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Had Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Felt More Like A Nautical Tale, Perhaps There’s Hope

Although Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is treading water these days, it hasn’t sunk yet following its holiday premiere. I saw it on a weekend when there’s nothing else to go see on the big screen.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is one of those movies that could’ve embraced all the action and love one has for a tale written by Jules Verne. But instead, what’s presented is half of one. Had this work not been a struggle to get finished, I’m sure some elements from all four storytellers (James Wan, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett) could’ve been retained, and the director could’ve done wonders. But instead, what’s finally put together feels like conflicting concepts smashed together and the cohesiveness barely hangs on by a thread.

By the title alone, I wanted to see an Indiana Jones style adventure unfold. After Arthur (Jason Momoa) realises he can’t stop Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) alone, he’ll have to do more than find an ally. That’s because this villain found an artefact, a black trident, and in order to counter this item, this guardian of the sea needs a way to destroy it. And along the way, the backstory gets quite involved since it is as crazy as Lord of the Rings when concerning how he who welds that power will–no matter what–become corrupt.

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The Brave and the Bold in Merry Little Batman, Saving Xmas on Amazon Prime!

…and no, there’s no product placement involved in this wonderful animated special about one little Merry Little Batman under the Christmas tree.

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Spoiler Alert

Fans expecting an animated superhero film much like past direct to video efforts will be in for a surprise in Merry Little Batman. This presentation feels very British, and much of that comes from the production and character designs. Also, when the best moments are from the British voice over talent pool instead of the American ones, all I could do was laugh out loud.

Ultimately, I feel this action adventure comedy puts a few ideas from Home Alone, Spitting Image and A Christmas Story into a blender, and what’s splattered out is just nutters!

And as the title implies, this holiday themed special is about a kid who wants to become the next Caped Crusader. When news of this movie was announced, I thought it might be about a young Bruce Wayne learning how to become a hero during Christmas vacation, but I was wrong. Instead, it’s about his son Damian (Yonas Kibreab) and his relationship with his father (Luke Wilson).

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Let’s Hope The Birth of the Blue Beetle is Not Shortlived

Just why this scarab known as the Blue Beetle exists isn’t fully explained in what is clearly the first film in a series, but will we see more movies made?

Ángel Manuel Soto‘s take on DC Comics Mesoamerican hero, the Blue Beetle shows plenty of promise, but sadly the likelihood of more films is slim. What’s set up deserves a proper trilogy. But because of James Gunn and Peter Safran now handling the chores of managing the DC Cinematic Universe have other plans, if the Bluey’s adventures continues, this director will need the boss’s approval.

Unlike other origin stories, just how this director charts Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) transition to becoming a superhero is at least a bit different. Instead of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, he’s been given a gift. Just how he uses it depends on how much of a pure heart he has.

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Thoughts on the Best Super Bowl Sunday Movie Trailers

Out of the 10 Super Bowl Sunday Movie Trailers and 2 TV spots, we give our thoughts on the best ones that got us excited for the film thsmelves!

Most regular film previews can last up to two minutes, but that’s provided you’re seeing them in theatres. Unfortunately, all of the Super Bowl Sunday movie trailers satisfies this criteria. The Flash is its own independent entry than make the list because I thought, “Didn’t I see this before?”

I’ll have to watch my home video release of the television series’ first season to verify if the house is indeed the same architecture, and check if that version of Barry Allen reacted the same way when witnessing his mom’s death. The interior of that home might have been reused, and aside from that, we learn Batman will be key to this adaptation of Flashpoint. His role may well save an otherwise maybe doomed film.

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An Easy Guide on what Black Adam is Missing

All the missing elements in the Black Adam may well be saved for when the next chapter of Teth Adam’s life as ruler of Kahndaq gets written.

Spoiler Alert

The biggest problem the movie Black Adam has is that the writing team is mixing decades of lore into one film. It can’t be done when considering the fact that past iterations of this antihero had varied modus operandi. I’m more knowledgeable of the Fawcett era version and early animated takes. Although I kept track of the revisions in later years when DC Comics overhauled the character, the only bits I liked is in how a certain beauty managed to soothe the savage beast who may or may not be Egyptian.

I really wanted a The Scorpion King in-joke with this film, but alas it didn’t happen.

From 1995’s The Power of Shazam, the archaeological discovery of this sleeping hero is used. In the Justice Society of America series, the city he was born in is Kahndaq rather than Ancient Egypt. Finally, that this antihero wants to bring “peace” to this nation is from 2003’s JSA: Black Reign story arc. Even after reading the trade paperbacks of The 52 (Rise and Fall of an Empire and Black Reign) and the film’s pre-release comics–which should’ve been distributed in movie theatres too–this motion picture doesn’t always make sense.

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