Rahkyt Redux

I read all these reviews and think these people forgot what it is like to be a kid reading comics. The sheer wonder, the full deployment of imagery and limited dialogue to tell a story and how our imaginations took us to the edge of wonder and we lost the world for sheer joy of an entertaining story. Aquaman accomplished that aim with bells on. The kids aren't going to care about depth and intricacy, they don't care and can't tell if acting is oscar-class. All they know and all we should understand and feel and take away from a movie like Aquaman is that wonder was achieved and exhilarating, mythic tale was told. It's not Black Panther, but it addressed social responsibility with the outcast sub-story of Mantis and his family, the half-breed nature of Arthur and his power of empathy and resonance with undersea creatures that even the Atlanteans were mystified by. The special effects were satisfying and the action was as frenetic as could be desired for a duperhero tale. The relationship between the Queen and her Keeper of the Light was powerful and held the story together on an emotional level. It is DC's best offering by far. I hope they take the lesson and continue to make heroes for the masses, have some fun and tell some stale jokes while taking it all lightly yet with the somber weight of myth and history and context engaged. The environmental truth of our times was the subtext we all recognize, giving the Atlanteans the perfect excuse, for us, to be mad at the surface dwellers because we all know they have a point. Kudos to Mumoa, Kidman and the rest of the cast for telling this tale for our children. For our world. 5 stars, three thumbs up or whatever the heck the standard is here. Go. See. This. Movie. And take your kids. Or your sister's kids. Or your neighbor's. They will love it, even if you don't, because it doesnt live up to your totally imaginary superhero movie standards. And that alone, is worth the price of admission.