“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is a spectacular, frenetic and dizzying experience in the cinematic multiverse.

The sequel, which is a feature-length animated film about Miles Morales, who transforms into Spider-Man, is a landmark work of art in the history of animation.

Look for an Oscar nomination in the animation film category for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” This shouldn’t be surprising. “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse” (2018), received an Oscar, best animated feature film.

“Spider-Man into The Spider-Verse” has a multiverse of directors: Kemp Powers (Oscar nominee, adapted screenplay, “One Night in Miami,” 2021; co-director, co-screenwriter, “Soul,” 2020) and Joaquim Dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson (each in their feature directorial debut with extensive animation production design, character design and storyboard artist experience).

As dazzling as the animation is, that’s nearly how disappointing the story is in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” The plot is confusing and seems like a rehash of “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse.”

The screenplay is by Phil Lord (Oscar recipient, best animated feature film, “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse,” 2019; screenwriter: “The Lego Movie,” 2014; “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” 2009), Christopher Miller (Oscar recipient, best animated feature film, “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse” 2019; screenwriter, “The Lego Movie,” 2024) and Dave Callaham (screenwriter: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” 2021; “Mortal Kombat,” 2021; “Wonder Woman 1984,”: 2020; “Zombieland: Double Tap,” 2019; “The Expendables,” 2020).

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” does have some emotionally-convincing scenes between Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and his parents, Jeff Morales (Brian Tyree Henry) and Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Velez), as well as between Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and her father George Stacy (Shea Whigham) and between Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy.

The plot line involving Spider-Man’s nemesis Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), Spot (Jason Schwartzman) and Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali) is confusing as is the storyline about Peter Parker (Jack Quaid) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson).

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” seems overly-long with many of the action scenes repetitive. The film is the longest feature animation film ever released in the United States.

The computer-generated animation in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is absolutely incredible. The animation combines many styles of animation and takes the art of animation to a whole new level. Fans of animation should definitely see the film.

Seeing “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is like having the pages of a comic book flipped before your eyes, or comic book page panels cascading in rapid succession. The effect of watching “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is like being in a comic book.

Maybe I need to see “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” again and familiarize myself more with the characters and their back stories. However, after I saw “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” I chatted with a comic-book collector and “Spider-Man” fan in the movie theater lobby. He thought that the movie is confusing.

The actors’ character voices are terrific. In addition to the aforementioned, there’s J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), Hobie Brown (Daniel Kaluuya), May-Quippy Spider-Person (Elizabeth Perkins), Doc Ock (Kathryn Hahn), Ben Reilly (Andy Samberg) and Lenny (Ziggy Marley).

Aaron Davis (Donald Glover) is inserted as a non-animation character.

The energetic synthesizer-programmed techno music soundtrack by composer Daniel Pemberton (Oscar nominee, “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” 2021) is also deserving of an Oscar nomination.

“Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” third in the series, is to be released in 2024.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” will be of chief interest to fans of “Spider-Man” the comic book and the feature films, motion picture animation and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I just wish there would be more clarity to the story line in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

Oh, well, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” could be “Verse.”

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,”

MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children.) for sequences of animated action violence, some language and thematic elements; Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure; Run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes; Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

During the closing credits of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” it states “To be continued” and “Miles Morales will return in ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.’”

At the Movies:

”Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was seen in the Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Box Office,

June 9 - 11: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” opened at No. 1 with $61 million in 3,678 theaters, swatting “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” from its one-week No. 1 to No. 2 with $55.5 million in 4,332 theaters, $225.5 million, two weeks, as “The Little Mermaid” dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 with $23.1 million, $229.1 million, three weeks.

4. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” stayed in place, $7 million in 3,175 theaters, $335.6 million, six weeks. 5. “The Boogeyman” dropped two places, $7.1 million, $24.9 million, two weeks. 6. “Fast X” dropped one place, $5.2 million in 2,822 theaters, $138.2 million, four weeks. 7. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” dropped one place, $2.2 million in 1,789 theaters, $570.2 million, 10 weeks. 8. “About My Father” dropped one place, $837,482 in 960 theaters, $10.7 million, three weeks. 9. “The Machine” dropped one place, $576,575 in 1,008 theaters, $10 million, three weeks. 10. “Past Lives” moved up two places, $521,714 in 26 theaters, $868,038, two weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of June 11 is subject to change.

Unreel,

June 16:

“The Flash,”

PG-13: Andy Muschietti directs Sasha Calle, Ben Affleck, Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Michael Shannon in the Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction film. Barry Allen uses The Speed Force to change the past, but, of course, we all know how that doesn’t work in science fiction.

“Elemental,”

PG: Peter Sohn directs the voice talents of Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Catherine O’Hara in the Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Ember and Wade live in a city where the elements of Fire, Water, Air and land co-exist. Sounds like real life.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of June 11 is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes