[FILM REVIEW] SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Review (2023)

Summary: 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.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates:  1st June 2023 (Australia), 31st May 2023 (Thailand), 1st June 2023 (UK), 2nd June 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

Screenwriter: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dave Callaham

Cast: Mahershala Ali (Uncle Aaron (voice)), Sofia Barclay (Malala Windsor (voice)), Nicole Delaney (MJ (voice)), Rachel Dratch (Ms. Weber (voice)), Ayo Edebiri (Glory (voice)), Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kimiko Glenn (Peni Parker (voice)), Donald Glover (Aaron Davis), Kathryn Hahn (Doctor Octopus/Olivia Octavious (voice)), Brian Tyree Henry (Jefferson Davis (voice)), Oscar Isaac (Spider-Man 2099/Miguel O’Hara (voice)), Jharrel Jerome (Miles G. Morales (voice)), Jake Johnson (Spider-Man/Peter B. Parker (voice)), Daniel Kaluuya (Hobie Brown (voice)), Josh Keaton (Spectacular Spider-Man (voice)), Taran Killam (Web-Slinger (voice)), Greta Lee (LYLA (voice)), Antonia Lentini (Betty (voice)), Yuri Lowenthal (Insomniac Spider-Man (voice)), Peggy Lu (Mrs. Chen), Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Ziggy Marley (Lenny (voice)), Metro (Metro Spider-Man (voice)), Shameik Moore (Spider-Man/Miles Morales (voice)), Nic Novicki (Lego Spider-Man (voice)), Atsuko Okatsuka (Yuri (voice)), Danielle Perez (Charlotte Weber (voice)), Elizabeth Perkins (May/Quippy Spider-Person (voice)), Jack Quaid (Peter Parker (voice)), Issa Rae (Jessica Drew (voice)), Andy Samberg (Scarlet Spider/Ben Reilly (voice)), Jason Schwartzmann (Spot/Jonathan Ohnn (voice)), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson (voice)), Peter Sohn (Ganke (voice)), Karan Soni (Pavitr Prabhakar (voice)), Hailee Steinfeld (Spider-Woman/Gwen Stacy (voice)), Amandla Stenberg (Margo Kess/Spider-Byte (voice)), Melissa Sturm (Mary Jane (voice)), Jorma Taccone (Adriano Tumino/’67 (voice)), Lorraine Velez (Maria (voice)), Luna Lauren Velez (Rio Morales (voice)), Shea Whigham (George Stacy (voice))

Running Time: 140 mins

Classification: PG (Australia), G (Thailand), PG (UK), PG (USA)

OUR SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE REVIEWS

Dave Griffiths’ Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Review:

When Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was released in 2018 it didn’t only shake up the Marvel Cinematic Universe it also changed animated films forever. While companies like Dreamworks and Pixar had liked to view themselves at the forefront of animated technology for years they were suddenly stunned by a film that’s visual stylings incorporated street art and the look and feel of graphic novels in a way that no film had ever done before – and audiences loved it.

So perfect was the film it was nearly impossible to see how the filmmakers could match it with the film’s follow-up Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse yet somehow they have managed to create a film that not only takes the artwork to a whole new level but also has an emotional storyline that brings these super-heroes alive in a very special way.

The film’s plot really centres around family and begins with Gwen Stacey’s (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld Bumblebee) father, George (Shea Whigham – Take Shelter), finding out by her secret identity as Spider-Gwen – something he responds to by trying to arrest her.

Meanwhile in his Spider-Verse Miles Morales (Shameik Moore – Dope) is struggling to deal with everyday life while juggling his Spidey responsibilities. Even while fighting his latest villain The Spot (Jason Schwartzman – Moonrise Kingdom) he manages to disappoint his parents, Rio (Luna Lauren Velez – The First Purge) and Jefferson (Bryan Tyree Henry – Bullet Train), by turning up late to an important meeting at his school.

As his relationship with his parents sours even more Miles is at a loss at what to do but suddenly his spirits are lifted when Gwen arrives in his timeline, but he soon learns that she is there because she has been brought into a secret group led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac – Ex Machina) who has the responsibility to bring order and fix any problems with the Spider-Verse. But while Miles instantly wants to join the group he soon realises that perhaps he is not as welcome as he thought he might be.

That is where the power of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse lays. While many people might feel that an animated film can’t really capture human emotion this film certainly proves otherwise. While many superhero films have explored the notion of love and loss this time the audience are taken deep into the emotions that make superhero’s tick. Even though they are animated it is impossible for the audience not to feel the pain that Gwen and Miles go through when they realise just how they have disappointed their parents.

It should also be pointed out though that this is very much a film for the true Spider-Man fan. Anyone who doesn’t know anything about the Spider-Man universe is soon going to find themselves feeling very, very lost. The film’s screenplay doesn’t spend much time setting up the universe and instead it delivers a massive amount of cameos and Easter Eggs that will have true fans oohhhing and aahhhing in the cinema. Yes, this is an unapologetic Spider-Man fan’s nirvana. And for those asking – without any spoilers yes it does tie into the wider Marvel Universe in a very unique way.

What Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse will be long remembered for though is the visuals. Co-directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson the film takes the visual brilliance of the first film and raises it to a whole new level. From the in your face street art visuals throughout the film through to the creative ways that The Spot and Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya – Black Panther) are depicted on screen this is a film that is an absolute treat to watch and even finds amazing new ways to bring the graphic novel style to life on the screen.

That visual style teamed up with a plot that sees a whole new world of Spider… um creatures… introduced into the universe makes for a film that just keeps surprising its audience over and over. Who said that there was nothing original left in the super-hero genre? Those naysayers are certainly proven wrong here.

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is not only one of the best films of 2023 it is one of the greatest animated films of all time. The look and feel of this franchise is so uniquely original that it sets itself apart from anything else in the genre. While many Spider-Man films thought that Spider-Man: No Way Home was the greatest spidey film ever made it may now have a serious contender for its title. Please bring on the follow-up as soon as possible.

David’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Review:

Mesmerising graphics and non-stop, often helter-skelter, action are the hallmarks of the thrilling new Spider-Man, which has no shortage of dark edges.

The animated adventure Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse takes off after the events of the Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse (2018).

It centres around 15-year-old Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore).

Grounded by his parents – police officer Jefferson Davis (Brian Tyree Henry) and doting mother Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Velez) – they don’t know he is Spider-Man.

Miles is reunited with Spider-Woman from another dimension, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld).

Not realising that Spider-Woman is his daughter, policeman George (Shea Whigham) is relentlessly pursuing the masked warrior, who is accused of murder.

Gwen Stacy is not the only Spider-Woman to feature in Across the Spider-Verse. There is also the pregnant Jessica Drew (Issa Rae).

Morales travels across the Multi-Verse, where he comes face-to-face with a cavalcade of Spider-People charged with protecting the Multi-Verse.

He finds himself pitted against other Spiders and learns that a saving act from him served to unbalance and threaten the very existence of the Spider-Verse.

Introduced at the start of the movie is a futuristic Spider-Man in Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), tasked with putting the Spiders back in the time they belong.

A villain in the film is a black and white character called The Spot (Jason Schwarzman), whose dark blotches open portals or sink holes.

Notably, Across the Spider-Verse features a British punk rock variant of Spider-Man, Hobie Brown (Daniel Kaluuya) and an Indian, Pavitr Prabhakar (Karan Soni).

And Spider-Man wouldn’t be Spider-Man without Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), now a family man with baby in tow.

I was so impressed by the extraordinary visual feast that underpins Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse.

It is gloriously rich and textured … at the cutting edge of animation.

Much has been crammed into two hours and 20 minutes.

The ground is forever shifting, with exciting new characters constantly being introduced.

Concentration is needed to follow all the threads and not become overwhelmed or lost.

I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics associated with Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy.

While both love their parents, they see their responsibilities as greater than their family ties. That leads to tension and conflict in their respective home units.

As the pair of them travel through time, part of the narrative involves confusion about exactly which dimension they are in. Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is a multilayered thrill ride, which opens up the franchise to yet more instalments.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Harley’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Lee’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Reviews:

Our review of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse that appeared in The Phuket News can be found here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/latest-spider-man-brings-graphic-novel-glory-to-life-88297.php

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