A One Mann’s Movies review of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023).
I was on holiday when “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” came out a few weeks ago, but given all the rave reviews I was keen not to miss this on the big screen. And so – with a private viewing in the new Everyman Salisbury (simply beautiful!) – I caught it. And I was not disappointed! Wowzer!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Separated from his crush Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) by a multiverse or ten, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is struggling to balance his school-life with being a friendly-neighbourhood Spider-Man. But when a dangerous villain – the Spot (Jason Schwartzman) – arrives seeking revenge, Miles begins a multiverse tripping journey to try to prevent his world from unravelling.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC web site: “Mild threat, violence, injury detail, language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Amanda Stenberg.
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson.
Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller & Dave Callaham.
Twitter Handle: #SpiderVerse.
She’s not incredibly cute and sexy… shes just drawn that way. The cross-universe romance between Gwen and Miles. (Source: Sony Pictures Animation).
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Review:
Positives:
- I heard people raving about the animation in this film and I thought “yeah, yeah, whatever”. But – bloody hell – it is simply extraordinary! I kept wondering, as the film went on, “how on earth did anyone sit down and storyboard all of this?” Genuinely, I will eat my hat if this doesn’t win the Oscar for Best Animation next year. If the Academy choose anything else, they are just plain wrong!! It’s the film that my annual Oscar bet will be on, for sure.
- There is SUCH innovation in the world-creation. I particularly liked the “Mumbatten” sequence (ensuring the film gets a good Indian audience! I was almost expecting to see a “Shangvegas” sequence as well!). The Lego universe – Lol. And the fact that ‘The Vulture’ came from a Leonardo de Vinci universe was so funny. A surprise for me too was the use of some live action footage, particularly the crossover into the world of “Venom” with an uncredited Peggy Lu as the long-suffering Mrs Chen.
- The story manages to reach you at an emotional level as well. There is real jeapardy in this for the Morales family and the “well, that’s just the way it is” message pushed by Miguel (Oscar Isaac) is understandably distressing to Miles. This is made all the more compelling by the wonderful characterisation of Jeff and Rio Morales (Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez).
Negatives:
- My only real criticism of the film is that it outstayed its welcome for me. For such an attack on the senses, 140 minutes is too much. If this had been a 100 or even a 120 minute film, it would have got 5 stars from me.
Triggers
Just a comment for any epileptics, but the film (and the opening titles in particular) are very very flickery and I’d have thought this perhaps deserved a ‘warning’ about it. I might be wrong. But even I found it uncomfortable.
Summary Thoughts on “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
Simply stunning. This is a must-see on the big screen, so if you haven’t yet, try to catch it fast before it slips through into the streaming universe.
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Trailer for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shW9i6k8cB0 .
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