Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review (2023) – An epic film that will have you swinging through the wonderfully animated spider-verse thoroughly entertained, and laughing as you go!
We’re going strong this month with another amazing animated film! One of the best animated movies we’ve seen this year, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)! For one of us potatoes, Spiderman has always been a favorite superhero. In fact, one of our first big disagreements as a couple was over whether Spiderman or Batman is a better superhero! We were, of course, a couple of smashed potatoes at the time and we look back on it fondly, laughing at ourselves for how stupid it all was. (Seriously though, Spiderman is the best 🤫) – Thankfully, we were both in agreement that this movie was absolutely fantastic!
If you have not seen the first film, “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse”, we HIGHLY recommend watching that first as “Across the Spider-Verse” is a direct sequel. The first film is amazing and was a brilliant introduction to Miles Morales’ Spiderman. It is definitely worth a watch (or a rewatch if you’re a bit rusty on the Spider-Verse) before diving into this one!
This movie is an action film with the violence that often comes with that, it is not overly graphic in any way and is an incredibly fun time.
We will do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review but there are likely to be some, so please take that into consideration and read cautiously. We will be summarizing more than usual as there is so much content within this film! Let’s get into it!
The film kicks off with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) recapping some story elements from the previous film, all while performing an amazing drum solo. Miles Morales was bitten by a radioactive spider, turned into Spiderman, and “he’s not the only one” alluding to the many different versions of Spiderman we were introduced to throughout the first film. She indicates that “I didn’t want to hurt him…but I did…”, referring to Miles, and something that happens between them later in the film? Intrigue! She also goes into some of the issues she’s struggled with. Gwen has trouble forming connections with people and remains distant from most of the individuals in her life.
Gwen's introspective narration beautifully highlights the emotional depth that sets this movie apart. Her openness resonates with the overarching theme of forming connections amidst the isolation that comes with being a superhero. It's a theme that truly struck a chord with us and would likely strike a chord with most viewers, reminding us that even in a universe full of Spider-people, the search for genuine human connections is something we all share.
In Gwen’s universe, Peter Parker never becomes Spiderman. She is the one who is bitten by a radioactive spider instead. Gwen and Peter are very close friends and are shown to have shared many meals with their families together. In an interesting twist, and in an effort to make himself “special”, Peter actually develops the infamous serum that turns him into a giant lizard beast, much like Doctor Connors in the Spiderman universe that most of us are familiar with. In the process of fighting Peter in his lizard form, a roof collapses and crushes Peter, killing him as Gwen watches in horror. As Spiderwoman cries over Peter’s body, her father, Captain Stacy, see’s Spiderwoman fleeing the scene. He equates this to her being the direct cause of Peter’s death and resolves to arrest Spiderwoman for Peter’s murder.
Gwen's intense ordeal and her dad's well-intentioned but misguided take on the situation offer a stark look into the unintended consequences that often accompany a hero's journey story. This sobering insight underscores the fact that the path to justice isn't always clear-cut, and the ramifications of our actions can touch lives far beyond the surface of the battle.
She says that she didn’t really make any friends after that. Until she met Miles Morales! It’s obvious that she misses him in the way she describes their interactions and considering the past year or so since the events of the previous film.
In the midst of Captain Stacy’s hunt for Spiderwoman, Gwen’s escapades lead her to a situation where she faces off against the Vulture. However, the Vulture that she encounters appears only in a monochromatic, sepia tone and seems to be from the renaissance period! His wings and gadgetry all look like they were stripped right out of a Da Vinci schematic. Apparently, he was sucked into an interdimensional portal and landed in Gwen’s universe. This is where we learn that interdimensional anomalies are happening across many different universes!
As their fight progresses, we are introduced to two other iterations of Spiderman: Miguel O’Hara or Spiderman 2099, who is a serious and almost ominous, futuristic version of spiderman from the future. We also meet Jessica Drew, an alternate version of Spiderwoman who bursts onto the scene on a motorcycle shooting webs from her fingertips instead of her wrists! She also happens to be the most badass pregnant lady we’ve ever seen! Miguel and Jessica are there to help remedy the situation with the Vulture, who is, of course, in the wrong dimension. These two are a part of a whole society of Spider-People that we will meet throughout the film, spearheaded by Miguel himself, to contain and correct anomalies in other dimensions.
After helping Gwen take care of the alternate Vulture, we have an intensely emotional moment between Spiderwoman and her father, Captain Stacy. Spiderwoman reveals her identity as Gwen, only to have Captain Stacy continue to attempt an arrest. Feeling betrayed, she is given the option of joining Miguel and Jessica as they depart through an interdimensional portal with the Vulture in tow.
We then cut over to Miles Morales, whose journey continues a little over a year after the events of the first film. We’re going to speed things up a bit as this is a movie with a 2.5 hour run time and there’s a lot to cover - We see Miles grappling with the responsibilities of being a new, rising superhero, a student, and a son, all while being thrust back into an intricately woven story spanning an entire multiverse teeming with Spider-people. As we watched Miles on screen, we were both so excited to see him again! Honestly, it was like seeing an old friend after a long time apart!
The central conflict of the film revolves around the emergence of a new threat, the enigmatic and dangerous villain known as “The Spot”. As Miles becomes entangled in the Spider-Society's efforts to deal with this menace, tensions arise, and he must navigate his loyalties to both his fellow Spider-People and his own convictions. The internal conflict adds depth to Miles' character and underscores the film's exploration of identity and belonging.
The emergence of “The Spot”, who starts off as silly, but ultimately becomes a menacing new multiversal threat, catapults Miles into another crazy, emotionally charged adventure across dimensions, further exploring the complexities of his identity. The spot has an ability to open portals (spots, or holes) into other places. If you’re familiar with the Portal series of games, you’ll have an idea of what this guy can do. However, he is just coming into this power so he’s quite clumsy and humorous to start. As the story progresses, we see the Spot grow to a point of being able to transport himself into other dimensions. This, of course, gets the attention of Miguel O’Hara and the rest of Spider-Society, propelling the story forward with a lot of intrigue about the intricacies regarding the multiverse!
We will wrap it up here so as to avoid too many spoilers!
One of the most interesting new characters that we got to meet is Miguel O’Hara. His dark, serious tone is a stark contrast to not only Miles Morales, but also to the classic Peter Parker version of spiderman that we have seen many times in cinema and TV. Miguel also has some unique qualities to his spider powers that distinctly set him apart from other versions of spiderman that we’ve seen. We won’t spoil any of that here, but we were impressed with the variation to say the least! It was intriguing to see Miguel’s story unfold, which gives us a glimpse as to why the multiversal Spider-Society was formed in the first place.
Speaking of the Spider-Society, its introduction opens a window into the intricacies of the multiverse and the collective effort to maintain its fragile balance. Although Miguel is the head honcho here, each member's unique perspective and experience contribute to the rich tapestry of characters, often in hilarious ways. This nicely echoes the diverse spectrum of human emotions and experiences that Spiderman stories often explore. Although, we did find it a bit odd that Miles is the only iteration of Spiderman in the multiverse who seems to question the ways things are and how they’re being run!
Another aspect of this movie that we found particularly interesting is the concept of “canon events”, as coined by Miguel O’Hara. Canon events are occurrences that hold particular significance in the rise of Spiderman as a hero in different universes. Many canon events involve some sort of loss that Spiderman needs to endure to push him (or her) to become a true hero. Disrupting or preventing a canon event is shown to have catastrophic results and often leads to no Spiderman coming about in that universe, with villains running rampant. With this in mind, a big point of conflict throughout the story is defiance of these canon events. Is destiny real? Can fates be altered? What is free will? – These are just some of the concepts explored in the film, and although these are highly philosophical and existential questions, the filmmakers skillfully leave this up for interpretation.
Diving into the concept of "canon events" adds a fascinating twist to the superhero storyline. As our characters navigate the intricate dance between destiny and free will, it nudges us, the audience, to contemplate the deep-seated ramifications of choice and the inherent twists and turns that life can take.
We, of course, can’t go without mentioning the visual style of the film! The beautiful, comic book inspired art style makes a return in Across the Spider-Verse, with a more refined and ambitious emphasis on fluid movement and emotion throughout. The style has done nothing but good things for animation in our opinion, with other films even adapting the signature, slightly slower frame rate. The magical mix of artistic innovation and storytelling continues to be the beating heart of the Spider-Verse series! The visually captivating animation not only grabs your attention but also tugs at your heartstrings, capturing the characters' struggles, triumphs, and subtle emotions in a way that speaks to audiences of all ages!
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse takes a thrilling leap beyond its predecessor, diving headfirst into themes of identity, interconnectedness, and the intricate weave of reality. Whether you're a die-hard Spider-Man fan or simply a lover of compelling storytelling, this film is a must-watch! It's a triumphant blend of heart, action, and social commentary that once again propels the Spider-Verse into the cinematic spotlight! If you like unique animation, compelling storytelling, action and super heroes than this is the movie for you!
We absolutely loved this film! Even our die-hard Batman fan had to give credit where it's due (but shh, we won't rub it in too much). We both agree that this was a fabulously fun, emotionally charged, and visually engaging masterpiece! Cheers to the Spider-Verse and most importantly cheers to you!
We give this epic film 5 Piña Coladas out of 5!
The "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" Drinking Game
Take a sip anytime:
1. Miles gets a new costume or modifies his suit
2. A new Spider-Person from a different dimension makes their appearance
3. Gwen Stacy showcases her impressive combat skills
4. There’s a spider on screen
5. The concept of "canon events" is mentioned or explored
6. Miguel O'Hara's futuristic gadgets leave you in awe
7. There's a reference to a previous Spider-Man movie or comic book
8. The multiverse becomes the central focus of the conversation
9. A heartfelt moment tugs at your emotions
10. You catch a subtle Easter egg that references the larger Spider-Man universe
11. The animation style transitions into a comic book panel aesthetic
What did you think?? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it!? What movies do you think we should watch?! Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!