Spider-man : accross the spider-verse

Released in December 2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse had established itself as an excellent animated film, winning in its wake excellent press reviews, a resounding worldwide audience success and also the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Quite simply revolutionizing Marvel movie adaptations on the silver screen, and based on an excellent script, a perfect voice cast and original, masterful animation, this animated film revisited the Spider-man universe by introducing a new character, Miles Morales, already well known and appreciated by comic book readers and video game players alike.  Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, the film established itself as a truly unforgettable cinematic experience, appealing to both young and adult audiences with a passion for comics and quality cinema. 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a risky gamble, however, given its visually innovative animation style, which echoed the aesthetics of the comics, immersing viewers in a vibrant, dynamic world bursting with color, texture and movement. Every frame of the film felt like a living illustration, effortlessly capturing the kinetic energy of Spider-Man's acrobatics and the diversity of his multiverse. The attention to detail in every aspect of the animation, from character movements to cityscapes, was simply astounding. We suspected that a sequel would be forthcoming sooner or later, and we wondered whether it would be able to match the quality of the first installment, or perhaps build on it and continue to seek innovation and develop the universe of the first film. The end result far exceeds our expectations and establishes itself as this year's must-see animated film. 

The directors of the first film may not be returning, but the screenplay is still by Phil Lord, this time supported by Christopher Miller and David Callaham, and the directing team is still Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson. The original version also features Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez and Jake Johnson (the French version only features Stéphane Bak as the French voice of Miles Morales). And yet, despite the various changes, the same producers - Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Christina Steinberg - continue to innovate and put at the heart of the story the famous multiverse that Marvel Studios would later take up in the hugely successful Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). 

Spider-man: accross the spider-verse picks up some time after the end of the first installment, transporting Miles Morales from the streets of New York's Brooklyn to many other universes, where this new Spider-man will meet up with his beloved Gwen Stacy and brand-new versions of Spider-man from parallel universes, as well as one of the Peter Parkers from the first film. The strength of the excellent script lies in the fact that it continues to pay homage to the many comic books featuring Spider-man (even going so far as to show some of the iconic superhero's cult comic book covers), but also in the fact that it constantly seeks to innovate in terms of animation, to the point where some scenes in the film resemble large-scale paintings that come to life before our very eyes, much to our delight. The film's enemy is not to be outdone, and stands out as an equally spectacular and original achievement.

The heart and soul of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are the same as those of the previous film, and are based on the quest for recognition and emancipation of Miles Morales, a young Afro-Latino teenager who finds himself taking on the role of Spider-Man and upholding the law in New York City, battling mutants of all kinds as well as criminals and other versions of Spider-Man from parallel worlds. This second installment also focuses on the responsibilities incumbent on superheroes, as well as a certain curse that leads them to draw on their personal misfortunes for superhuman strength to overcome missions of all kinds.

Composer Daniel Pemberton continues to blend music of different inspirations to reinforce the emotional power of this film. Whether you're a die-hard comic book fan or a newcomer to the Spider-Man universe, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a must-see movie.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Written by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, David Callaham
Based on Marvel Comics
Produced by Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Christina Steinberg
Starring Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar Isaac
Edited by Mike Andrews
Music by Daniel Pemberton
Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel Entertainment, Arad Productions Lord Miller Productions, Pascal Pictures
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date : May 31, 2023 (France), June 2, 2023 (United States)
Running time : 140 minutes

Seen on May 31, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, IMAX Room

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