2023 Summer Movie Season - Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse: Review & Analysis

 

Spidergeddon!!!!! Sequel To Into The SpiderVerse Is A Suprise and Shock Inducing Thrill Ride!!!!!

Review By Brandon Porter

Swingin to a beat all his own.

Story Description

Life as Spider-Man isn’t always easy. But Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is doing the best he can. One year after taking the mantle of New York’s webbed defender, Miles is trying his best to balance his hero duties and his non-hero responsibilities. Between stopping crime and trying to keep his identity secret from his parents, Miles is struggling to find a way to keep a foot in both worlds. When his old friend Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) comes back for a visit, she invites him to join the SpiderForce, an elite group of multiple Spider-Man variants from across the multiverse that protects it from chaos. While Miles is excited about joining this spider fraternity, its founder, Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac) isn’t sure if he is cut out to join their ranks. With a dangerous looming threat approaching and the pressure to conform to the status quo of being Spider-Man, Miles must confront what’s ahead and take the next step in establishing himself as his own hero without losing who he is in the process. 

Nothing like hanging out with close friends. Am I right?

Film Review

It’s been a long 6 years since Sony Pictures Animation gifted us with one of the greatest master classes in animation with Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse. The film has become a cultural phenomenon and is highly regarded as one of the greatest superhero films of all time. Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse looks to up the ante with bigger stakes, unmatched visual flair, and frenetic action in the clear-cut most anticipated movie of 2023. After swinging through the multiverse with Miles Morales and company, Across The SpiderVerse is an exhilarating and frustrating experience in all the right ways. It is well known that Into The SpiderVerse is hailed as one of the most groundbreaking achievements in modern animation. Its frenetic fluidity and robust story made it an instant hit with fans the world over. Across The Spider-Verse ups the ante in regards to animation and scale while also throwing in some jaw-dropping curveballs that raise so many questions about this series' place in the larger Marvel Cinemascope. Before we dive into all of that, let's get the obvious things out of the way. Across The Spider-Verse is a full-on feast for the eyes. It takes the elements of its predecessor and builds on them in a variety of ways. New animation styles and even some surprisingly shocking elements blend seamlessly together creating an identity in line with its predecessor but still creating a feel all its own. This series of Spider-Man films has really gone out of its way to challenge the norms and create something wholly unique. It should put all other studios on notice when it comes to bringing new things to the table. Performances are great across the board. Shameik Moore's sophomore run as Miles Morales is just as endearing as the first as he really starts to come into his own with this character truly encapsulating this next phase of Miles' journey. 

Miles, Gwen, and Pavitr Leap into Action.

While Miles does get the spotlight in most parts of the film, It's Hailee Steinfeld Gwen Stacy that carries the majority of the film's narrative weight. You truly get a plethora of character development as Steinfeld’s performance truly nails the emotional toll of her journey and what she is struggling with throughout the course of the story. The same can be said for Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker. His growth is evident since the first film as he takes on the father role both literally and figuratively in a great transition of his character. Additionally, the cast is full of standouts. Oscar Issac crushes it as Miguel O'Hara. From his intimidating aura to his stoic demeanor, Issac plays the role of perfectly of playing an antagonistic figure who isn't an antagonist. While we are on the subject of the antagonist, Jason Schwartzman’s performance as The Spot is a welcome addition to the world both visually and comedically. His character is quick-witted and funny but as he gets more powerful, he becomes more of a sinister threat. Knowing the role he will play in the continuing story, I look forward to witnessing his progression from C-list “villain of the week” to full-on large-scale adversary. Some additional standouts have to be Daniel Kaaluya's Spider-Punk and Karan Soni's Pavitr Prabhakar. Both brought a unique element to the film with their incredible wit and personalities making them so much fun to watch especially when interacting with Gwen and Miles. Other standout performances like Andy Samberg's Scarlet Spider, Issa Rae's Jessica Drew, and even a much more involved performance from Laura Velez’ Rio Morales round out an enormously talented cast that elevates this film in so many ways. This brings me to an aspect that I love about this film. Boldness.

2 Spider Variants Duke It Out Across The Multiverse.

I can't think of a film in years that really swung for the fences and added elements that made the story unique and so much bigger in hindsight when talking about scale. The fast-paced action is a highlight, especially the chase sequence involving Miles and the Spider Society. But its other elements, including some shocking ones that I did not see coming, really beg the question of how these Spider-Man films fit into a larger picture when talking about the cinematic landscape of Marvel films. There were a ton of connective tissues from "other established' stories that could potentially tie in this series with the larger Marvel heroverse. Some made for fun cameos while others raise some seriously intriguing questions. Regardless, to see Across The Spider-Verse truly swing for the fences and get nuts shows a fearlessness that isn't recklessly arrogant but boldly confident. How this chapter ends does have me shocked and a bit sad but also salivating for the inevitable next chapter of this story. Here's hoping it comes sooner rather than later. All in all, Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse builds off of the first ones' incredible and game-changing formula and expands its universe in a way that makes it unique while still focusing on what made the first one special. The worst part about Miles' latest adventure is the feeling of longing that will come with the agonizing wait for the next chapter of this story. The pieces are in place and the upcoming "next part" could bring a whole new meaning to the words "Multiversal Madness".

Rating and Final Thoughts

A loaded and surprise-filled second chapter in the Spider-Verse saga. It's vibrant
new chracters, fast action, and shockingly bold surprises make the wait for the next part all the more unbearable. 

Point to someone who can't wait
for Beyond The Spider-Verse.