So after nearly 5 years later and all of its after its Netflix success, the sequel to the animated Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. We got a chance to see a screening of the long-awaited Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Wednesday evening at the Dolby Cinema theater in AMC Lincoln Square NYC thanks to our friends over at Dolby.
We get to see the return of our beloved Spiders like Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Peter B. Parker and meet new Spiders like Miguel O’ Hara, Jessica Drew, Pavitr Prabhakar, Hobie Brown, Margo Kess, and MayDay Parker. Don’t worry about spoilers here as won’t give up any details, plot points, or easter eggs as we dive into our review of the film and Dolby Cinema experience.
Instead of immediately picking up exactly where the last film left off, they kick things off from Gwen’s perspective and catches up to the end of Into the Spider-Verse. The filmmakers give you a good idea of the time that has passed, what Miles has been up to, and how he uses his spider-abilities.
This is still a Miles Morales-centered story but Gwen isn’t a mentor/sidekick this time around. She’s more of a co-star as we get to dive into her tale and get to know what makes her tick. No ridiculous plot holes or plot armor present here. The story also shows how Miles and even Gwen differs from the familiar Peter Parker-esque background and how he stands out in the sea of Spider-people (aka the Spider Society) present in this film.
The film is not just well-placed easter eggs and cameos, there is a conflict w/ a protagonist here – kind of like two really. Spot from the trailers is one and Miguel O’ Hara’s Spider-Man 2099 is the other. Miles spends time going against both throughout the film but one will be a larger threat in the next and possibly final installment.
If you haven't experienced a film on Dolby Cinema theater - you're missing out.
Now you might ask, what’s so great about the Dolby Cinema? Outside of the comfy and reclining theater seating, its all about sight and sound – mainly Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision.
- So Dolby Atmos, think of the next step in surround sound technology. This adds more speakers and optimization to allow for three-dimensional, spatial sound to have specific sounds play at particular areas around for an immersive experience. Allowing for explosions and crashes to sound bigger and closer but not to the point of making you deaf.
- Now for Dolby Vision, this is boost the visuals seen on screen. This brings you theater-level HDR quality w/ more vivid colors, sharper contrast, and more details in every image and scene. Especially w/ each character and their respective universe having their own art style.
For Across the Spider-Verse, the Dolby Cinema part brought out big sound and big colors. Add Metro Boomin’ on the soundtrack and it all really pops – both sonically & visually.
But you don’t to be in theaters to experience the benefits of Dolby. Many popular streaming content support both Atmos & Vision like The Last of US, Ted Lasso S3. and Queen Charlotte. Same goes for gaming for the Xbox Series X|S as well as select PCs & mobile devices. And music as well on apps like Amazon Music, Apple Music, TIDAL, & more.
The Spider-Verse sequel will easily be on everyone's favorite movie list of 2023.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a masterfully-executed human story w/ heart that so happens to involve the multiverse which includes all things Spider-Man and I mean all things. Along side the lines of Everything Everywhere All At Once but much better than Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness which I didn’t care for. Sony and company definitely took more risks visually and narratively in the Spider-Verse sequel but I think it will pay off in both critical and financial ways.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in theaters now for your viewing enjoyment. While it does end on a cliffhanger, the good thing is that we don’t have to wait multiple years as the next installment, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, is due out next year.
If you got a chance to see it, how did you like it? Or did you not care for it? Sound off below.
