Review: Aquaman
There’s no secret that the DC movies have all been met with some pretty harsh criticism. I have also voiced my distaste in the past. However, after seeing Aquaman, my expectations were exceeded.
I went into it with both my kids thinking that it would be bad effects, dialogue and just lacking in story with major plot holes. Boy was I wrong.
The special effects were fantastic, and while there were a few parts that looked off, the majority of the film was seamless. The story did a great job of telling the heroes and villains’ pasts and set up not just a great origin tale, but addition to the existing dc universe. Acting was on par with the entire cast and dialogue (although a bit cheesy in parts) was acceptable.
The addition of humor made this feel like a Marvel movie in many aspects, because it worked. There were a couple places that felt too over the top as though they tried too hard to get the humor in there. Then there is one scene where Pittbull’s version of Toto’s Africa song began playing and I became confused as to why they chose this. It didn’t fit the scene and his cover of the song was horrendous…
Overall I (and my kids) enjoyed the movie, and look forward to more in this universe. I actually will go so far as saying that it was better than Wonder Woman (which until this point was my favorite DC film), it was better than Antman and the Wasp, and I will dare to say I think it is even better than Black Panther (which is very high on my rewatchability list).
I give it 3 out of 5 sCrypt ratings. What did you think? Did you love or hate the movie or find it just alright? Be sure to comment below.
Review: Justice League
I’ll give you a heads up now. There will be some spoilers in this review, but I will try to keep it to a minimum. If you’d like my rating of the movie without all the intricacies you can scroll down to the final paragraph.
Justice League has finally happened, but the reception is once again split down the middle. DC and Warner Brothers are having a rough streak at keeping the audiences happy overall. I could get into why, but perhaps that’s another article. Here’s what I can say…
This movie will make longtime fans of the characters happy. For those who look at plot and effects, well that may be a different story. Here’s a brief character breakdown:
Batman: Affleck looks tired in the role. Perhaps part of what the negativity is comes from him. I still think he’s a great batman and Bruce Wayne, but there’s no passion in the actor’s eyes. That being said, Batman was very enjoyable and seems to have been set up to eventually phase into either an Alfred like role for the team or being replaced by perhaps Dick Grayson at some point under the cowl.
Wonder Woman: Gal Gadot rocks the role again, and she really is the glue to this whole team. I feel they could have used her more in the film, but there’s only so much you can do with this many characters in a two hour movie.
The Flash: I was very skeptical about the casting of Ezra Miller in this part. He doesn’t look like the Barry Allen that fans have come to know, and the one on TV has been prominent in everyone’s minds. From the second he took to the screen however, I was pleasantly surprised. I hate his suit with a passion. For a character that can run at super speeds, you’d think it’d be more aerodynamic and uniform. This looks like a machine more than something a hero would wear. Other than that, I think he is portrayed quite well in the movie as an up and coming hero.
Cyborg: If it weren’t for the horrible CGI on him, I really think he’d have been great. Unfortunately because he is hard to look at at times, and there is not much about him learning each of his upgrades, it’s difficult to enjoy the time he’s on screen.
Aquaman: This is another casting that I thought was strange, but am completely on board with now. He is easily one of the best things about the movie. Like Wonder Woman, he has limited screen time, but I think he was presented well as far as quickly learning back story. He brings quite a bit of humor and badassery to the plot. I also like how they mention it isn’t the fish he talks to, but the water itself. This actually makes a lot more sense.
Superman: Finally, we get a Superman that is closer to what he is in the comics. He has a brighter costume, and less brooding persona. That may not be the case when he is first brought back from the dead, but what we do get is a very cool few scenes. The moment when he is brought back and faces the League is my favorite part of the whole movie. I could watch it over and over and never get bored. It made the comic book geek in me happy that Joss Whedon took over to give it what fans have wanted. If I had to offer one complaint it would be that I really hoped we’d have seen him in his black and silver suit with a slight mullet. In all reality hair does continue to grow after death for a bit, so him being clean cut made no sense.
Steppenwolf: I was surprised to hear he was going to be the main villain, but excited as well. He was one of my favorite villains when I was a kid, and seeing a proper interpretation of him got me stoked. While the Parademons really worked, however, he wasn’t as memorable. The back story we got felt like it was missing quite a bit, but that could have been forgiven if we’d had something visually fun to look at. The biggest problem I had with the movie was him. The CGI was absolutely horrible. When you are given movies like Star Wars and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and you have these visually stunning fake people, why would computer graphics that look like they belong in the early 2000s be involved. All I could see while watching him was the way Hulk looked way back when Eric Bana played him. It was very very hard to watch him speak or see any close up of his face.
The small roles and cameos of a Green Lantern from ages ago, plus Zeus, Lois, Commisioner Gordon, Marc McClure’s appearance, and the post credits with Lex Luthor and Deathstroke were all welcome additions to enhance the story.
A side note… Whoever markets the toylines for these movies should be shot. All my son wants for Christmas is a Steppenwolf action figure to face off against his League. In order to get one, I’d have to buy all the heroes he currently owns. Needless to say I’m not doing that and ebay will hold the answers for me as I get an older version of the character with no stupid CGI barf face.
All the problems with CGI aside, I really found the movie to be a fun time. Would I say see it in the theater? No. I’d say wait to rent it, but don’t miss out. People who enjoyed Batman vs Superman should enjoy what it has evolved into here. People who hated Batman vs Superman should feel happy that it’s evolved into something better. It is not better than Wonder Woman, but I’ll place it above BvS, Man Of Steel, and that God awful Suicide Squad movie. I give it 3 out of 5 sCrypt ratings. It would have had another star from me if the effects were done right, and another if they’d managed the story better, but I don’t think it deserves some of the hate it is getting. If this is what the DC extended universe is going to start to shape up to be with its characters, then I’m all for it. What did you think of Justice League?
Battle For The Seven Seas Poll Winner!
Thanks to everyone who voted in this round of polls. It seems that Marvel Comics came out on top a second time. While there was a bit of pull for DC Comics’ Aquaman, he had come even with sCrypt Comics’ Poseidon, and a wildcard with a vote for Disney’s King Triton. Namor seems to be ruling the seas for now. His strength and combat experience make him a formidable foe to all who attempt to threaten his waters.
I will leave this poll open, for voting, so keep it coming. Make sure to check out the past comic book battle polls, and partake in future ones.
Battle For The Seven Seas Poll
Here is our next battle with iconic characters. Marvel Comics gives us Namor The Submariner (pictured left), while DC comics presents Aquaman (pictured right). sCrypt Comics is also sending Poseidon into this battle, but since he does not yet exist in comic book form (only in the novels), no picture exists for him. Here is the break down:
Namor (The Submariner) was born by an Atlantean Emperor’s daughter and an American Sea Captain. He is a halfbreed and considered Marvel’s first mutant because of his dual heritage. As the prince of Atlantis, he protects his people at all costs. His dense skin allows him to survive the pressures of the Ocean depths, and grants him an uncanny amount of physical strength. Wings along his ankles send him swimming through the waters and through the air at amazing speeds. When out of water for an extended period of time, Namor finds himself in a state of rage. His thoughts without water tend to become berserker and irrational. With the kingdom of Atlantis ready to back him at every turn, he is a force with which to be reckoned. His first appearance was in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly in April of 1939. A disadvantage in this battle is that his powers are all physical. He does not not communicate with fish in the same way that his opponent does, and can’t utilize the water as a weapon itself.
Arthur Curry (Aquaman) was born by an Atlantean outcast and an American Lighthouse keeper. His heritage eventually led him to becoming the King of Atlantis. He has superstrength and aquatic speed because of his life in the depths. Over time he was able to create balls or jets of hard water and hurl it at enemies. With the armies of Atlantis at his back, as well as the limited ocean life with which he can communicate, he is not someone you want to anger. If he stays out of water for too long, he tends to become weak and could eventually die. First appearance was in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941. His disadvantages in this battle is that his opponent tends to have fits of rage and will not hesitate to kill. He is not as strong as Namor and cannot fly either.
sCrypt Comics will now present Poseidon. Although he is human, he is the most skilled fisherman and sailor ever to walk the earth. He had left his mark so much so that the Greeks eventually called him a god and worshiped him. Although he lived thousands of years ago, he had limited resources and still managed to create a way to breathe underwater and walk on the sea floor using a rock and bamboo reeds. First appearance was in Bones At Breakfast (The Novel). His weaknesses here are obvious. As a human, he does not have the enhanced strength or abilities of his foes, and must rely only upon his wits and keeping his opponents from being near water.
Please vote below for who you believe would win, and feel free to comment as to why. When the results are revealed an explanation will be given as to who the victor is and why. Have fun, and don’t forget to check out our past polls.
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