‘Across the Spider-Verse’ An Astonishing Follow Up

In 2018, we were introduced to a new Spider-Man (well many variations of Spider-Man) in the highly entertaining ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ I recently rented this movie on Redbox to get ready for this sequel since I haven’t seen it in some time and it’s still an incredible watch.

Now, it’s time to get back to the animated world of the Spider-Verse in this highly anticipated sequel that is full of surprises and just maybe better than the 2018 movie!

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.

However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must find himself pitted against some of the heroes. He must soon refine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.

‘Across the Spider-Verse’ is one of those very rare sequels that actually tops the original. This movie takes a deeper look into the Spider-Verse and cranks it up to a bunch of levels.

Just like the previous movie, this ‘Spider-Verse’ movie delivers astonishing visuals and its animation style gives the movie an awesome comic book vibe. The animation is incredibly detailed and truly awe-inspiring. The animation in the first movie is also well done and the filmmakers and animators looked like they really gave it all they had in this movie and it works!

The sequel also has a lot of heart and emotion in its story. All the characters are extremely well-written and the emotion that is featured in here will have you feeling moved at times. The action scenes that are in this movie are truly amazing to watch and there are a few moments that will really have you at the very edge of your seat. And, let me just say the ending to this movie is truly unexpected and is a great way to lead into the next adventure.

There are also quite a few moments that feature nods to the lore of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. It also does a great job with celebrating Spider-Man’s legacy in a way. Before I wrap the review up, I did mention there are a few surprises featured in this sequel. Don’t worry I’m not going to spoil them here. You just have to look carefully during some scenes.

Overall, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is a compelling, beautifully animated movie that all Spider-Man fans (and even non-fans) will really enjoy. There’s plenty of action, humor, emotion and twists and turns for everyone!

The cast: Shameik Moore as Miles Morales; Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy; Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara; Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker; Issa Rae as Spider-Woman/Jessica Drew; Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis; Karan Soni as Spider-Man India/Pavitr Prabhakar; Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk/Hobie Brown; Luna Lauren Valez as Rio Morales; Shea Whigham as George Stacy and Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ohnn/The Spot, among many others.

‘Across the Spider-Verse’ is written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (the writing duo of The Lego Movie 1 and 2), co-written by Dave Callaham (Shang-Chi) and directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers (Disney Plus’ Soul) and Justin K. Thompson.

And get ready for more adventures in the Spider-Verse as the third entry, ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’,’ is currently slated for a March 29, 2024 release.

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is rated PG for sequences of animated action violence, some language and thematic elements and has a running time of 140 minutes.