Archive for December 2018

By Nadia Ranaputri

Image source: IMDB

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liev Schreiber, Luna Lauren Velez.

Out of all the Marvel heroes, Spider-Man's story is perhaps one that's been told the most. The web-slinger has been a staple character in the Marvel universe, but it's for a good reason. Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most iconic characters, perhaps because he is also the most human of all the heroes. We know the basic origin: Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider, Uncle Ben dies, and who could forget the motto "with great power comes great responsibility." No matter how many ways the story would eventually go, his origin remains the same. Sony's repeated the origin of the web-slinger twice now with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in the title role, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, on the other hand, started fresh with Tom Holland as the web-slinger and ditched the familiar origin and goes straight to the already bitten Parker who's somehow in control of his powers by the time we meet him. So when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was brought into the picture, curiosity arises. What is the installment going to bring to the table? The answer is simple: a damn good story.

Basically, in this universe, there's only one Spider-Man, the infamous Peter Parker. But, as the film already suggests, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won't be Parker's story first and foremost: it's Miles Morales' (voiced by Shameik Moore), a regular high school student in Brooklyn who is struggling to adapt in his prestigious school. He spends nights in his uncle's house instead of his dorm room, and is enthralled when one night, he gets the chance to showcase his art skills in an underground tunnel, oblivious to a radioactive spider that just so happens to be there. Having been bitten by this genetically altered spider, Miles has to adjust to this sudden change, though it takes him a while to realize what he was really going through ("I think I hit puberty!" Miles exclaims). To make matters even more complicated, Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) is secretly building a machine he calls the collider, that opens limitless portals to other dimensions. Because of this interdimensional machine, Miles meets another Peter Parker, miles different from the Parker he knows. This Parker, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) to be exact; is much older and physically different from the Parker in Miles' universe. Turns out, he comes from another dimension, and he isn't the only Spider-Man to arrive in Miles' dimension.

The first thing that has to be mentioned is the animation. When those funky opening titles start to play, you know that you're in for quite the experience. It is fresh, fun, and seriously stunning. You can say that it is the closest you'll ever get to seeing 3D comic-book style animation in a feature length film. Into the Spider-Verse incorporates comic book visuals into 3D animation that brings actual comic book pages into life. It literally leaps off the page and onto the screen. Even the constant "yellow thought boxes" that a lot of our heroes have in the comics turn up here, and when there's a fight going on, you're seeing words like "whoosh" being flashed on the screen, just like how it is on the pages of a comic book. The setting of New York city is beautifully drawn on screen, like it's taking you by the hand and drawing it closer to the city that never sleeps, and the fight sequences are unlike any other, utilizing its animation to the level that live-action comic book movies won't be able to tackle as well as this, no matter how big of a budget the CGI is. It's a unique take on an animation, which really takes the film on a whole other level. Then there's the character introductions, which are simply put, super fun. Each of the character introductions are unique and nudges at how many of us have probably heard of Spider-Man's origins over and over again.

Image source: IMDB

For a film that is under two hours, Into the Spider-Verse takes advantage of its potentials and actually use it instead of just dropping it on the ground and never speak of it again. Just when you think you've had enough of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man's origin story (seeing Uncle Ben die for the third time? No, thank you) Into the Spider-Verse reassures you that it isn't going to repeat that same storyline. But the film does poke fun at the previous iteration, specifically Raimi's Spider-Man, with a certain scene that a character refers to as a scene that "we don't talk about." It still however, has some great storytelling at hand here. The collision of our fellow Spider-Heroes could have lead to a disastrous mess of a story. Thankfully, the film knows exactly how to avoid that. Into the Spider-Verse excels in storytelling. On the surface, it may be your typical origin story where our hero first gets his powers and tries to figure out what to do with it. It is that essentially, but the film goes even further and take the story to a different route than normal. Essentially, it's Miles' story, but the film takes note to pay attention to other characters, emphasizing their roles in the story and their development as individuals and with Miles. Best of all, it does all that without feeling like it overstuffs itself. Every single part of it just works.

Miles Morales is a compelling main character and his arc is one of the best origin arcs in a superhero film. Miles has a slightly strained relationship with his father, he doesn't feel like he fits in with his prestigious school, and on top of that, he's thrust into the superhero world. His development from normal student trying to fit in with his life to sudden superhero is handled with so much care that he becomes a fully realized character that people can truly root for. He's not the type of hero that gets it right the first time, but that's exactly what makes him a great hero. And of course, he isn't the only Spider-Man in the universe (at least when you count dimensions beyond his). Introducing Peter B. Parker, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Noir, Peni Parker, and the most delightful of all, Peter Porker, aka Spider-Ham. This is where the film really excels in: the character building, particularly Peter B. Parker, who might come off as your usual wise-cracking web-slinger, just middle-aged and in the cusp of a mid-life crisis; but he too, is a fully realized character who's more than just a mere supporting character, but one whose arc is just as emotional as Miles Morales'. The film isn't shy of giving them vulnerabilities. These heroes aren't just people with special abilities, they feel very human, relatable at best. It also has some wit and humor that really does put a smile on your face, especially when you have a character like Peter Porker hitting a villain with a giant cartoonish hammer.

The film does a flaw though: the villain. As menacing as he is, Kingpin is overshadowed by our heroes to the point where he is simply just a villain that stands in the way of our heroes. Since this is an animated film that clocks in under two hours though, not everyone is going to get much of the spotlight to develop as a character, and the film sacrifices the development of the villains in favor of the heroes (which is not an entirely bad thing, to be honest). There is an exception for a certain Prowler here though. Kingpin may be the main villain, but Prowler is the one that steals the show. Overall, Into the Spider-Verse was more than just another superhero film filling the slot of the many superhero films that came out this year, it was a great film that brings something unique while also reminding us why we love heroes like Spider-Man. It brings me so much joy to see a Spider-Man story that entertains as much as it inspires. There's a line that a character says in the film: "It's a leap of faith, that's all it is." It isn't just a line directed at a character, it's directed at us, too. As superhero origins go, Into the Spider-Verse brings an innovative take on the Spider-Man story, especially when it comes to breaking the fourth wall by literally bringing the different dimensions that were originally very separate in the comics together in one film. You don't see that everyday in a superhero film, do you?

Image source: IMDB

Overall verdict: Into the Spider-Verse excels in nearly every single aspect, particularly the storytelling and character development. While we've seen Spider-Man's origin being repeated twice already, it's a pleasant surprise to see that since it takes the origin of a different Spider-Man, it goes on a completely new route. Miles Morales is a fully realized character whose arc is so well handled, and his development as an individual is spectacular. Alongside him are the other spider-heroes from different dimensions, but among them, it's Peter B. Parker that has as much of a development and an emotional arc as Miles. And that's what made this film special, it reminds us why Spider-Man is a beloved hero. Spider-Man is perhaps a superhero that feels the most human and the most relatable. No matter how many times he's fallen down, he would always rise up again, and this film doesn't shy away from the web-slinger's vulnerabilities. The only issue with the film is perhaps the main villain, but since this is an animated film clocking in just under two hours, not everyone gets the spotlight. Into the Spider-Verse chooses to develop its heroes more because that's who we're here for after all, and it delivers. Miles' journey throughout may seem like a typical hero's journey, but the film makes sure that it has so much more to it, and that's why it's exceptional.

Stars: 4.5/5

By Nadia Ranaputri

Image source: Screen Rant

Director: James Wan
Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman, Temuera Morrison.

If you look back at before the DCEU even began, the idea of having an Aquaman film had perhaps became a kind of fantasy that wouldn't see the light of day. Maybe it is a little ridiculous to have a superhero who can talk to sea animals and ride on dolphins, but over the years, the character has developed into one of the most interesting heroes in DC. If his future portrayals have proved anything, it's that he's more than just an Atlantean who talks to fish. Morning cartoons aside, Aquaman has been a staple character in many of DC's animated films. He was even a playable character in both Injustice games, and he was cool as hell. When Aquaman first made his live-action big screen debut in Justice League, I was a little skeptical at first, but curious to see how his portrayal in the DCEU would go. Turns out, he was one of the silver linings in an overall disappointing film. I was excited to see where the character goes to next. Thus, when James Wan was brought in to helm the story of the underwater superhero, it was clear that my hype for this went through the roof.

Aquaman starts off with the love story between Arthur's parents, one a lighthouse keeper named Thomas Curry (Temuera Morrison), and the other a Queen of an underwater nation of Atlantis, Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman). In the process, they have a son named Arthur, believed to soon be the one to unite the surface world and the sea. Eventually, Queen Atlanna is forced to abandon her family and return to Atlantis, leaving Arthur in the care of his father. Fast forward to a now adult Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), dubbed as the Aquaman, who is on a mission to save fellow submarine crews from pirates out to hijack the ship. Turns out, he's been doing errands like this for a while, saving people from the dangers of the sea. He's then approached by Princess Mera (Amber Heard) who warns him that his half brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the current king of Atlantis, is about to wage war on the surface world, and that Arthur must return to Atlantis and confront him to prevent Orm from doing so. Arthur first rejects the offer of confronting Orm, but reluctantly agrees when he comes upon Orm's first act of wrath on the surface. Together, Arthur and Mera journey to Atlantis, where they discover a clue leading to the lost trident that has the power to control the seas, which would bring prosperity to a true heir of the throne.

Jason Momoa nails Arthur Curry. He is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the films. The whole film rests on his shoulders, and he carries that weight effortlessly. It's not a masterful type of performance, but his portrayal of the superhero still has plenty of charm, enough for us to take a liking to his character and root for him. It's a much more grounded portrayal, giving us a whole film to see a different side of him than when he appeared in Justice League. Curry's journey consists of him redefining himself as an individual, to truly step out from the comfort of the surface world to face the dangers of the underwater world. Though it takes place after Justice League, it is very much an origin story of a hero whose two worlds are about to collide, and he has to venture to one world in order to save the other. Alongside Momoa is Amber Heard as Mera, whose chemistry with Momoa during banters are fun to watch, but when it comes to the more romantic driven stuff, it can lead to more of an eye-roll. On her own though, Mera is a fierce character who can prove her own alongside Arthur. The standouts however, are Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, and Dolph Lundgren as Curry's half-brother Orm, Curry's mentor Vulko, and King Nereus respectively. Wilson particularly makes for quite intriguing antagonist, though he can feel a little overdramatic at times, but Wilson makes it work with his performance.

Image source: IMDB

This is one of those times where IMAX is the way to go. Aquaman is a true visual feast for the eyes. Atlantis is a gorgeous underwater city with its own type of border patrol and a brimming city that brings modern technology and ancient architecture together in spectacular fashion. It's immersive, epic, and so well put together (especially with Rupert Gregson-Williams' excellent score) that it leaves you longing to head back to all its visual glory whenever the film journeys to the surface world. It's certainly an interesting look into the fact that the city and some its weapons are powered by the very thing that surrounds it: water. Even the ancient technology deemed to be ahead of its time, is powered by water. Also, since this is James Wan directing here, there's also some spectacular horror imagery, particularly a sequence in a deep sea area called the Trench with ravenous sea creatures lurking in the dark. And the underwater kingdoms that are shown throughout the film are some of the film's striking visuals. Seeing the many underwater kingdoms is definitely an intriguing aspect visually, and another aspect that I find to be most interesting in DC films is the lore. If there is one thing the DCEU thrives in, it's setting up the lore, both visual and story wise. Man of Steel and Wonder Woman's lore lecture on Krypton and Themyscira respectively was one of the film's best sequences, engaging us on the hero's home planet. Aquaman follows suit, bringing the lore of Atlantis to the big screen with an equally engaging manner as the lore from its predecessors.

The story on the other hand, is pretty solid, and it had an adventurous feel to it that is reminiscent of a classic sci-fi adventure. For a story that mostly takes place underwater, Aquaman has a couple of good moments that help propel the story. It has so much potential to go from there, but even when it does touch upon those potentials, there are some that aren't fully realized. There are things that are well-executed, but some that don't get the same treatment. While the pacing isn't all too bad, it's some aspects of the story that's the issue here. It's not generic, by all means (the classic sci-fi adventure approach is admittedly a nice touch); but some of it is predictable, yet it isn't something that fully takes you out from the experience. There's one very particular aspect in the film that is the most bothersome though, and that's due to the fact that it's something we've seen from other films before it. Not only that, but there are some arcs that seem too convenient, like the appearance of something suddenly solves everything, acting as a form of deus ex machina, if you will.

As for the action, it isn't something that's memorable overall, but it is admittedly fun and definitely enjoyable. The problem is not that it's a CGI overload (the fact that is spends too much time in the water is not one of them either. I mean, what else are they going to show besides the sea in a movie called Aquaman?) It just doesn't have much stake at play here. The direction of the action is impressive, especially since Wan is on the director's chair, and while it's still visually stunning (again, the visuals are film's forte) but there's not much tension to be had. While it's certainly fun, it's not something that makes you wonder about the fate of certain characters. It doesn't really raise the stakes very much, especially since certain sequences have trouble trying to balance its execution, leading to many things happening in a single action sequence without much of a cohesion. The Sicily chase sequence though, deserves a mention here. You've probably gotten a glimpse of it in the extended trailer of the film, and if you thought that scene was quite the ride, wait until you see the whole thing on screen; it is truly glorious.

Image source: Warner Bros, Collider

Another flaw with this film is rather a particular arc with Black Manta. Look, I was very excited to see Black Manta on the big screen. It certainly isn't easy to bring a character like him on screen, but when he first appeared in the Aquaman trailer, I was psyched because damn, he looked amazing. Unfortunately, other than how incredible he looks, the same couldn't be said for the character himself and his arc. It doesn't feel as if his arc was particularly earned, especially since the main antagonist here was really Orm, and not Black Manta. He has some enjoyable scenes, and his costume was undoubtedly great, but it honestly felt as if Black Manta didn't really belong here, not yet anyway. Black Manta has his motivations, yet it really didn't feel as engaging as the other arcs. It was too bland of an arc to follow, and his motivation doesn't feel like it earned to be there. He might fit right at home once he's given the chance to be the next main antagonist in future films, but here, he feels underdeveloped, as his arc doesn't feel fully formed alongside other arcs. He's perhaps a character who best shines when he's the lead antagonist, whose arc needs to take up the main story instead of merely being there to be one of Aquaman's obstacles.

Does it mean that Aquaman a terrible film? It certainly is not, and it's not even close to that. There are a lot of things to be liked from Aquaman. It juggles its arcs it much better fashion than Batman vs Superman and Justice League. It has the feel of a King Arthur story with the whole "Sword in the Stone" element (if you're wondering whether or not this is the story aspect I mentioned as an issue in the film, this is not the aspect I was talking about), but set underwater, which actually made for an interesting story. There are many interesting elements at play here, like the struggle to balance two worlds at once, a certain action that leads to consequences, and a motivation merely driven by vengeance. Some are well-executed, but some aren't, and some are things we can see from a mile away, or in other words, predictable at times. That doesn't mean that it makes the fun any lesser. Wan had stated many influences for Aquaman, one of them being Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and some of the influences from these films are present here. Aquaman packs a lot of adventure that sometimes reminds you of the films that Wan had stated to have influenced it; blending classic sci-fi adventure story with a modern superhero arc.

Image source: Screen Rant

Overall verdict: Aquaman is a truly fun ride with more things to like than dislike. Jason Momoa is a likeable lead as Arthur Curry, having a much more grounded portrayal than when we last saw him in Justice League, which is greatly appreciated. Amber Heard is fierce as Mera and manages to hold her own alongside Momoa. Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, and Dolph Lundgren are some of the film's standouts, their performances adding gravitas to an otherwise overdramatic dialogue. The visuals are outstanding, giving us a glimpse of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis in spectacular fashion. The visuals are one of the film's big guns here, because it goes without saying that it is truly stunning and worth seeing its true glory in IMAX. The story isn't terrible, but I wish there was more to it than being quite predictable and sadly thin overall. While it packs some of that adventurous feel from films such as Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and King Arthur, it's hammered by other arcs that could either fall flat or dragged, particularly Black Manta; who I honestly thought should have been saved for another film. Despite the flaws, Aquaman is an enjoyable time, and like I said, it still has plenty to like and have fun with. It paved way to be great film, but it isn't quite there just yet.

Stars: 3.5/5

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