‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Co-Director Kemp Powers on the Impact of Representation

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 Michael Lee

Sony Animation Pictures’ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a massive sequel to say the least. As the follow-up to one of the most visually dazzling comic book movies, co-director Kemp Powers had his work cut out for him trying to make the next chapter bigger than its predecessor in story and in animation.

Animation, Marvel, Movies

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Trailer Teases a Web-Tangling Multiverse

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 Michael Lee

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse introduced us to the thought that just because we know one person has worn the mask, doesn’t mean you can’t. Because, anyone can wear the mask. You can wear the mask. But to become Spider-Man, means accepting certain responsibilities and sacrifices of being a webslinger. And as the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer teases, Miles Morales discovers that just because he wants to be like his fellow Spider-Men, that doesn’t mean he has to do their thing. He’s going to do his own thing.

Animation, Marvel, Movies1 Comment

Miles Morales Returns in the ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Trailer

December 13, 2022 Michael Lee

As if Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse didn’t already show us how expansive the multiverse is by introducing not one, but five other Spider-Man heroes helping Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) save his universe from certain doom. But now, its sequel proves that the predecessor was only the tip of the iceberg. And the latest trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse takes expanding the Spider-Verse to a whole new level.

Animation, Marvel, Movies2 Comments

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)’ Clip Sends Twitter Into a Frenzy

December 5, 2021December 6, 2021 Jamal Michel

“PART ONE?!” is essentially what social media exclaimed into the ether when the official Twitter page for Into the Spider-Verse (which has since changed its username and banner) dropped a surprise clip for the upcoming sequel film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The animation opens with the same ending sequence from the 2018 Oscar-winning masterpiece, with an older looking Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) catching up after some time apart.

Animation, Movies, Streaming1 Comment

Disney’s Latest Film Shows the ‘Soul’ of New York

December 1, 2020February 29, 2024 Constance Gibbs

For an animated slice-of-Black-New-York-life, Disney’s new Pixar film Soul joins Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse in showing new parts of New York not typically glamorized by Hollywood. Despite being one of the most famous cities in the world, there are dozens of neighborhoods and experiences viewers never see on the silver screen. New York City isn’t just the glitz and glamor of midtown, the brunch bunch of Brooklyn, or the gentrified hives in Harlem.

Animation, Movies, Streaming1 Comment

‘Soul’ Producers Address the Blue Elephant in the Room

October 9, 2020May 15, 2021 Constance Gibbs

Pixar’s Soul takes a musical journey into the meaning of life — literally. In the film, Joe Gardner seems to be the prototype for “if you can’t do, teach.” But he very much wants to do. However, just when he’s about to get his first jazz gig, he dies. *insert Price is Right trombone.*

The first 35 minutes of the jazzy New York-set movie that I saw were great. Joe (Jamie Foxx), upon his death, is sent to the Great Before. There he meets apathetic New Soul 22 (Tina Fey), who finds it in her own best interest to help Joe return to his life on Earth. Sensing the direction of the rest of the movie, I imagine it will be as heartfelt as every other Pixar classic. It’s new Christmas Day home release feels like a really good choice to celebrate life, the purpose of art in our lives, and exploring how we connect with ourselves and others.