time was over-the-top and nonstop but also felt like something that could only exist in animation, and of course motion capture. Even if using the animation style is becoming more apparent with recent animated films, I believe Tintin could learn the right lessons from that and used it to create stellar animation that would work perfectly with telling it’s story, making creative action sequences, and having characters be more expressive than ever before. If DreamWorks could make it work with The Last Wish, then I don’t see how it can’t work here.
Regardless, of how you feel about Dial of Destiny, I do think The Adventures of Tintin is something that you should check out if you haven’t already. It contains all the fun, heart, spirit, and excitement that the better Indiana Jones movies have while also being an incredibly unique picture in it’s own right. It’s one of the most overlooked animated movies in recent memory, one of Spielberg’s best films in the 21st century, and is just a terrifically enjoyable ride all around.
Tbh, I would honestly add that movie to my ranking of Indiana Jones movies even if it really isn’t one. Like, how else can I convince people to watch this movie who haven’t already? Even so, check out The Adventures of Tintin if you haven’t already. You won’t be disappointed!
There was another Spider-Man movie that came out this month and it was amazing! Because of that, let’s celebrate the release of another awesome Spidey flick by ranking all ten we have gotten thus far from worst to best.
Spider-Man has always been a very important character to me. While I might need to do a brain check on it, he might possibly be my favorite character in all of fiction. Spider-Man is everything we inspire to be. It’s a character that is flawed, relatable, passionate, and absolutely heroic in ways that I wish I can be as a person. When the movies get this character right, it means something special to me. When the movies get this character wrong, then it’s certainly not special.
A friendly reminder that this is all opinions and I know for a fact that Spider-Man has an actively passionate fanbase where each movie incarnation of the character has their own fans and haters. If you have been on the internet at least since the release of The Amazing Spider-Man back in 2012, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ll respect all of your opinions just as long as you respect mine.
Anyways, let’s not waste anymore and get straight into the list.
10.) The Amazing Spider-Man
Whenever people complain about unnecessary reboots and the feeling of superhero movie fatigue, The Amazing Spider-Man is exactly the kind of movie they are referring to. This is the kind of movie where it’s difficult to separate the business side and artistic side of things because it’s bluntly obvious on the screen that this movie’s existence was more important to fit the criteria of the former than the latter. Being pitched as a darker reboot with more focus on high school drama and romance, The Amazing Spider-Man lacks the energy and excitement that made Sam Raimi’s trilogy (Yes, including the third one!) a success along with just being a dull slog in it’s own right.
Too many plot beats are stolen straight from the 2002 film, plot points are constantly brought up, drop completely, and never mentioned again, Peter Parker is much more unbearable than ever here, the Lizard is a complete waste of a villain, and there is so many coincidences that is pushing the story forward that it’s downright insulting to the human brain. And that’s not even going to the trailers spoiling everything, the piss-poor editing, Spidey’s suit looking like a basketball, Uncle Ben’s hilariously awful death, or painting Peter Parker as Mr. Perfect who can do wrong!
Yes, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are cute together and the score by James Horner is good stuff, but The Amazing Spider-Man is a movie that falls apart when you so much as breathe on it. Despite the film claiming to be about identity, it never finds an identity for it’s own main character. It’s a movie so bad that even the good things aren’t worth mentioning because nothing meaningful is done with any of that. Just an absolute waste of time!
9.) The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Hot take alert but I actually found The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to be an improvement over the first one. Despite being the most critically panned Spider-Man movie to date, there are a handful of elements that make the sequel to the ill-fated reboot slightly more bearable. At least the web swinging scenes are at their best here, Spidey looks awesome in action, and arguably has some of the best little Spider-Man moments in any of the movies (the scene where Peter walks the kid home always puts a smile on my face). Heck, even the awful parts of the movie at least lean on “so bad it’s funny” (the scene with Electro and the cartoonish doctor gets me every time) that it’s hard to not be unintentionally entertained by them when they happened. That being said, this movie is still a big, hot mess.
This is where you can tell that Marc Webb and Sony had literally no idea where they were going with these movies. It’s a movie that lacks a straight-forwarded plot, consistent direction, or a compelling reason has to why you should care about anything happening. The movies tries hard to lean in on fan service, most notably the one iconic scene from the comics, but none of it is put to good use or service the characters and their stories in any meaningful way. That’s not even going into everything that was cut out of the movie such as a subplot with Mary Jane played by Shailene Woodley, a post credit scene with Norman Osborn’s frozen head coming alive, and even Peter’s dad coming back from the dead and talking to him about great power coming with great responsibility because of course. And when you get to the end which changes the status quo for Peter only to pull a switch-a-roo and have things go back to where they were before, it makes you wonder what the point to either one of these Amazing movies were other than for Sony to keep the rights for Spider-Man away from Marvel.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 might be more entertaining than the first one and feels more like an actual Spider-Man movie this time around but as it’s own thing, it’s quite simply a mess. A mess so big that it led to Sony pleading with Marvel to get the character into the MCU to keep him relevant. I guess that’s something.
8.) Spider-Man: Homecoming
At long last, Spidey made it home to Marvel in his first stand alone feature in 2017 with Spider-Man: Homecoming. After making a stellar first impression with his extended cameo in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland would get a chance to shine on his own. Looking at it as it’s own thing, Homecoming is serviceable and enjoyable in it’s own right. As a Spider-Man flick, however, I can’t help but find it underwhelming.
Tom Holland continues to be great casting as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Michael Keaton’s Vulture is one of the best baddies in the entire MCU, and the high school elements were relatable to anyone that remember the awkward stages of that in their lives as an angsty teenager. That being said, too much of the movie feels restrained, like the filmmakers were too afraid of this movie being compared to the other Spider-Man movies that they played it as safe as possible. There are changes that feel unnecessary (Why does Betty Brant feel like Gwen Stacy, Ned feel like Ganke, and Mary Jane is now Michelle Jones?), elements that are removed (Uncle Ben’s importance), and elements that are added (Spider-Man being Iron Man Jr.) which makes it quite a middling Spider-Man experience.
I don’t know if it had to do with Sony and Marvel needing to rush out a movie completely in order to ride on the revival bandwagon for Spider-Man after Civil War but Homecoming as a whole feels way too wrapped up in that aftermath along with feeling too restrained as it’s own thing to stand out as being a truly great Spider-Man adventure. However, considering we now know the direction these movies would end up going after the third movie, maybe it all felt like a necessary evil in hindsight.
7.) Spider-Man: Far From Home
Another possible hot take but I actually like this one more than Homecoming. At the very least, this feels more like a Peter Parker-center story this time around where he has to deal with his own personal dilemmas and having to figures things out on his own without Iron Man around. The actions sequences are also much better this time out (That Mysterio illusion scene is masterfully done!) and this is when Zendaya was able to fully coming into her own as MJ.
Yes, there is still too much Iron Man tech here. Yes, there are times where the logic is questionable such as Tony Stark giving a kid literal killer glasses and Peter being able to survive getting run over by a bus. And yes, it’s ridiculous how we have ANOTHER Spider-Man villain that’s trying to get revenge on Tony Stark (despite the fact he’s actually dead now) instead of Spider-Man himself. However, Far From Home still offer the kind of Spidey goods that previous movie didn’t have along with leaving plenty of room for intrigue for the future after that banger of a post credit scene.
It was at this point where the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man still didn’t stand out with the likes of the Raimiverse, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and Into the Spider-Verse but this was still a step in the right direction and did leave for an interesting route for the next movie to go in. Far From Home was far from the best but also far from the worst either. Now, please stop talking about it, Twitter!
6.) Spider-Man 3
You could definitely make a strong argument that the previous two movies I’ve mentioned are objectively better movies or at least have less flaws attached to it but I still argue that this one has more entertaining value and the goods of it stand out better than the goods in either one of the first two MCU movies. Spider-Man 3 has more flaws than it does characters and subplots but it has more heart to it than most are willing to believe.
As everyone and their mother has pointed out about this movie, there’s just too much going on it. Not necessarily because there are multiple villains and side stories attached to it but because none of them really connected with one another. It feels the need to cram in every single idea it can think off that it has to defy logic, have previous events being retcon, and letting it’s characters do uncharacteristic things to make it all happen. However, most of the thing that worked well with the first two movies such as the wonderful action, breakneck pacing, great music, resonate themes, and heard hitting emotional beats work very well. Even when acknowledging all the faults at play here, you would be lying if you said that this was a boring movie with no entertainment value.
Even so, Spider-Man 3 still remains one of the biggest tragedies in all of superhero movies. It was a result of too many cooks in the kitchen and trying to please everyone at once. If it all worked out, this could have been just as good if not better than the first movies. That being said, when watching Spider-Man 3 back-to-back with the first two movies, it does make for a rather satisfying experience. It’s no where near the abomination that people claimed it was back in 2007 but it was still no where near as good as it could have been.
5.) Spider-Man (2002)
The one movie that kick started the modern era of comic book movies and was also the one movie that got me along with plenty of kids of my generation into Spider-Man. This was the first ever superhero movie I’ve ever watch and one of the first movies that I remember having incredibly fond memories of as a child. Even if I’m unable to take off the bluntly obvious nostalgia goggles (I never can!), it’s still a damn good movie in it’s own right.
The origin of Peter Parker turning into Spider-Man is very well told, Tobey Maguire is as every bit as likable and iconic as the title character as you can imagine, and Sam Raimi’s unique version of this world is felt perfectly through every single frame. And that’s not even talking about the insanely memorable supporting cast, quotable lines, amazing score, fist bumping action, and the light hearted tone that makes this movie super enjoyable to watch all of these years later.
While I’m sure there are those that like to poke fun at the outdated elements of the movie such as the special effects, cheeseball dialogue, and the Power Ranger-looking Green Goblin, they all still feel right at home with what Raimi brings into his style of Spider-Man, which is the corn and cheese nature of it. Regardless if you feel like this movie has stood the test of time or not, you can’t deny that if it weren’t the success of this movie, there’s a good chance that this subgenre of movies as we know it today would be no where near big as it has been for the past two decades.
4.) Spider-Man: No Way Home
Now, that’s more like it! This was basically the Spider-Man movie that I have been waiting for since he made his way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe! It offers Tom Holland in his absolute best turn as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, giving the character more depth and intrigue than he did in his previous two solo movies, finally utilizing the potential of this version of Spider-Man that had previously shown glimpses of it in his extended cameo in Captain America: Civil War and his side roles in the last two Avengers movies. Unlike Homecoming and Far From Home before it, No Way Home finally gave you an indication as to what this Spider-Man actually IS rather than what he is NOT!
Taking a page from Into the Spider–Verse, No Way Home brings different versions of Spider-Man and his villains together while showcasing just why being Spider-Man is so hard yet is someone that Peter Parker still has to be. And just like with Spider-Verse, it never loses focus on the main Spider-Man that the movie is centered upon. Unlike certain other movies that go overboard with it’s fan service and nostalgia, this does a good job of making it sincere and not too pandering as well as examine some interesting themes of not just about being Spider-Man but also about how being Spider-Man in this universe is quite different from being Spider-Man in another universe.
It’s in no way perfect but No Way Home is certainly a satisfying Spidey experience without a doubt. The big thing though about it all is not just how far Tom Holland has come and matured as this version of Peter Parker but how far director Jon Watts himself has come and matured as a filmmaker! Bring on the next one! It better have Black Cat or Miles Morales in it!
3.) Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
While it may not match the level of surprise that Into the Spider-Verse provided and may leave plenty feeling frustrated albeit amused as it’s notable cliffhanger ending, Across the Spider-Verse makes for another marvelous cinematic experience, an impressive achievement in animation and filmmaking, and will instantly go down as of the most definite middle film chapters in recent memory, perhaps all time.
Everything you loved about the original is still present here, the themes and messages that the original got across is expanded to even greater affect here, there’s plenty of callbacks, references, Easter eggs, and fan service galore that will put plenty of smiles on faces, Gwen Stacy is giving more screen time and gets an incredibly compelling arc in her own right, each one of the new side characters will have their own favorites from fans, and even if you are left underwhelmed with the way things wrap up, you will no doubt be anxious to see the next one come spring time next year.
Across the Spider-Verse not only helps showcases the bright future of animation that awaits us but perhaps the bright future of cinema in general. While we might have to wait to see how they stick the landing with Beyond the Spider-Verse next year, this is no doubt another important milestone for animation. Just like how these Spider-Verse movies prove that Spider-Man belongs to everyone, so does animation. And there should be no one out there that should say otherwise.
2.) Spider-Man 2
If you want an example of how to do the perfect superhero sequel, look no further than Spider-Man 2! This is the sequel that was able to take everything we love about the original, expand upon it, and trim any sort of fat that could possibly ruin the experience. Even nearly two decades later and after so many superhero movies that have come out, this still stands out as one of the very best!
This is a movie that perfectly dives into the inner turmoil of being a superhero and the life superheroes have outside of that. Just like with the best Spider-Man movies, it’s all about struggles to balance two different life styles at the exact same time. And how even though being Spider-Man can suck sometimes, it’s something that Peter has to do because it’s just who he is and what his responsibility consists of. Throw in some truly fantastic action, with the main stand out being the spectacular train sequence, arguably the best fight in any superhero movie, a tremendous villain in Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock, character arcs that come full circle, and one of the most satisfying endings in any movie, you get an absolute cinematic masterpiece that is Spider-Man 2!
If you are someone that loves Spider-Man and superhero movies, I have no idea how you couldn’t at least like this movie. It deliver everything that a superhero movie can give you and even more. It has heart, humor, emotion, character development, action, and genuine themes that anyone can get behind. When it comes to live-action, there has yet to be a movie that comes even remotely close to topping Spider-Man 2!
1.) Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
However, when it comes to Spider-Man in terms of all the movies, Into the Spider-Verse is the ones that tops them all. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that this was an absolute gamechanger for animation. Not just because it was a near masterpiece of visual storytelling that was able to deliver everything that any hardcore comic book or casual fan could possibly want in an animated Spider-Man flick and then some, but was once again proved that animation should be allowed to stand as it’s own medium and NOT as a genre.
It doesn’t just use animation to make the picture look beautiful but it uses it to tell a very earnest and heartful story of what it’s like to be a superhero in a way you just couldn’t do in live-action. Despite their being several different Spider-men, women, and animals that are present, none of it takes away the fact that this is a Miles Morales movie from beginning to end. The animation is jaw dropping, the set pieces are incredible, every single notable Spider-person gets their moment to shine, every member of the voice cast is perfect in their roles, and it perfectly delivers a message that anyone, regardless of what their gender, race, and skin color is, can be a hero.
I don’t think there has been a film out there that perfectly illustrates not just how great Spider-Man as a character is but how great superheroes are in general and why they are important. Not only is Into the Spider-Verse the best Spider-Man movie to date, there’s a strong argument to be made that it’s the best superhero movie to date with no exceptions. Even so, Into the Spider-Verse is my favorite Spider-Man movie to date and one my personal favorite movies period. It’s one that I never get tired of watching no matter how many times I go back to it. It simply is perfection!
I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the original Into the Spider-Verse was an absolute gamechanger for animation. Not just because it was a near masterpiece of visual storytelling that was able to deliver everything that any hardcore comic book or casual fan could possibly want in an animated Spider-Man flick and then some, but was once again proved that animation should be allowed to stand as it’s own medium and NOT as a genre. For many years, animation tends to get a rep for being simply made for kids. Movies such as Minions, Trolls, The Emoji Movie, and even to some extent The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Yes, I’m going there!) gave the impression that animation seem to only exist to keep the kids entertain for an hour and half with flicks that don’t have much meaning or substance behind any of it.** Then, once the kids grow up, they simply move on from animation and stick with strictly live-action movies as those seem to stand out more as being movies for “grown-ups”. However, over the past few years, I would argue there seems to be a renaissance and evolution with animation that you could argue started with Into the Spider-Verse.
Animated movies such as The Mitchell vs The Machines, The Bad Guys, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, and (hopefully) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem have used the Spider-Verse animation style as not just a template for breathtaking animation but to tell engaging stories with that animation, the kind of stories that simply could not be told in any other form of medium. It wasn’t just the amazing visuals and set pieces of The Last Wish that engaged folks last Holliday season, it was the superb character development, resonate themes, and the way it used the visual and set pieces to tell a story about life and death and why you should never take any for granted. As animation continues to move forward, the recent success of it can all be tie back to the original Into the Spider-Verse, which, just like the best of animation, was able to not just be a movie strictly for kids, it was for everybody.
After having our minds blown in 2018, there was no doubt gonna be a sequel. Five years later, we have Across the Spider-Verse, the anticipated follow-up which was delayed from it’s initial release date of October 2022 and was even titled Across the Spider-Verse Part 1 until it got changed. And if there’s anyone that believed that a follow-up towards the original couldn’t match or top that bar of quality, to grab a quote that the characters in Across the Spider-Verse say multiple times, “the sky is the limit”.
While it may not match the level of surprise that Into the Spider-Verse had and may leave plenty feeling frustrated albeit amused as it’s notable cliffhanger ending, Across the Spider-Verse makes for another marvelous cinematic experience and will instantly go down as of the most definite middle film chapters in recent memory, perhaps all time. Everything you loved about the original is still present here, the themes and messages that the original got across is expanded to even greater affect here, there’s plenty of callbacks, references, Easter eggs, and fan service galore that will put plenty of smiles on faces, and even if you are left underwhelmed with the way things wrap up, you will no doubt be anxious to see the next one come spring time next year. Across the Spider-Verse not only helps showcases the bright future of animation that awaits us but perhaps the bright future of cinema in general, assuming the right lessons are actually learned, something which Hollywood always tend to drop the ball hard on every time.
Plot Synopsis: Taking place after the events of Into the Spider-Verse, we visits Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), on Earth-65, who is struggling to live up to her father’s expectations. Her father, George Stacy (Shea Whigham) is unaware that Gwen is actually Spider-Woman, who the police captain has a vendetta against because he believes that she was the one responsible for the death of his daughter’s best friend, Peter Parker.
One night in Manhattan, Gwen ends up in an encounter with the Vulture from another alternate universe. It’s then she is approached by two distinct Spider-People, Jess Drew (Issa Rae), a pregnant Spider-Woman who is also a member of the Spider-Society, and Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), the leader of the Spider-Society, who arrive using portal-generating watches and helps Gwen subdue the Vulture. Things take a tragic turn when Gwen is confronted by her father and reveals her identity to him. Being in a shock of disbelief, Captain Stacy attempts to arrest his own daughter but Gwen is able to escape through a dimensional portal with the other two Spider-People after Miguel grants her membership in the Spider-Society.
In Brooklyn on Earth-1610, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is learning how to balance his personal life with his life as Spider-Man. His grades are slipping albeit still averaging around A’s to B’s instead of perfect A+’s and he is struggling to live up to his mom (Luna Lauren Velez) and dad’s (Brian Tyree Henry) expectations. He encounters a new enemy known as the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a scientist whose has an vendetta towards Spider-Man because he was responsible for having his body infused with portals after the Alchemax collider explosion. At first he’s written off as being another disposable bad guy until things take a turn for the worst and the Spot might just be responsible for not just the creation of Miles as Spider-Man but also could lead to the destruction of the Spider-Verse as we know it.
Gwen is able to transport her way towards Earth-1610 to reconnect with Miles and also secretly tracks the Spot across dimensions. However, there may be things that Gwen is not telling Peter that could lead to consequences and getting Miles sucked into a battle he was never destined to be a part off. The two then must take a journey across the Spider-Verse where they along with plenty of other Spider-people that are part of the Spider-Society must stop the Spot from invading the Spider-Verse before he is able to put an end to everyone and everything Spider-Man related.
Just like the original Into the Spider-Verse, it is absolutely incredible with how it’s able to hold up together and never feels weighted down by anything. Despite all of the characters, plots, arcs, themes, and fan service that can be found here, it all flows incredibly well and never feels disjointed or loose. Nearly every single moment or scene that can be found here serves a purpose of some sort. Whether it’s to deliver a spectacular action sequence, a slow but meaningful character moment, or include an obvious call-back that will make fandom cream in their pants, it’s all there for a reason and will never take you out of the movie. Whether you look at the movie as being a visually dazzling animated spectacle, an Easter egg flick, or an earnest character study of arguably the most iconic superhero of all time, Across the Spider-Verse is able to have all of it’s cake and eat it fully with immense satisfaction.
Miles Morales is still here and still makes for arguably the most unique version of Spider-Man that has ever appeared in movie form. If the first movie was about Miles learning to come to terms with his own version of Spider-Man, then this one is about him learning how his own version of Spider-Man is different compare to every other version. While the traditional beats of the character such as the constant struggle of balance between having a normal life and a superhero life along with struggling to connect to friends or family members are still present, it’s strictly Miles’s hand on the wheel this time. Only he can drive forwards towards his own future in ways that no one Spider-person can. He might be Spider-Man but just because he is Spider-Man doesn’t mean he has to follow the traditional path of those that came before or after him, or at least that’s what Miles himself believe. While we will have to wait until the next one to see how that plays out, it’s quite fascinating to see the next step in Mile’s story be about him trying to write his own chapter to his own Spider-Man instead of just copying from any other version.
Just like with the original, there’s is a splendid supporting cast of Spider-Men and Spider-Women that each will have at least one favorite among the fans. Issa Ree’s Jess Drew makes for a unique spin on the character as being the cool, soon-to-be Spider-Mom, that’s able to be a badass of her own while also not having to keep her identity a secret. Daniel Kaluuya’s Spider-Punk gets plenty of laughs and a handful of standout moments as this pop rock version of the web swinger. Karan Soni’s Spider-Man India…basically speaks for himself but in the best way possible. And of course, it’s delightful to see Jake Johnson’s Peter B Parker return in a more mature role where we see Peter having his own kid after getting back with Mary Jane Watson and now has to be a hero not just for himself but for his own daughter as well.
The one main standout in terms of the new characters comes from Oscar Isaac’s Miguel O’Hara or Spider-Man 2099. While the Spot might technically be the main bad guy of the picture, there can be a strong argument to be made that the actual antagonist is no other than Miguel himself. He seems to be the one person that believes that Miles being Spider-Man is a mistake and is the one thing that could ruin the so-called “canon” of the Spider-Verse. While I’m sure this is clearly meant to be a jab at obsessed fanboys that rejected the idea of someone other than Peter Parker being Spider-Man because…reasons and why getting worked up over what it is or is not canon in anything is ridiculous, it does make for a great contrast with Miles’s goal throughout the movie. Miguel is someone that wants everything to be set in stone, Miles is someone that wants to move that stone towards anywhere where his head is at so it could make for a possible, brighter future. While you can understand both points of views, Miles and Miguel have their own personal reasons for doing what they do and clearly feel in the right even if they might be clearly in the wrong.
And of course, we can’t talk about Across the Spider-Verse without mentioning Gwen Stacy as Spider-Woman played by Hailee Steinfeld. To put it simply, this is as much her movie as it is Miles, if not more so. Not just because the movie basically begins and ends with her along with giving her the most complete arc of the movie but it also highlights why Across the Spider-Verse stands out as being more than just another animated movie for kids. With the way each scene is framed, lit, and colored involving Gwen Stacy, it’s able to tell her story in a way that you simply couldn’t tell in live-action or any other form of media. It’s the visual storytelling and the wonderful animation that’s able to carry Gwen’s story about coming out as a superhero, dealing with the aftermath of it, and how she might have to leave those she previously loved behind if they can’t accept her for who she is really is. There are plenty of people that have made connections to Gwen’s story in ways that I’m not sure was intentional or unintentional by the filmmakers but even then, it makes for some masterfully creative storytelling and is honestly the most engaging part of the movie.
Which also has me going into the big debate this movie has had in terms of potential criticisms. There are many folks that have claimed that the movie feels like a “Part 1” and doesn’t work at it’s own thing but I honestly disagree. As I said before, if you look at the whole movie from Gwen’s point-of-view, it’s a complete story arc that has a beginning, middle, and a end. And heck, even if you at it through Miles’s point-of-view, he still has meaningful character growth throughout the movie and does have an arc of his own right where he tries to take matters into his own hands instead of just letting faith trying to write itself. Does the movie set up the next arc for the next movie right at the end of this one? Absolutely! However, there’s enough material in here that easily stand out as it’s own movie.
When it comes to production values, it’s quite amazing how much can be done with animation with a budget of just 100 million dollars. The animation might just be the very best I’ve seen in any movie to date. Not only does the whole movie look AMAZING but just about every single frame of animation is able to tell a story in it’s own right. The set pieces are absolutely spectacular, the characters are as expressive as they can possibly be, the editing is Oscar-caliber, and even the soundtrack somehow manages to outdo the previous movie. The main standout scene is no other than the chase sequence with every Spider-person known to demand. If that scene really took four whole years to create like it’s been reported, then those four whole years were put to perfect use. Every ounce of hard work and effort that the team of animators led by director Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson is on full display throughout the entire 140 minute long runtime and every minute of it is put to great use.
And if you haven’t figured it out by now, the voice acting in the movie is just perfect. Every single actor or actress gives a performance that don’t just feel like they are doing it for a paycheck, they are clearly doing it because they are immensely IN LOVE with their roles! I think almost any person on the planet who has liked Spider-Man have imagined themselves playing any version of Spider-Man. With the way the cast is able to deliver their vocal performances, they don’t just feel like another actor or actress, they feel like one of us who have wished to be Spider-Man someday. And to not get too deep into spoilers, there is one cameo in the movie delivered by a well-known Spider-Man actor that just brought a tear to my eye. It’s was only one line of dialogue but I get the impressions that actor has waited a LONG time to be able to deliver it and it shows in just that one scene.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse shows that the Spider-Verse can in fact make lightning strike twice. Everyone involved with the making of this movie wanted to take everything to the next level without holding anything back and they are able to exceed greatly. While we might have to wait to see how they stick the landing with Beyond the Spider-Verse next year, this is no doubt another important milestone for animation. Just like how these Spider-Verse movies prove that Spider-Man belongs to everyone, so does animation. And there should be no one out there that should say otherwise.
Even if we somehow manage to find ourselves in the alternate Spider-Verse in which the next movie ends up being disappointing, Across the Spider-Verse should not be looked anything as yet another reminder of what these movies can do when the heart and passion is there. As I said in the beginning, the sky is the limit. And I don’t think there has been a movie in recent memory that fits that meaning entirely than Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
** I know that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is MUCH better than those other movies but let’s be honest, that movie was strictly made for kids (and fans) first and everyone else second. Don’t deny it!
Other comments:
No, there is no post credit scenes but stay anyway to pay respect to those that worked so hard on this movie for the past five years. It’s the least we can all do.
When it comes to the theory around Gwen Stacy, I said it’s more head canon right now but I can totally understand why certain groups connect to Gwen on that level. It makes me wish more storytelling involving representation was anywhere near as creative.
Miles’s mom is hot. Just saying!
I can’t recall the last time in recent memory where my theaters was on complete cloud nine throughout the whole movie and even when it was over. These movies are really something special!
When it comes to complaints of sound editing, it really only became noticeable to me during the opening scene of the picture. After that, it was just fine for me.
Your move now, Tom Holland!
Again, sorry it took so late to get this review up! If you want know exactly why, read my blog update I just published.
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