I Watch Films: Aquaman
So after making an appearance in Justice League to help save the world, Aquaman gets his own film and (sigh) origin story. In fact there’s a not bad fifteen minute two-worlds romance between the lighthouse keeper and the queen of Atlantis sandwiching ninety minutes of Jason Momoa wandering around the seas of the world trying to avoid becoming king of Atlantis but not wanting his brother Orm to be king too (Orm wants to destroy the surface world*).
Anyway there are several cool locations underwater, most of them very busy and confusing, and we don’t spend a lot of time in many of them, which is good for some, and less good for others. Couldn’t we have spent more time at the centre of the Earth, with the dinosaurs? In fact why not have a whole act there. Or a whole film. Aquaman at the Earth’s Core, now that might have been some fun.
I don’t want to be too hard on the film, which was certainly pleasant and enjoyable in places. But then again why not be hard on it? The best set was of course the real-ish places in Sicily, which get damaged like everywhere else. Similarly the better villain is the one who’s not the king of Atlantis and Aquaman’s half-brother; all the underwater stuff whether from the comics or made up for the film hits you as cool and stylish when you first see it, but rapidly becomes visual noise. The plot is weird and flaccid, Aquaman has to be prodded into action, and then immediately picks a fight, it’s all a bit dumb. And this is not bad. But it’s not good especially either!
I said when Justice League came out that this was a real treat for the eight or ten comics fans who really wanted to see Steppenwolf throw down with Aquaman on the big screen. Well now we get to see Aquaman fight Black Manta and Orm and dinosaurs and so on. The villains and the heroes have a connection and genuinely get under each other’s skin. So there’s some actual stakes if find yourself caring about the characters.
Watch This: Because you can’t get enough superhero action and this has plenty of action
Don’t Watch This: If you want clever plotting or witty turnabouts in your superhero action
* He tries to wreck the navies but how much is left after the events of Suicide Squad? Didn’t Enchantress cripple the world’s militaries? Or have we forgotten entirely about that film?
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