By Charly SHELTON

It’s rare that two films, disparate in their subject matter and tone, can be so inextricably linked that they become one idea.

“Barbie” is a positive story about a doll that realizes women in the real world don’t have it as easy as the dolls in Barbieland and sets out to fix that. “Oppenheimer” is a bio-pic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atom bomb that follows him through the Manhattan Project and the fallout, both in the world and in his own conscience, of what had to be done to win WWII. But thanks to social media memes recognizing the stark difference between the two films set to be released on the same day, they have become one cinematic event to be consumed in a single day – “Barbenheimer.”

The question then pivots to what order they should be viewed. Should viewers first watch “Oppenheimer,” which is a downer, then let “Barbie” restore faith in humanity? Or should “Barbie” be watched first to fully enjoy it with no reservations before seeing “Oppenheimer” because there’s no way to bounce back from that for the rest of the day? I recently saw them both back-to-back and can say that any way it is arranged it’s an emotional ride.

“Oppenheimer” hits really hard, which is the mark of a good film. We all know the bare bones of the story – Manhattan Project, atom bomb, Hiroshima, sad – but the depth that writer/director Christopher Nolan explores – the nuances and the lasting psychological impacts of what the Manhattan Project did – really drives home not only the meaning in that time and place, but the lasting meaning to us today and the hubris of man in general. Though it’s difficult to watch it is even more difficult to look away. Every aspect of the film, from the sound design to the practical effects to the acting, was superb. It’s an important story to see realized in full form, and a cautionary tale for war of the future.

“Barbie,” on the other hand, is an uplifting story. Not that there are no stakes or adversity, but they’re dolls … so … it feels like a vacation for the mind after the atom bomb decisions of “Oppenheimer.” As fun as it is to watch, and the Barbie costumes and props were a real treat to see, it felt a little dulled after the emotional punch of the other film. Digging out of that emotional pit is no easy task, and there aren’t many movies that would help, but “Barbie” puts up as good an effort as any other.

There were sniffles heard throughout the “Barbie” screening because it hit some emotional chords of its own. In a movie all about the role of women in the patriarchy and how Barbie can help them reshape their view of what women are capable of, it hammers that point home and makes it relatable without being preachy or obnoxious. It walks that fine line of laying out realities of the world to be seen – not whispering it but also not yelling about it. This is a movie that will hit harder for my sisters and my wife than it did for me. I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman climbing the ladder of a patriarchy. But my wife runs three restaurants at once, my middle sister puts robots on Mars, and my youngest sister is off doing environmental research in Africa, trying to save the world. They will feel this movie’s message in a way that I can only sympathize with, not genuinely empathize.

So my recommendation is this – if you want to fully associate with “Barbie” and have no reservations, go see “Barbenheimer.” If, on the other hand, you want to have a hot pink, positive, somehow strawberry-scented balm to apply on your mental and emotional wounds, go see “Oppie.” But either way, pack some tissues and don’t wait for home video. See it in the theaters, preferably in IMAX.