Aquaman, a rare hit with critics

James Wan’s newest film, Aquaman, featuring Jason Mamoa as the quintessential smart-mouthed hero, Aquaman, generated quite the buzz online when trailers came out. Featuring Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman and Julie Andrews, the DC Extended Universe movie has been a rare hit with critics, who panned other blockbuster attempts, including Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad.

Film buffs are particularly taken with Mamoa’s performance as Arthur Curry, King of Atlantis. Following the film’s world premiere at Leicester Square’s Cineworld in London, critics scrambled onto Twitter to share their initial thoughts about it. The overarching theme is that it’s fun, and has great action sequences. Fans of superheroes will be aware of the (mostly) playful animosity between Marvel and DC fans, and one critic called Aquaman ‘the most ambitious DC movie to date.’

Superman: The Movie turns 40

Forty years ago, on December 15, 1978, Richard Donner not only made audiences believe a man could fly, but proved that superheroes could have just as much appeal for adults as they did for children.

The Movie featured a pitch-perfect performance from the late Christopher Reeve in the tights and cape of the Kryptonian hero, as well as the eyeglasses of his mild-mannered reporter alter-ego, Clark Kent.

Reeve’s interpretation of Superman is still the gold standard, often imitated but never improved upon.

Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards and received a Special Achievement Oscar for Visual Effects. Made for $55 million — at the time, the most expensive movie ever made — Superman went on to make $300 million worldwide and spawned three sequels starring Reeve.

John Cena in China

Is there anything John Cena can’t do? He’s a beloved actor, wrestler and bodybuilder and also very popular in China. The 41-year-old is currently based in the Asian country filming a motion picture with Jackie Chan and spoke with WWE on YouTube about his experiences in China.

Cena has been living in China for the last three months and will be staying out there for much of the rest of this year as filming continues. “I’ve been here in China for three months now — and although we’re moving to different cities — I’ve been in the country for three months and I still don’t feel acclimated,” Cena confirmed. “I feel adjusted, things are still new and fun and I don’t quite understand everything. I think it would probably take a few years, but it’s amazing how much more comfortable I became after about a month and a half.”

Cena will next appear for WWE in Australia when he teams up with Bobby Lashley against Kevin Owens and Elias at Super Show-Down.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 22nd, 2018