Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Deducting half a point for the ending, It's not a series to be abruptly cut off during a crucial turning point. Since the title didn't mention anything like "Part 1", I was left feeling somewhat cheated, akin to an evening of the best sex I've had (in the past couple of years) suddenly disrupted halfway through, with a smile and "Come back in a year..." and the door slamming shut. This sentiment wasn't mine alone; the parents in the cinema were furious about the ending like little children, and their little children were just as disappointed. Despite the half-empty theater mid-week, the shared discontent only intensified my own frustration. However, I'm reluctant to deduct more than half a point because, overall, this was an amazing experience. Catering to zoomers, boomers, parents, and children alike, the film is dynamic, filled with great lines, touching emotions, and a universal message about the importance of family. From various perspectives, it manages to stay relevant to everyone. In the realm of animation, Spider-Man exudes creative brilliance, incorporating pop culture references, nods to other Spider-Man movies, and notably, flawlessly utilizing the famous Spider-Man meme template. Aside from the abrupt ending, I find little to criticize. The film held my attention throughout, and its almost two-and-a-half-hour runtime just raced by. If told I could watch another three-hour sequel, I'd gladly stay until midnight. Like Into the Spider-Verse, this was an exemplary animation experience, showcasing the medium's capabilities and adept use of colors to enhance scene atmospheres. If not for the ending — but enough about that, 9.5/10! (06/08/2023)

There have been plenty of films about parallel worlds lately, and I'm glad that the second animated Spider-Man doesn't just rip off its predecessors, but like the first one, forges its own path, especially thanks to the phenomenal art styling that goes hand in hand with the engaging story. The imagination of the artists has no limits in this sequel, and you witness a visual concert with several types of animation, as well as live-action (I liked the nostalgic connection to the previous Spider-Men). As I said before, the film also benefits from a story that, in addition to parallel dimensions, works with the rewarding motif of the inevitability of fate, making the viewer think and not just watch mindlessly, as is often the case with animation. The film gets off to a bit of a slow start, but I commend the fact that there was a certain recapitulation of the first film, five years after which the plot picks up speed (the fights with The Spot and the ultimate Spider-Man chase were flawless) and stops only at the open ending, which set the stage for the third installment. A truly outstanding visual experience, and one that would be a sin to watch only on the small screen. (06/14/2023)

This unbelievably rich animated comic-book movie draws from a deliberate sense of detachment, internet memes, pop-culture references, the long history of comic books and the sense of refinement with which its creators approach the frenetic action scenes and work with the characters. Despite its ultra-brisk pace, abundance of gags and wealth of dynamic action, the thrilling audio-visual feast packed with imaginative details maintains, through the story of two young superheroes and their family background, a serious dramatic level highlighting the quiet emotions and slower dialogue passages built on family relationships and the themes of fatefulness, growing up and the struggle against predestination. (01/05/2024)

I gave the previous installment a five-star rating because its originality, blend of animations, action, and humor left a lasting impression on me. Yet, I found myself putting off watching the sequel. Today, I decided to dive into the multiverse. I was concerned that the sequel might not live up to its predecessor, and unfortunately, it turned out to be true. While my disappointment was mild, it was disheartening to see the creators rely on overkill, as if they believed that without overwhelming the audience, they'd fall short. Additionally, I noticed a decrease in humor, which was a significant departure from what made the previous part so enjoyable for me. The shift towards darker and more serious themes didn't necessarily resonate with me; I missed the lighthearted moments that brought laughter. It felt like humor took a backseat to the exploration of various family values. Despite my criticisms, I found myself thoroughly entertained throughout, barely noticing the film's runtime. Still worth a solid four stars. / Lesson learned: Just because you can stick to objects, walls, or people doesn't necessarily make you Spiderman. It might just mean you need to wash your hands. With soap. 4*+ (11/19/2023)

I was skeptical about this film before the screening, and for a while I doubted whether it could move forward meaningfully in terms of plot from the first part, whether it could still be visually arresting, and whether the humor and characters would be entertaining enough to carry it. But all of that left me after a while, and I'm back to being excited like a little kid and wanting the next part right now because I can't handle waiting another year. Story-wise, the film makes perfect sense, it composes the MCU Spiderverse elements perfectly, it completes the concept of the multiverse, it serves us cameos from the "live-action" Spider-Man, comic book memes of the three Spider-Men, a bunch of fun references and especially the characters. With these, I was worried if they could even hold a candle to Spider-Ham, but here we get not five Spider-Men like in the previous part, but literally hundreds to thousands of versions of him, and Indian Spider-Man, Spider-Horse, a Samurai Spider-Man, and a Spider-Car that had me in stitches with laughter. The best part of it all is that the visuals and comic book style once again bust my balls, bringing a fresh style to the screen and that we once again have plenty of action, with the definite highlight being the fight of a hundred Spider-Men against each other, where I didn't know who to look at first and was squirming in my seat like a prostitute in church. As the film draws to a close, it adds to the hardness, the tension builds and the harder and harder punk-rock-hip hop insert kicks in until the very finale, which.... Well. I guess we'll have to wait for that. It certainly leaves a bit of a bitter aftertaste to the end of a brilliant comic-book pleasure for nerds of the highest level, and is a bit reminiscent of Harry Potter 7.1 or Dune, but at least we have something to look forward to. Awesome!! (06/01/2023)