OPINION:
For a superhero action movie, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” has it’s issues: It’s not that there’s too little character connection or too little story throughline, but that there’s too much gunk for fun-seeking families to swim through. And Disney’s “Wish” is otherwise rather innocuous. But it’s not inspirational. It does not come close to the artistic standards set by Walt Disney so many decades ago. And “Origin” pushes against its PG-13 rating. It does so by exposing viewers to some really difficult-to-watch moments that, while historically accurate, can still be hard to stomach.
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Origin – In Theaters
As Isabel finishes her book “Caste: The Origins of Discontent,” she compares the caste-related strife in our history to that of a house. And while she’s sympathetic to those who say they played no part in the slave trade or Jim Crow laws, the house—partly built on those foundations — still stands, she argues. “We didn’t erect the uneven pillars, but they are ours to deal with now,” she tells us. “The cracks won’t fix themselves. Any more deterioration is on our watch.”
Wilkerson’s real-world book sounds fascinating, and “Origin” — the movie spawned by that book — brings to light what I’d assume would be some of the book’s most interesting theses, as well as its most poignant and powerful stories.
But it’s hard to make a compelling dramatic narrative from a work of meticulously researched nonfiction. And as such, Origin comes with a few cracks of its own.
The film is convincing and convicting, but it can feel a little preachy, too. It has some moments that could trigger conservative viewers, not draw them in. And — thanks largely to about 10-15 minutes of flashbacks near the end of the film — “Origin” pushes against its PG-13 rating. It does so by exposing viewers to some really difficult-to-watch moments that, while historically accurate, can still be hard to stomach.
It’s been said by many that the best movies don’t answer questions: They ask them. Origin, while clearly a work of skill and passion by director Ava DuVernay, asks a series of provocative questions and then unapologetically addresses them. Isabel herself says that’s her goal from the outset: to find answers.
So while “Origin” makes me want to read Wilkerson’s book, it makes for a movie that falls a bit short of its ambitions.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – For Rent
The era of superhero films has certainly hammered excited moviegoers in a big way in the recent past. But lately it’s felt a bit more like a stumbling hit or miss. And let’s face it, the DC Extended Universe, Warner Bros.’ constellation of loosely-connected, live-action comic book adaptations, has been anything but consistently stellar.
So, what about this latest entry? Now that the DCEU is coming to a close, to be replaced by filmmaker James Gunn’s new, multiyear DC vision, fans are eager to know how “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will finish things out.
In answer, let me say that “The Lost Kingdom” is pretty emblematic of the whole DCEU that came before.
There are jocular moments here amid dour “I’m going to murder your family!” ones. We get shining heroic highlights and boatloads of bloated CGI bombast. Cool buddy-comedy story beats, and tonally inconsistent narrative fumbles. It feels as if director James Wan is throwing everything he can up on the screen to see if anything sticks. And he’s also hoping that in the deluge we won’t notice that the onrushing story doesn’t always make sense.
Now, let’s not be hypercritical of the plot here. This is a comic book movie after all. And comics aren’t always known for their keen and cogent eloquence. For what it is, there is plenty of Aquaman splash here to keep an action-hungry tyke happy.
However, therein lies the problem.
It’s not that there’s too little character connection or too little story throughline, but that there’s too much gunk for fun-seeking families to swim through.
There’s an abundance of underwater deadly carnage in this “Aquaman” pic, with deep-fried, seared-flesh moments and floods of demonic-looking screechers raking sharp claws at the screen. There’s way more nasty language in the ocean mix, too, with unfinished and substitute f-words and bucketloads of other salty lingo. And even the toilet humor seems edged up a notch.
So if you or other family members are thinking about wading into this sequel, keep in mind that there’s enough flotsam in this deep-sea actioner to at least dampen a discerning family’s enthusiasm.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
Wish – For Rent
Disney is in the middle of its “Disney100 Celebration” in 2023. And perhaps a celebration is well-deserved. Over the last 100 years, the Mouse House has been home to some breathtaking artistic and commercial successes — some of which I, and many of you, still love.
But for all those years upon years of lucrative achievement and, yes, storytelling magic, “Wish” feels like the work of a surprisingly insecure company.
This film can feel as though it was written by algorithm. A “princess”? Check. Magic? Yes. Talking animals? You bet. Songs? Sure. Everything that has worked for Disney is regurgitated here and fed to its audiences — all while giving short shrift to what Walt Disney built the company on: great storytelling.
In place of a story that feels in need of telling, we’re given baskets upon baskets of Disney Easter eggs. The company would rather I didn’t spoil those little surprises (which can, in truth, be pretty fun), but trust me: It’d be easier to name the animated movies that aren’t referenced here than those that are. At times, it feels like Wish was made for those Easter eggs, not as a storytelling vehicle — which is a bit like serving up a bunch of frosting, sans cake, to a bunch of 7-year-olds. The first bite or two is tasty, but ultimately the thing is unsatisfying.
Some have called Wish a very traditional, even conservative movie — meaning it doesn’t take a lot of unnecessary chances. And that feels true, at least on some level. But even then, the movie hedges its bets, offering an ambiguous wink to its LGBT fans.
Religion always has the power to polarize people, so perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that “Wish” — desiring so much to be as inoffensive as possible — pushed so hard to divorce itself, and its magic, from any sort of transcendent power. It is as secular as any story featuring magic wands and spellbooks, wish-granting stars and talking animals, could be. Ironically, of course, that decision might still alienate many.
OK, so we’ve got some stardust in us or whatever. That’s certainly not why I turn to the sky to wonder, or to pray. I just don’t think it’s possible to be inspired by the fact that we’re made of the same raw material as everything else in the cosmos, and the storytellers at Disney should be savvy enough to know that. We are inspired by mystery, transfigured by awe, brought to tears by our glorious creation and — most especially, the Creator behind it. Disney, essentially, asks us to be awestruck by a beautiful cathedral because of the constitution of its bricks.
If you can push aside this movie’s naturalistic musings, atheistic leanings and LGBT posturings, “Wish” is otherwise rather innocuous. But it’s not inspirational. It does not come close to the artistic standards set by Walt Disney so many decades ago. It falls short of its 1990s renaissance films and even pales against its more recent triumphs (such as “Encanto”).
I didn’t hate “Wish.” But as I left the theater, I had one big wish: I wish the movie could’ve been better.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
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