Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Cool takeaways from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom:

The story takes Global Heating seriously with the hopes of convincing nations around the world to do the same. It actually employs an even more destructive way to heat up the planet, in order to remind us that our current industrial endeavours lack sustainable foresight, the reckless burning of an ancient ore which is extremely toxic and highly volatile, it's actually burned to speed up Global Heating, and melt Antarctica to free an ancient king (it's Antarctica week!).

Cool to see action/adventure films taking environmental issues seriously. I think we can clean up contemporary industry. Not overnight but in the foreseeable future.

Interesting to see ye olde Antarctica feature heavily in another narrative. It would be so much fun to explore. The ancient secrets of an archaeological lifetime (I don't want the planet to heat to the point where it melts, but it will probably melt naturally someday, perhaps millions of years from now, and it would be cool to be there then).

The Sahara is also featured near the beginning when Aquaman has to break his brother out of prison, the jail residing beneath the enormous desert, a forbidding place for people of the sea.

Reminding us that it used to once be an imposing ocean, it collegially harmonizes with atemporal infinities, thereby highlighting the present's transitory nature, which makes it all the more enticing.

I've heard that in many countries around the world people like to eat bugs, and it's something I'd like to try, even though my initial reaction may be somewhat shocking, assuming they're healthy, hey, why not? Aquaman takes a comic look at the phenomenon perhaps to usher in new culinary trends. They do seem like a limitless food source. But how do they work with vegetarianism? 

Aquaman loves his family which I thought was cool to see, he isn't too busy running his kingdom to spend time with his newborn child. He wants to be there and genuinely cares which made me think of dad when I was growing up. Things don't always work out but it's no doubt cool when they effectively do.

At one point flares are shot into the air to light up the sombre surroundings, and they almost look like constellations when they explode. I thought it would have been cool if they had been Australasian constellations indeed to pyrotechnically salute Antarctica etc., that would be cool if artists could do that with actual fireworks as well.

I understand Aquaman's frustrations with just trying to quickly get 'er done. It's so much easier to work on your own and make your own decisions as they suit your circumstances. But councils and parliaments do provide lucid oversight that prevents tyrants from recklessly governing. One emperor may be wise and just like Augustus Caesar/Aquaman. But who knows when you'll wind up with Caligula/Orm?

And I was worried that dynamic whale-kind had been overlooked in the versatile script, since they didn't show up for freakin' ever and much of the story takes place underwater. Just wait for it, even if you don't like fantasy films, if you like whales I'm sure you'll love the scene. It actually relates to the ways in which the noise from human technology is disturbing marine life around the globe. Giving such life an opportunity to fight back!

Solid whale representation!

Plus, amazing octopus representation (ban octopus farming!).

A fun film to watch. 

Jason Momoa puts on a good show.

Aquaman

Unbeknownst to surface dwellers who recklessly pollute its august fathoms, deep within the ocean reside 7 ancient civilizations.

Swathed in utmost secrecy, they flourish in blissful dissimulation.

Yet one king (Patrick Wilson as King Orm) has grown weary of land lubbing largesse, and madly seeks to start a war with the peoples above.

He requires the loyalty of 3 free realms to bellicosely embark, however, realms which have little interest in non-aquatic regal affairs.

But not all of his subjects believe his plan is conceptually sound, two of them hoping to challenge his legitimacy within reasonable lawful bounds (Amber Heard as Princess Mera and Willem Dafoe as Vulko), for a brother has he who was raised on land yet still commands creatures of the deep, and even though Aquaman (Jason Momoa) has never embraced his submerged heritage, they feel that he may, if he learns of its dire ambitions.

And that only he can thwart them.

His lighthouse keeping father (Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry) still awaits the return of his beloved Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), each and every evening, and has since the day she was taken from him, and forced to marry against her will.

Aquaman can't remember her.

Although he's heard of her brilliant legend.

But his customs are not those of the aristocracy, in fact Aquaman playfully intertwines old and new world pretensions as it supernaturally decodes the throne.

With wild self-sacrificing purpose.

The seven realms could have each represented different philosophies more astutely had their lore been given more detailed narrativizations.

But Aquaman resists the urge to become overly complicated like Dune, even if it's still quite complex, its protagonist like a Paul Atreides who was raised amongst the Fremen, his charming rough adventurous spirit boldly holding the film together.

You don't have to suspend your disbelief to love Aquaman, you simply have to imagine you've never believed in anything before.

And let yourself be immersed in a chaotic world overflowing with innocence and curiosity.

The underwater worlds are incredible and it was soothing to imagine myself within them.

Swimming away.

Aspects of Aquaman may be so improbable that a degree of cynicism may surface.

But it's also saturated with ingenuous goodwill, reluctance and cheek diversifying its depths, uncertain outcomes delineating its contrariety, with objectives as lofty as they are foretold.

A choral cascade.

A mirthful maelstrom.

Furious Seven

Fast-paced volatile extremely airtight precisions dominate the best moments of Furious Seven, the latest, possibly the last instalment in The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Which could have been better.

Riddick won my heart years ago so I have a soft spot for Vin Diesel, but you have to give him a better script to work with if you want his raw animalesque agility to instinctually throttle.

The franchise moments, the moments where they b/romantically tie all the films together, are so flimsy and sentimental that I thought I might shed tears of corn husked slushie.

I'm not that devoted to the films, so I thought perhaps I would have been more forgiving if it had been a Star Trek or a Die Hard film, but this isn't true, when those franchises screw up, I'm still there to remind them.

For instance, I did prefer Furious Seven to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek V, and A Good Day to Die Hard.

You still have to suspend your disbelief a wee bit too much while viewing it however.

The final battle is just too ridiculous.

Dwayne Johnson awesomely decides to leave his hospital bed (where I believe he was watching the Stampeders) and join in on the action, but come on, how did he find everyone so quickly, it's as if he's simply programmed to kick-ass, and can intuitively place himself within those situations which immediately require ass-kicking.

There's more, but I'd rather not get into it.

It's fun, don't get me wrong, and hey, I love a strong Belgian ale, and Kurt Russell (Nobody), and Corona sometimes, at the beach, although if I could get strong Belgian ale at the beach, but they didn't spend enough time on the script, and may have gotten away with some bland insincerities.

The script doesn't show enough respect for fans of the franchise in my opinion.

Although I'm not a devoted fan.

So I might not know what I'm talking about.

Think I'll hit up a terrace though.

Yes, I, will.