Aquaman

Disclaimer there are spoilers in this post.

The holiday season gave us Aquaman as the gift we didnt know we needed. Aquaman a character from the DC universe who is a part of the Justice League.

Aquaman is the heir to the kingdom of Atlantis and he lives with his father who is a light house keeper. Aquaman's name is Arthur and he grows up believing that his mother has been killed for her love of a human and escaping an arranged marriage.

Arthur is contacted by Princess Mera because she needs his help to defeat his half brother who seeks to become Ocean Master. To do this, they must travel to find the Trident of Atlan.

The first part of the movie is when Arthur's parents meet and fall in love during a storm. Then we see Arthur grow up and we meet his arch rival the Black Manta. Black Manta wants revenge because he holds Aquaman responsible for his father's death.

Then the second half of the film takes Arthur and Mera on an incredible journey from the Saharra desert to Sicily in search of clues to point them to the location of the Trident of Atlan. Romance blossoms between the strong willed princess and her rather begrudging tour guide.

The final third portion of the film begins with finding out that Queen Atlanna is still alive and Arthur is reunited with his mother. After claiming his birthright of the Trident of Atlan Aquaman returns to fight his half brother.

The film concludes with a reunion of Arthur's parents.

This movie has everything to root for in a superhero film. Plenty of.fight scenes and action sequences. Just the right dose of comedic timing. And a cast that is fairly easy on the eyes. I am sure that Arthur and Mera will inspire plenty of fan fiction.

If you are looking for a film to ride you over until summer's latest block buster hit, look no further than Aquaman!

A pet cemetery is a special place; a mysterious place. It is often a place where we learn to deal with loss, most of the times at the youngest of ages. In this special place we learn to hold on to the wonderful memories of our best of friends.  
 
Yet, what happens when you are unable to deal with the death? What happens when you your grieving results in not letting go of the pet, or person, that you’ve lost? This is the situation that the audience is forced to face in the newest adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.  
 
While adjusting to a new life, in a new home, Dr. Lewis Creed and his wife, Rachel, must begin to cope with the loss of their child after a trucking accident. Amid his grief, Lewis buries his child in the mystical Pet Sematary that rested just behind their home. Soon the once dead child returns home to her father, but there’s something wrong with her, she’s not that same. The family soon must face the deadly consequences of Dr. Lewis Creed’s actions when the living-dead child tries to reunite the family through death.  
 
Looking deeper into this story, the audience is given the opportunity to observe the spiritual, yet lethal, consequences of not being able to deal with death in a positive and healthy way. Watching the movie, the audience can relate one of the members of the four-person family. It could the mother Rachel, who goes to stay with her parents after to child’s death. It could be Lewis, who tries to hold on to the past when he buries his recently deceased child in the mystical cemetery because he “wanted more time with her.” 
 
Without being an expert about death and how to deal with it, it’s plane to see that there are two different ways that the parents display to deal with the death that they face. These two coping mechanisms can also be applied to our spiritual life.  
 

1. Rachel- In the wake of the tragedy that Rachel faces, she seeks comfort and compassion from family and friends. Without hesitation, she gathers her remaining child and travels to her parents' home. This allows Rachel to build a barrier of support and love from family and friends. This allows Rachel to face the death head-on, which allows her to grow. This does not mean that she doesn’t love her daughter, but it allows her to put the grief to rest. Throughout the film, Rachel displays areas of weakness, but she makes progress.  Rachel is eventually able to return to her new home and face the living dead version of her child, showing a real growth in her journey. When the living-dead child approaches Rachel, trying to gain trust in the mother, Rachel can resist the temptation to embrace the child.  
   

 

1. Lewis- In the aftermath of his daughter’s death, Lewis find himself isolated. When his wife and toddler child travel to his in-laws, Lewis decides to remain home, claiming that he still had work to complete. In his moments of isolation, he is continuously reminded of his daughter. In the times of isolation, Lewis faces a difficult decision; to let his daughter lay or to place her in the Pet Sematary, hoping she would return the same as before. Throughout the film Lewis is given multiple opportunities to communicate his grief and pain with a friend or a loved one, but he continually suggests that he is fine. On the return of the child, Lewis refuses to admit to himself that his daughter is not normal; he refuses to admit that his daughter is dangerous.  
   

 
These two examples are examples that I believe many of us would also fall into when you we deal with loss. We can gather around friends and family and find solace in them as we work on moving on, or we can emotionally dig up the past and not actually deal with the emotional and spiritual toll that this takes.  
 
In our spiritual lives, it seems that we often dig up our past, not letting it rest. Often, we find that when we refuse to let our past rest, it begins to corrupt and corrode, destroying us from the inside. In the wake of our spirits corroding, the despair and depression can often seep out and entangle our family in the same corruption. This unrest can often destroy a family, “killing” everyone involved.  
 
Here's the good news for us: we don’t need to let our grief and despair destroy us and our families. There’s hope for us all in these difficult times. There’s a God that loves us and knows our pain. God wants to heal us in a healthy way. Therefore, we are involved in community to strengthen us and encourage us through our most difficult times.  ​

Aladdin comparison

disclaimer there are spoilers ahead!

May 24th 2019 marked the opening weekend for the live-action version of Aladdin.

Join familiar characters such as Genie and new character such as Jasmine's handmaiden Dahlia, as we return to Agrabah.

First I will give a brief synopsis of the Aladdin story. Then I will highlight what I enjoyed about the new film adaptation. Finally i will compare the live action version to the animated film.

Aladdin is story of a young man and how he changes his destiny. Due to help from his monkey Abu, Aladdin possess the lamp and its genie. Genie makes Aladdin into a prince so he can marry Princess Jasmine, who he saved earlier in the marketplace. Their love is thwarted by Jafar the evil grand visir and his pet parrot Iago. Jafar is turned into a genie and sent to the Cave of Wonders. Genie is freed by Aladdin. Jasmine's father the Sultan changes the law so that she and Aladdin can marry. Other supporting characters include the tiger Rajah, Jasmine's best friend, and a magic carpet that can fly, named Carpet.

Now that you are caught up on the story, here is what I enjoyed about the live action version. The movie was visually stunning according to critics and I have to agree. From the background and the costumes to the use of flower petals is was a treat. Jasmine this is her movie with the new musical number and anthem called "Speechless". Will Smith as the genie was so fun! The only thing I did not enjoy was Iago as he was much funnier in the animated version. Jafar also was quite scary but as a villian this was fitting for his character. I loved this film! I cant wait to see it again!

Aladdin as an animated film premiere in November of 1992. It started the late and great comedic actor, Robin William's, as the genie. Will Smith did an excellent job as the genie, but in the hearts of our generation, Robin William's will always be our genie. In the animated film, the lyrics to the songs differ slightly than the live action version. Iago, Jafars parrot, was much funnier in the animated film. In the live action adaptation, the genie falls in love with Jasmine's handmaiden Dahlia. I liked this touch of romance and plot.

The true question is this: Does the story stand the test of time? The answer, for this reviewer is a resounding Yes!

Both films are a treat for children of ages and are sure to delight! So, head on over to your local theater and revisit Agrabah with Disney's Aladdin!