'Aquaman' Movie Review

Released: 14th December 2018 (UK)

Length: 143 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: James Wan

With a rocky production cycle and critical scathing, DC’s Extended Universe is in need of course corrections. The next character to step up to the plate is Jason Momoa’s Aquaman; for this latest entry, director James Wan has created a rousing tale that falls just short of being great.

Taking place shortly after Justice League, Aquaman/Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) is a loose cannon, mostly out doing his own thing both in and out of the ocean. He’s approached by Atlantean princess Mera (Amber Heard) and at first Arthur is reluctant to return to Atlantis, given his status as a half-breed, but soon agrees when his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) looks to bring war to the surface world. To claim his rightful place on the throne, Aquaman sets out to find the Trident of Atlan and put a stop to Orm’s plans. Story threads that are typical of the genre are told very smoothly throughout the film, including Arthur’s backstory and the overarching narrative of Atlantis. There’s a lot going on in the film and while it isn’t messing around trying to set up five future films at once, there are moments that could have been cut out. Arthur’s search for the legendary trident is overly-long and the final battle feels rushed as a result.

Unlike previous DCEU productions with their inconsistent look, Aquaman looks absolutely fantastic; this is a case where the CGI effects perfectly portray the setting while offering the grandest spectacle yet seen in the franchise. The gorgeous locales of Atlantis glisten to life effortlessly, with a collection of mid and long shots giving off an enormous sense of scale; it’s a dazzling display in which technology and nature collide in all kinds of imaginative ways. The music is equally brilliant, providing a suitably atmospheric backdrop and shifting between the different undersea kingdoms. The film also does a great job with its action both in and out of the water; cinematographer Don Burgess wisely keeps the fight scenes at mid-range, ensuring the hand-to-hand and weapon-based combat packs a punch. In turn, the film’s gargantuan battle sequences are very reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings. It’s hard not to come away in awe of what Aquaman has to offer from a technical standpoint.

The main performances are also good for the most part; with a standalone film, Jason Momoa fully embraces the role of Aquaman here, mixing a light-hearted tone with impressive physicality; his previous work as a marine biologist clearly helps. Amber Heard as Princess Mera and Nicole Kidman as Arthur’s mother Atlanna are also strong, serving to support the protagonist throughout his journey. The side characters don’t fare as well however; for all the film’s best efforts to gradually introduce the audience to Atlantis, the conflict within the underwater metropolis feels rather thin. This is because we don’t learn much about its inhabitants; Willem Dafoe and Patrick Wilson, both experienced in the superhero genre, are written into heavy expositing and basic antagonist roles respectively and they don’t fit into the plot as well. Wilson is probably the best villain the DCEU has put out so far, but it’s a shallow victory. The same is also true of the other Atlantean kingdoms; while they’re beautifully presented with the effects, there’s not much to distinguish the differences between them outside of appearances. There’s also a surface-dwelling pirate named Black Manta who is mostly there to fill in for an action scene and little else.

It goes on a bit too long and the action surrounding the protagonist is quite underdeveloped, but Aquaman is still a rollicking good-time. Just like Wonder Woman before it, the film’s singular direction allows the character to really come into his own and take his place alongside DC’s greatest heroes. Slowly but surely, this extended universe is getting back on track.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)