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Movies can entertain and inform. It’s a good director who brings the written word to life on the screen.  Arthur Curry (Jason Mamoa) is a child born of two cultures. His father is a lighthouse keeper. His mother is an Atlantean Queen who had been promised to another. In order to protect her child, Queen Atlanna returns to Atlantis and marries another man. While Arthur has always known he was of two worlds, he never had an interest in the people who murdered his mother. But when his half-brother sets out to turn the Earth into a water paradise, Arthur must gain the trident of the previous king in order to keep peace between Atlantis and Earth. Campy dialogue but rich, lush world-building make this a fun movie sure to entertain. Mamoa seems born for the role of Aquaman and makes it hard to tell when he’s acting and when it’s just the way he is. The violence is over the top with giant monster-beasts last seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The storyline is predictable and seems to mimic Black Panther with the five tribes and outsider fighting a death match. With amazing actors like Nicole Kidman and William Dafoe (even Julie Andrews voiced a character), the acting should be stellar but comes up floating like dead fish. It’s one to see for fans.
 Vice tells the story of another family-the Cheney’s- from his drunk-driving and fist-fighting years working as a lineman through to Washington’s political fishbowl. Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) rises to the second highest political seat in the nation. All it takes is some friends like Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell) and George Bush (Sam Rockwell). Christian Bale put on forty-five pounds to play the larger statesman and does so convincingly but he still has that mole by his eye, he should really get it looked at. Lynne Cheney (Amy Adams) is the strength behind the man, bolstering his resolve as he does everything to make her proud of him. Vice can’t make up its mind if it’s a drama or comedy as it takes pot shots at everyone, down to the people watching the movie. The soundtrack is the best part. You’ll find yourself humming along to many popular songs. However, the subject matter is gritty and in-your-face, making you wish for a bleach shower after watching it. Vice sets all the current world problems from the California wildfires to Donald Trump’s presidency at the feet of Dick. Luckily, Will Farrell and Brad Pitt have acting to fall back on as Vice’s box office struggles over the holiday showings. This is the only movie I have considered walking out on. It left me feeling nauseated and dirty. Better to leave for those who are fans.
Two very different movies. Vice has been nominated for six golden globes as well as Australia’s premier award but is dragging at the box office while Aquaman has beat many movie sales records, earning more than fifty million dollars in its opening weekend. Which would you rather see?
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Melissa KeirIt's all about the movies... Archives
January 2020
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