Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse
Miles Morales webs his way into the history books with the EPIC second installment of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson.
Released on the 2nd of June 2023 by distributor Sony Pictures Releasing, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a computer-animated film featuring a phenomenal cast such as the likes of Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and many more.
The premise follows Miles Morales as he catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
From the very beginning of this film, without even seeing a character you already get the impression that you are in for one hell of a ride, and my god, this movie did not disappoint, not even a little.
It grabs your attention with its superb soundtracks and Easter Egg-infested visuals that you can’t help but appreciate it’s aesthetic animation styles which stay true to it’s comic books depending on the variation of which Spider-Man is the focus at that moment.
Now I had honestly pushed this film to the back for whatever reason and just like the first one – I was left speechless and wanting more.
It gives more depth and complexity to the characters of Miles Morales voiced by Shameik Moore and Gwen Stacy by Hailee Steinfeld – allowing you to love and appreciate them even without the mask.
There are a lot of self-discovery and self-acceptance moments within the first half of the film, which may leave you asking -where’s the action?
However, the buildup is perfectly balanced with a sense of mystery, comedy, and Easter eggs that at first you wouldn’t consider important but later on, once you get to the mid-point of the film, all hell breaks loose and everything from the first half starts to add up – it’s like having an explosion of flavors you never tasted tried before hit you all at once.
As for its technical visuality, this is certainly one of the greatest animation films I’ve seen all year. The authenticity of its characters such as Hobie Brown voiced by Daniel Kaluuya and Pavitr Prabhakar by Karan Soni is just one of those elements that let you treasure the incredible work that was put into this film – you are guaranteed to have not only a good time but a bloody rush from its jaw-dropping reveals concerning our Air-Force Web Slinger that may leave you in tears.
Not all is as it seems at first glance. There are twists and turns in this film that will shock you to your core because just when you think you know it all, you are swiftly given the red card.
Miguel O’Hara voiced by Oscar Isaac, the leader of the Spider-Man society isn’t who he wants the others to think he is – his character is contradictory to everything he is supposed to stand for and yet pushes the notion of letting things stand as they are, however, he uses technology and drugs to become Superman whilst everyone else was given their ability through a certain spider bite, am I missing something here?
And let’s give the OG – Hobie Brown voiced by Daniel Kaluuya his credit because this man has some Observation Haki spider senses. His British accent comes off as arrogance at first, however, when you listen closely to the things the Spider-Pink says – there is truth and foreshadowing far beyond.
He alone I believe could be the true leader of the Spider Society for not following the status quo and letting things happen as they should, cannot wait to see what more he has to offer in the finale trilogy expected next year.
As for the ending, what can I possibly say that may justify the nerve-wracking cliffhanger that this film leaves us on – aside from the fact that I wanted to see more?
Keep in mind that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is over two hours long but even with that fact I would not have minded watching the next installment immediately after that cliffhanger – me saying that alone should say more than enough just how mind-blowing this film is.
To conclude the review, I recommend Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to everyone who watched the first, fan or no fan – it doesn’t matter as the film catches you up on the first film at the beginning of the film.
It’s a personal yet gravitating film that anyone can find relatable – for adults this film brings out the child in you that reminds you of why you began to love spider-man and what makes him unique whilst for kids it’s a one-of-kind experience that allows them to see the different adaptations of their favorite superhero leaving them to wonder where it all began.
I give Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse a 5 out of 5 rating.
Let me know whether you agree or disagree with my review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in the comments section below.
Thank you for your support and for reading another review from, LSR.
Until next time, Thank you.
Star Ratings
5/5
Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson
Let me just say, the first movie was so groundbreaking storytelling-wise, and visually, and it took you on this journey with this kid, Miles Morales, who we fell in love with, and he was at an early part of his development as a hero, but he was a kid, and he was 13. We’re meeting him in this film a year and a half later, and he's 15 years old. He's dealing with much more complex problems, and the complexity, to do that justice, we needed time to tell that story, and we wanted to set up the right pacing for that, so we could have enough time for our lows and our highs in this film.
Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
Shameik Moore
Hailee Steinfeld
Brian Tyree Henry
Luna Lauren Velez
Jake Johnson
Oscar Isaac
Jason Schwartzman
Issa Rae
Daniel Kaluuya
Karan Soni
Shea Whigham
Greta Lee
Mahershala Ali
Amandla Stenberg
Jharrel Jerome
Andy Samberg
Jack Quaid
Rachel Dratch
Phil Lord
Christopher Miller
Dave Callaham
Sony Pictures Animation
Marvel Entertainment
Arad Productions
Lord Miller
Pascal Pictures
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
2h 20mins
Sony Pictures Releasing