Aquaman (2018)

Aquaman (2018)

6/10

Starring

Jason Momoa

Amber Heard

Patrick Wilson

Directed by James Wan

Well, well… it seems Warner Bros has woken up. Aquaman is a fun movie to see, and it’s sort of a comedic adventure superhero film that just takes you on a fun ride. The director, James Wan, did a good job in the way he merged this CGI-filled movie with live-action elements.

You may criticize the messy plot, the overdrawn storyline, and the needless references to Arthur’s time as a young man, but you can’t over-criticize Jason Momoa’s performance. His performance is well done, but all of the other actors who played Arthur at various ages were dreadful. The movie also had some pretty bad dialogue that jumps at you from the moment it starts, but I still enjoyed it.

Aquaman is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. This movie is the sixth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Its plot has our character born to Thomas Curry and Atlanna, the princess of Atlantis (you know, Atlantis—the underwater nation).

Their son, by the status of Atlanna, is of royal blood and, being the firstborn of Atlanna, the rightful ruler. They named him Arthur (Jason Momoa), and he grew up being able to talk to any animal born of the sea. He was trained by Vulko, an Atlantis' counselor. Vulko served his mother, and it was his duty to teach and train Arthur in the ways of an Atlantean.

A year after the events of the movie Justice League (2017), we find Arthur continuing to be a hero, saving a submarine from pirates. It is there that he was partly responsible for the death of David Kane’s father, which led Kane to become Black Manta with a single desire: to kill Aquaman/Arthur Curry.

Arthur’s brother, Ocean Master (Orm), on the other hand, was working on a plan to wipe out the human race. He was uniting the rulers of the various parts of the oceans to build an army that would rise up to the human world and seize it.
Mera was sent by Vulko to tell Arthur that he has to come back to become the rightful heir to the throne or lose the human world that he loves.
The threat level here is high, and Aquaman has to step up. Under the direction of Vulko, he must find the Trident, wield it to control the oceans, and be seen as the rightful ruler.
Those points above are what the movie is about.

Again, Jason Momoa is good in this role—you can really see the fun he’s having with it. Add to that, we have Amber Heard alongside him, who plays Mera. Did she deliver a fantastic performance in a supporting role? Yes, she did, and she did it in style.

I hope Warner Bros stays woke because Wonder Woman (2017) was a good film, and then the crap called Justice League (2017) followed it. Justice League made it hard to take Warner Bros seriously in the way they’re driving their Extended Universe, but Aquaman has resurrected our attention.

The movie didn’t deliver the same emotional depth as Wonder Woman (2017), nor did it have the comedy of Disney’s MCU or the adventurous power the MCU commands. What it does have is something like three stories merged to make a film that you just appreciate for the idea and enjoy the time spent watching it.

Go see it—it’s worth the time.