Aquaman

ARE YA READY KIDS?!
AYE-AYE CAP'N!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU
AYE-AYE CAP'N!
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
WHO BEATS UP BAD GUYS AND IS KINDA MAUI?
AR-THUR CURR-Y!
TATTOOED AND BURLY AND MIGHTY IS HE!
AR-THUR CURR-Y!
IF ADVENTURE WITH WATER IS SOMETHING YOU WISH,
AR-THUR CURR-Y!
THEN WATCH THE MOVIE ABOUT THE TALKER TO FISH!
...
"Aquaman."

Fresh off his adventure with an American alien, a furry detective, an uberfraulein, a quick kid, and a tin man, Arthur Curry's latest exploits involve a whirlwind of events that include finally visiting his homeland, fighting his half-brother for the throne, failing, then going on a quest for their version of Excalibur so that there will be peace between just not the undersea realms, but also between the air breathers and the people who can swim really fast via super-farts.

Jason Mamoa carries over his boisterous bruiser personality from "Justice League" to this movie, but unlike the loner who is strongest alone from that one, here, he's actually a chill dude. On one hand, he is still the man tormented by his Tarzan-like ostracizing from both landlubbers and his homeland of highbrow haughties. On the other hand, he will gladly grab a beer with you at the pub and crack wise whilst beating up pirates.  Unlike "Man of Steel" and "Wonder Woman" before him though, his supporting cast is phenomenal and actually helpful.  His love interest that gives them the relationship of every first half of a romantic comedy, his wise old mentor (Willem Dafoe in a NONvillainous role? Weird...) which teaches him his essential water Asgardian skills all throughout his life, and even his parents are loving and supportive of him, a rarity in most superhero media. Saying nothing about the villains with actual depth to them.  Black Manta's motivations comes from a very realistic place and it's cool to see him develop from ineffectual threat to legitimate challenge for the big kahuna.  The racist motivations of Orm the Ocean Master aside, his desire to reunite his fractured kingdom and restore balance to the two halves of the world can be understood as well (especially since his first act of terrorism involves him dumping ALL the garbage of the Atlantic Ocean back onto mankind's shores).

Like "Black Panther" before it, the aesthetic of the hidden society is top notch. It really looks like how  a portion of humanity long removed from the natural flow of history would fashion their architecture, armor, ships, and their version of the mounted forces...with the only exception probably being Antoni Gaudi's visions of Casa Batllo. Saying nothing about the secondary greatness of the movie, the "National Treasure" kind of quest that intersects into this movie the wonder of ancient ruins so that this globe-trotting adventure isn't confined solely to the kingdoms of the seven seas and Maine.  Director James Wan's penchant for horror also manages to incorporate elements of past fears of the deep with the inclusion of The Trench creatures, which some people around the Internet have lovingly called Seanomorphs.

Overall, a grand time at the theater with a solid, likable superhero, a versatile cast, gorgeous visuals, fun action, a good dose of comedy and horror, and a familiar, yet distinct story. Watch it to know why that ol' Jamaican crab sang nearly 20+ years ago, "Darling it's better down where it's wetter."

For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a rapidfire way, go here.  

I quote from the much-maligned "Phantom Menace" this one piece of wisdom from Liam Neeson: "there's always a bigger fish."

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Like "ReBoot," "Tron," "Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad/Gridman," "Net Force," "Digimon," "Code Lyoko," and (shudder) "the Emoji Movie" before it, the Internet is depicted as a wondrous world to explore and be astounded/feared by once again in "Ralph Breaks the Internet."  Thankfully in 2018, and with some Disney magic, the Internet is now a thriving metropolis populated by what appears to be Funko Pops of the Users.

6 years have passed since the last movie (No kidding...IRL too?) and the deuteragonists from the last movie have settled into a comfortable routine...too comfortable for one of them. So when a WiFi router is plugged into their station, and a disaster befalls an arcade cabinet, it's up to them to find a new replacement part and restore balance to the arcade. But of course, going to the Internet is never easy as anyone with a 'Net addiction can tell you, there are TONS of ways to lose track of time.  Stops by online auctions, competitive racing/MMPORG, fansites, viral videoland, the Deep Web, and various other websites are a perfectly natural course through the recesses of the Internet right?  Along the way, the discovery that maybe this adventure will NOT result in a status quo being returned to normal rocks both of the main characters.

If you are a Disney fan of ANY kind, you will enjoy this movie. If not for the revelation of Vanellope's full ascendancy into being a Disney princess (complete with musical number by Alan Menken), than for all the neat little Disney references and Easter eggs.  The uber-hyped-up meeting of all the Disney princesses alone is perfectly crafted with little visual touches and lines that are perfect for each princess. Not only that, but people familiar with the Internet (especially us old timers who remember Netscape and Geocities) will find references left and right for those who know their way around the "series of tubes." But of course, at the center of this flashy show is a story about two people, insert whichever relationship you want into their dynamic, but it certainly looked like a story about letting go of the ones you love and how damaging it is to immediately write off that CHANGE BAD when it can really be an opportunity for new possibilities.

Overall, a movie that might be dated 20-30 years in the future when there actually will be a cyberspace humanity can inhabit (I'm looking at you "Ready Player One"), but for now, a grand adventure with two virtual characters diving into the deep waters of all the Internet has to offer and discovering real life lessons as well.  

When the twist villain is yourself.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

"The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is Tiggers are wonderful things.
...
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one."

And while the T-I-double-G-R is still the only one of his kind, thanks to "Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse," we learn that if there's one constant amongst parallel dimensions, it's that there's somebody out there who got bitten by a radioactive spider.

The story follows young Miles Morales as he learns and grows how to be the next Spider dude after the previous one (blonde, blue-eyed, and played by Chris Pine)  is no longer able to "do whatever a spider can." Along the way, the Marvel multiverse is split open and several heroes with the Spider adjective preceding their names pops up on his plane of existence. Together, they try to foil an evil plot, racing a clock for destruction of themselves & the city, and Miles learns how to be the Ultimate Spidey from each of these do-gooders.

A visual treat and an amazing exercise in blending differing animation styles.  A lot of people mock when comic visuals make their way into a moving medium like movies or TV, but this film does it very well.  Not to mention that the geniuses behind the "LEGO Movie" produced this film so the comedy and characters are top notch.  So in the same way that the Easter eggs flowed like water in the "LEGO Batman Movie," there's something in almost every frame for the ardent Spider-man fan. Aside from that, the story is still very focused on the main character of Mile Morales and how he is not just the new spidey kid on the block, but how he has to live up to his potential and the expectations set by his parents, his uncle, his heroic peers, and eventually himself.  The music manages to also elevate the movie, with such jams that encompass the mood of the characters and even some joke tracks that will put a laugh on your lips.

Overall, an amazing, spectacular, fantastic film for the Spider-man fan of all ages. Don't forget to stay to the mid-credits to see the tribute to both creators of the character and stay til after the scrolling credits for an acknowledgement of a popular meme from the Internet.

For a creative overview from a fellow movie-reviewing friend, go here.
For a SPOILER-FILLED rundown of the movie's events told in a rapidfire way, go here. 

By far one of my favorite shout-outs in the Spiderverse comic...hopefully we have more like this in the sequel.