DC and Marvel are going head to head this weekend, so which side are we taking? Or do we love both? Keep reading if you want to know the answer.
Aquaman
Directed by: James Wan
With: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, and Nicole Kidman
What is it about? Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world.
Heads Up? Nobody ever took Aquaman seriously as a stand alone character. It was even brought up as a storyline more than a decade ago in HBO‘s Entourage and how it was a silly premise to begin with. Ironically, just like in that show, this end product has proved the skeptics wrong, as it is currently enjoying a stellar buzz. Jason Momoa‘s Aquaman was one of the few highlights in the otherwise disposable Justice League movie. So go see this film if you need a reminder that DC films can be spectacular, and you know, fun.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
With: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, and Mahershala Ali
What is it about? Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his reality and crosses paths with his counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Heads Up? Many are calling this animated Spider-Man film one of the best films of the year. Our own Faizan Rashid was totally enchanted by the film, and in his 4½ stars review he wrote: “Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse performs a minor miracle. It makes the character of Spiderman, perhaps the most repeatedly re-adapted comic book character of the past decade, seen countless time and in numerous screen incarnations, feel fresh and invigorating“. As for the battle of DC vs. Marvel, it is a good problem to have having two excellent superhero movies to choose from coming out in the same weekend. I say see them both! #FansWithoutBorders
Second Act
Directed by: Peter Segal
With: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Milo Ventimiglia, and Leah Remini
What is it about? A big box store worker reinvents her life and her life-story and shows Madison Avenue what street smarts can do.
Heads Up? Jennifer Lopez returns to the Rom-Com arena (her first since 2010’s The Back-up Plan). This will work as an alternative offering for the people who don’t care about superhero movies. Don’t expect anything new, just good old-fashioned comfort food.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
With: Dan Stevens, Jonathan Pryce, and Christopher Plummer
What is it about? The journey that led to Charles Dickens’ creation of “A Christmas Carol,” a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas.
Heads Up? Critics says about this film that it is “putting a sweetly revisionist spin on the story behind a classic yuletide tale“. So if you are in the mood for a cheerful holiday film, then go for it.
Malevolent
Directed by: Olaf de Fleur Johannesson
With: Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Scott Chambers, Celia Imrie
What is it about? Siblings Jackson and Angela run a profitable ghostbusting racket; swindling the bereaved with fake detection equipment and Angela’s paranormal ‘visions’. When they are hired to investigate a haunted old foster home, they find out supernatural terrors are the least of their problems when they discover the very real evil lurking in the isolated house
Heads Up? This British horror film is being released in some markets by Netflix but apparently not in this region. After seeing the trailer, I am intrigued, but just mildly.
