Don't ponder on why I have chosen to write a review of the animated Spider-Verse trilogy before the third part "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" has been released.
The third part's release was initially set for next month but unexpectedly Sony removed its schedule in July 2023 due to various factors including the duration of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, prompting the studio to explore alternative release dates.
Some speculate that the release date could extend to next year. Yes. When it comes to movies we are dying to watch, even 2025 sounds so so far away.
Anyway, Spider-Man set in a multiverse seems an opportunity to explore possibilities of life, such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s “Sliding Doors”.
While the first part, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" - which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar award - had different Spider-Folks from different universes converging into Miles’ universe, in the second part, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", we see Miles and other Spider-Folks and Gwen not only travel to other places from quantum holes but also engage in time travel. In fact, there is the Spider-Society where everyone is a version of Spider-Man or Spider-Woman.
One single factor that I found outstanding is the awesome score and original soundtrack; songs to die for - need to be listened to on external speakers or ear buds that deliver a clear bass sound.
There are multiple emotional layers explored, I suppose to demonstrate the loneliness of being a superhero; is that the reason for a multiverse setting? Writer/producer Christopher Miller has expressed enthusiasm about the story and its emotional impact, suggesting a likely conclusion to the trilogy, according to the latest news about the production of the third - and possibly final - part, "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse".
When I was watching the second part, I didn't bother to look out for that nano second shot of the "pride colors" which led many Arab and Muslim countries to ban its screening, citing that it promotes LGBTQIA+ rights. Some believe that being exposed to an image even fleetingly can "subvert" the subconscious mind. At Schwack Cinema in Hulhumale, the suburban island of Maldives' capital island Male', I saw this second part's trailer showing on screens in the lobby but the cinema didn't actually go on to screen the movie. Although it didn't give a reason, I wonder whether Maldives authorities had also banned it.
Interestingly, there were references to Banksy in both movies and I wondered whether it was because the Spider-Man comics are works of art.
I like the exploration of Spider-Man fitting the shoes of not only a White teenager (in Sam Raimi's live-action trilogy) but, in the animated Spider-Verse movies, as a Black teen, a White girl, and a pregnant Black woman. After all, all humans are heroes in their own way.
Both the two animated movies have spiraling movements through skyscrapers at dizzying speeds and I was able to appreciate this factor more because I went to Schwack to watch the first part in 3D.
But watching at home on my laptop with English subtitles had its perks; I was able to catch some very interesting dialogues which otherwise I couldn't have at the cinema. Remember, I had a problem with understanding most of the dialogue when I watched Avatar part 2 "Avatar: the Way of Water" at Schwack in 3D?
So for example, in "Across the Spider-Verse", there’s Miles’ mom Rio reacting to him meeting Gwen by saying: “I hope I didn’t ice your game man,” to which Miles replies, “No one my age says those words in that order, Mom”.
And there’s also Spanish spoken which we need to look up because it made interesting dialogue, too. For instance, when Miles says the above sentence, his Mom responds: “It’s just hard to see my little man not be my little boy all the time. You know you can tell me anything. No hey mentiras entre nosotros”, which means, “There are no lies between us”, which I feel was an important part of the dialogue between them. I am not complaining the movie been made with dual languages as reality may be that immigrants speak a mix of both English and their mother tongue and the film’s producers were sticking to that reality.
The Miles-Gwen love story is as engaging as Raimi’s trilogy. In addition to that memorable “upside-down” kiss between Mary Jane (played by Kirsten Dunst) and Peter Parker (played by Toby Maguire), there’s the inner conflict where Peter is finding difficulty engaging in a romantic relationship with Mary because she might come to harm just been his girlfriend. Not in the same way but it’s engaging to see Gwen conflicted between her love for Miles as against her duties as a superhero.
In "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", there was an engaging moment when the Indian Spider-Man had to face saving his love interest Gayatri.
A funny moment came when Gwen replied, “It’s a lot worse than that”, in responding to the comment, “It’s a metaphor for capitalism”. Seriously, it’s ridiculous how much ordinary Americans are brainwashed to the extent of religiously worshipping capitalism, resulting in a fear of socialist ideals, and is indoctrinated to believe that China is an actual enemy of Western idealists.
"The Chinese of today even don't know what kind of economic system they have," a Maldivian friend who visited China told me.
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