Synopsis: Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.
You may not be able to choose who you’re related to and you may not always or even ever get along, but hopefully, because you are family, they’ll be there in your time of need. When and if the time comes, pause your quarrels, beef, and petty differences, and do what you know is right. After that, you can do what you want. Nevertheless, I think you’ll come to realize that whatever grudges you hold onto are meaningless in the end. You don’t have to forget, but happiness and forgiveness are easier and way less stressful options.
“I’m going to kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear.”
The end of the DCEU is here and the DCU is on the brink of being born. But first, one more splash before we leave. Directed by James Wan, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has all the right ingredients but the wrong recipe. It had everything it needed to make the perfect last meal but instead, we’re left unsatisfied and I’d like to talk to the manager. Unfortunately, it should been titled Aquardman and the Lost Storyline. Word to my wife. I’m not sure if its issues result from too many cooks in the kitchen, having to chop scenes featuring Amber Heard, or a combination of both, either way, the final result is a jumbled mess served under a magnificent-looking cloche. The film’s redeeming quality is its beautiful, vibrant, and stunning visuals. The use of light and dark paired with the various textures and creative wardrobe and set design is aesthetically pleasing. After this experience, Aquaman and Black Manta’s suits are now in my top 5 cinematic superhero suits.
The CGI issues that The Flash suffered from are nonexistent here. With no exaggeration, it’s visually very similar to Avatar: The Way of Water. It may seem controversial, but seeing it in the incredibly immersive IMAX 3D, my visual experiences were closer than I could have anticipated. Speaking of comparisons, this film attempts to capture the sibling rivalry, journey, and repartee of Thor: Ragnarok while one of the many subplots is laughably similar to that of Black Panther. Moreover, its primary storyline feels almost exactly like the first Aquaman film. And yes, it can be fun and highly entertaining at times due to the size and scope being of epic proportions and few performances, however, the film is too busy playing dress up or having an identity crisis to be cohesive. And if you’re wondering about the food references earlier, it might be because half of this nautical adventure is a beer ad for Guinness and admiration for burgers. While I’m a fan of a smashed beefy delight and Irish champagne, it was handled with zero subtlety.
“This evil was supposed to remain frozen for eternity.”
The action sequences and choreography are done well but I can’t quite label it as action-packed. The fight scenes aren’t very long and the hand-to-hand combat leaves you wanting. Also, the story spends much of its time setting up highs that end up being anticlimactic. On its surface, this narrative is one of revenge. But what if I told you it was really about fatherhood, or redemption, or global warming, or family conflict? All of these themes can coexist within the same story, but when you make every single one the focus, the story loses direction and the final goal becomes unclear. It’s especially frustrating when those focuses lead to nothing and have no resolution. The tone is completely disjointed and doesn’t match the severity of what is taking place in the slightest. The writing is simplistic and juvenile, but not in a forgivable fashion. And it is very clear that this film looked a lot different before Heard went to trial. It turned out uncomfortably awkward at times and odd cringy. Release the Wan cut! I don’t know, maybe not.
Aside from the exceptional visuals, Jason Momoa’s zest and charm keep this aquatic quest afloat. Even if he’s completely different when compared to the last film. From its jailbreak sequence to its heists to the backstory of the Lost Kingdom, some aspects can and will be enjoyed, but they are not enough to make up for everything else the film fails to do right. Oh, and again we get a cool-looking and interesting Big Bad that is unsurprisingly nerfed thus making them feel unnecessary and the journey pointless. As my stepson put it, this is not the way DCEU should’ve ended. Watch for yourself and let us know what you think. Its rewatchability is low. There is a mid-credits scene
Before you continue reading, I read the comic book that is a prequel to this movie and gave a breakdown on my Twitter/X. Check it out before you see the film.
Pace & Pop
The film maintains a mostly vigorous pace throughout. However, despite the zany ride it attempts to deliver, its sporadic nature hinders rather than helps. What popped for me were the visuals. The film is gorgeous to behold.
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, and Nicole Kidman
There was some overacting going on. Jason Momoa and Amber Heard had zero chemistry. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is vastly underutilized. He looks cool though. Randall Park does his best to save the scenes from awkward writing but he can only do so much. Patrick Wilson is great and the rest of the cast is just fine. This had great potential.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom releases in theaters on December 22, 2023. Remain safe and drink Guinness, I guess.
Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 2h 4m Director: James Wan Screenplay: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick Story: James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett Based on: characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger Producers: Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan Executive Producers: Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada Director of Photography: Don Burgess Production Designer: Bill Brzeski Editor: Kirk Morri Composer: Rupert Gregson-Williams Music Supervisor: Michelle Silverman Visual Effects Supervisor: Nick Davis Costume Designer: Richard Sale
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UGc5Tzz19UY%3Fsi%3DwmC7Kxcs84KeyvVY
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has all the right ingredients but the wrong recipe. It had everything it needed to make the perfect last meal but instead, we’re left unsatisfied and I’d like to talk to the manager.
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GVN Rating
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
