Jacked In Reviews ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

Spiderverse
Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing

As we open on the sequel for one of the greatest Spider-Man/Comic Book/Animated movies of all time, we’re welcomed by Gwen Stacey’s (Hailee Steinfeld) narration, setting the tone for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with “Let’s do things differently this time. So differently.”

And she’s not wrong. Starting this time around in Stacey’s universe, “so differently” is just right; the world around her looks as if it belongs in a beautiful painting made up of watercolours.

SPIDERVERSE
Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing

Aside from turning things up to 11 by showing us how wide the Spider-Verse actually spans, we can see just how far things have come since this flick’s predecessor.

Aside from turning things up to 11 by showing us how wide the Spider-Verse actually spans, we can see just how far things have come since this flick’s predecessor. Within the numerous styles of animation – that all stink of effort – the sequel also uses stunning visuals to evoke a tone or feeling, not to mention, execute some pretty awesome action sequences.

Much like the first instalment, one of the bonuses of a Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) story is the freshness of it all. Bringing lesser-used villains like, Spot (Jason Schwartzman) doesn’t just show the potential that lies outside of regurgitating the same characters we’ve seen time and time again. It simply demonstrates how successful it can be to tell these alternative stories whilst simultaneously incorporating tons of delicious easter eggs for Spidey fans everywhere.

spiderverse
Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing

What elevates ‘Spider-Verse’ from a great Spider-Man movie to that of a great movie, in general, is the heart.

However, what elevates Spider-Verse from a great Spider-Man movie to that of a great movie, in general, is the heart. Whether it be something as simplistic as a father talking to his son through a door, an upside-down conversation or a mother seeing her young boy growing into a man, the emotional segments of these films overtake their live-action peers by leaps and bounds. One can only hope that the creativity and originality that this franchise brings manages to THWIP its way into other Comic Book properties.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Jacked In Recommends ‘24 Hour Party People’ (2002)

A semi-fictional tale of how Manchester’s alternative music scene was born as it follows the life of Factory […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Nope’ (2022)

Similar to Jordan Peele’s last feature (Us), Nope opens with a subplot – the aftermath of a series of brutal […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Red Fox’ (2023)

Red Fox tells a powerful tale of blurred “justice” and despair, as a bunch of deluded folk of faith hunt a homeless […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Perspective’ (2023)

Perspective chucks you straight into the deep end as we follow the story of Mike (Velton J Lishke) – an […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Psycho’ (1960)

On June 16th, 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s rollercoaster of suspense, Psycho, first premiered in New York. On October […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)

As we open on members of the Osage people amid – what can only be described as – a spiritual oil rave, […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Death on the Nile’ (2022)

This week Jacked In’s, Jack attended Tyneside Cinema’s classic screen to view the adaptation for Agatha […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

With the same premise as the previous movie (and obviously its literary inspiration) The Suicide Squad follows a […]

Read more

11 Reasons Why ‘Superman III’ Is Better Than You Remember

Superman has certainly come a long way ever since Christopher Reeve reignited the character on the big screen back […]

Read more

Behind The Scenes of ‘Back to the Future’

Back to the Future, easily one of the biggest staples in the world of cinema. Marty McFly, the coolest kid in the […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘Licorice Pizza’ (2021)

Similar to Paul Thomas Anderson, Jacked In’s Jack has a massive appreciation for the vintage aesthetic. So, it’s […]

Read more

Jacked In Reviews ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)

A spotlight illuminates 60s-esque show host, Ted Gilbert (Mark Gatus), who proceeds to bring us up to speed on the […]

Read more