Sony going extra “Miles” for us to forget Morbius
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, & Justin K. Thompson
Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, & Dave Callaham
Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac
Rated PG for sequences of animated action violence, and some language and thematic elements
Release Date: June 2, 2023
Runtime: 2:20
This review may contain spoilers
When Sony makes good Marvel movies
Five years ago, Sony surprised us. Like, they really surprised us. A Spider-Man movie that was not only good, but it was also one of the best superhero movies ever. And it won an Oscar! Take that, whoever Into the Spider-Verse beat in the 2018 Academy Awards.
Now, Sony brings us a sequel to Into the Spider-Verse. More Miles and more Spider-People web-swinging to save the day, galaxy, universe, and the Spider-Verse, which is conveniently centric on just Spider-Man.
Across the Spider-Verse
Over a year after the first movie, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore, Dope) is getting the hang of being the new Spider-Man. A new portal-creating enemy calling himself The Spot (Jason Schwartzman, Rushmore) challenges Spider-Man as his newest enemy. Determined to make himself stronger, The Spot winds up tearing holes into the Multiverse (or, more accurately, the Spider-Verse). This breaching of universes attracts the Spider Society – an organization of alternate Spider-People protecting the Spider-Verse and led by Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis).
Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman/Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld, Pitch Perfect films) is sent to Miles’ universe to investigate Spot’s activities. Gwen’s appearances cause Miles to get involved, despite learning that the Spider Society has him blacklisted from their inter-dimensional group. Now, Miles must stop the now-powerful Spot from destroying his world while the Spider Society must make sure Spot carries out a deadly “canon event.”
Into the Spider-Past
Alright, so to start things off – yes, Into the Spider-Verse was one of the best Spider-Man movies (along with No Way Home and Spider-Man 2). Miles’ following his childhood inspiration and becoming his own Spider-Man really reinvented the lore and aesthetic. The entire film was fantastic and funny, with great visuals and one hell of a great soundtrack. I mean, they even won the Oscar for best-animated film.
But I could go on with that one. I need to focus on one Spider movie at a time.
Spiders, spiders, spiders
Across the Spider-Verse is filled with more Spider-Men and Spider-Women than last time – Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Punk, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Woman (Jess Drew, not Gwen), Spectacular Spider-Man, Spider-Man India, and even a T-Rex version. There’s also the Spider-Man from the PS4 game (now called Insomniac Spider-Man) and LEGO Spider-Man. Yeah, they were really pulling content from all kinds of sources.
We also got various Spider-Man villains from “across the Spider-Verse” (haha, hate me, I don’t care). There’s a Vulture from a Renaissance era, a “classic” version of Doctor Octopus, and even a live-action version of The Prowler.
I know there’s more (like a lot more), but it was hard to keep track of the tons of Spider-People in there.
To be Continued…
Evidently, cliffhangers are making a comeback. First Fast X, and now Spider-Man is leaving audiences hanging this summer. No finale, no day saved. Nope, the bad guy is still at large and ready to make his big attack, and I’m not just talking about Spot.
Spider-Verse for the win… again
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is just like the first – it’s really damn good. Everything that made the first movie great is reutilized here, from the music, visual imagery and effects, and emotional story. The one takes a bit more time digging into Miles’ time as his world’s Spider-Man and his relationship with Gwen. It also takes its time exploring the Spider-Society and its purpose in the Spider-Verse. It’s not complete with the cliffhanger, but with the amount of establishing, there should be more room in Part 2 for action and excitement.
Now if only there could be as much effort with Sony’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter. Not that I’m doubtful that it’ll be a fine movie and not a giant eyesore for fans and viewers. What do you mean you can hear my sarcasm?
No mid-credit scene, but there is a message: Miles Morales will return in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently playing in theaters.
