First Take: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - the definitive big screen experience

SYNOPSIS: Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.

So, let’s start at the beginning, one more time - in 2018 Sony Pictures Animation took us into a new universe for the Spider-Man series; hot off the heels of Marvel Studios’ first efforts with the MCU/Tom Holland series, Into the Spider-Verse embraced the comics and introduced us (properly) to Miles Morales. Now, after Covid related delays, the first in a two part (it is important to stress this point) story takes everything that first film nailed, and turns it up to 11, or rather 7.5 if we’re talking about how loud cinemas are being asked to play it.

Taking the helm of the biggest animated film ever is Joaquim dos Santos (of Avatar: The Last Airbender fame), Kemp Powers and Justin K Thompson, and it is no mean feat to get a film like this done - it is paced well, has a lot of visual prowess, and delivers everything we all wanted from a film like this. This ain’t a short film either, at 2 hours 20 minutes (the longest ever American produced animated feature) there is a lot to digest, but it doesn’t feel that long either - especially with how certain plot points play out. Obviously we can’t reveal such details, but a key part of how this film works is that script from Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Dave Callaham, which takes the idea of the multiverse, flips it around, adds plenty of humour, so many easter eggs, and a slice of emotion that takes this story arc to a whole new level. As for the soundtrack, Daniel Pemberton - one of the most talented composers in the business right now, particularly thanks to his work on the first film - yet again knocks it out of the park, and the accompanying album fits this one like a glove.

Onto the voice cast, and nearly all of the crew who made that first film come alive are back. Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld lead the band as ever, with Jake Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez coming back too - but with 200 new characters, where do we start? We start with Oscar Isaac of course. The heavily publicised arrival of Miguel - Spider-Man 2099 - in that initial post credits scene last time gave die hard fans an idea of what to expect, and he was such a good choice for that character. Joining him for this ride are Jason Schwartzmann, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, the voice of a certain cinema’s etiquette message (if you know, you know) Daniel Kaluuya and so many cameos that we legitimately cannot spoil any of them. What we can say is that if you’ve been a fan of Spider-Man in any form - film, TV, games and comics - the amount of easter eggs in this film will well and truly leave you satisfied, right up to the end.

THE VERDICT

Across the Spider-Verse does things most Spider-Man films can only dream of. Faithful to the comics, created with love, and showcasing the sheer scale of storytelling you can do with the character, is it too early to say we are witnessing one of the greatest comic book trilogies ever made? Bring on Beyond the Spider-Verse when it is unleashed next March.

RATING: 5/5