Aquaman

• Directed by James Wan
• November 26, 2018 (Empire, Leicester Square) / December 21, 2018 (US)
• Based on created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger debuting November 1941 in More Fun Comics #73

Arthur Curry must stop his half-brother King Orm from uniting the seven underwater kingdoms to destroy the surface world.

When I first heard they were making Aquaman the biggest question I had like so many others was “But why?” The general public probably knows him best from Super Friends where he was perhaps the most milquetoast of those versions of the classic DC heroes. I liked what I saw in Joss Whedon’s Justice League though the movie itself was inferior to Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but the character had potential. That was due in large part to Jason Momoa who has a certain level of charisma that pulls you in when he is on screen. Check out Ronon Dex in SGA for proof.

What this movie does right from the start is that it tries to have a sense of wonder. Comic book movies largely lack that sense of wonder today. There is a been-there-done-that feeling too often. In large part through a judicious use of special effects you are left feeling like you are experiencing something new and amazing. Wan was reportedly aiming for a Star Wars-like feel with Atlantis alone and he accomplishes that there as well as with all the underwater sequences. And they use that imagery to set the stage rather than as the main go-to to tell the story. You need to feel like you’re in another world and they do that in spades. These are people doing things humans cannot. You shouldn’t go “Oh.” You should go “Wow!”

But there’s also a sense of fun. Maybe not hope but certainly fun. This is a superhero movie meant to be an enjoyable thrill ride and it does just that. There is a hint of Indiana Jones in the story as our characters must search through the ancient Atlantean past for their answers. It involves superpowers and superhero magic and everything that makes comic books fun.

The story mixes this in with environmental themes and searching for your place in the world. Arthur (Jason Momoa) is a character that doesn’t belong really anywhere and has a grudge in large part because of that. He uses his abilities to help but it comes off more because he is a brawler and less because of some more lofty purpose.

The relationship between Mera (Amber Heard) and Aquaman is complementary. He’s a bit of a lunkhead but he’s a lunkhead with a strong moral compass and will that compel him to succeed. She’s knowledgeable but doesn’t have the same drive. They are equals in this quest. And that also builds the core of their romantic relationship.

They must face off against his half-brother King Orm (Patrick Wilson) who takes the title of Ocean Master and plans on conquering the surface world. Or destroying it. Maybe a little both. It’s a common theme from what little I know of the Aquaman comics. Destroy or conquer or both. Much like Namor in Marvel Comics. Either way Orm has an itch that only unfettered war with the surface that has no idea he exists can scratch.

What this does excellently is dive heavily into the Aquaman mythology. New and old is heavily reference throughout making this all feel like a deep and lived in the world. I really appreciate that they took the comic designs and with minimal effort made them into live action costumes. Black Manta. Aquaman. Mera. All look extremely similar to their more familiar comic book appearances. You can adhere to the comic book designs with minimal changes and this proves that. 

This is also one of the rare superhero films with two villains where both feel like they are indeed a threat. Both are very dangerous and could quite possibly accomplish their individual goals. They just make each other’s job easier and do not really need the other to commit evil. Ocean Master is a true maniac. He has a massive ego and the ability to carry it out. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is just revenge and anger driven. Separately they are an issue. Together they are truly dangerous. These are just too potent villains who rise up and are as evil as the hero is good.

Arthur for his part is a man who has no desire to rule. He has no love for the nation that is ultimately to become his as he feels it has betrayed him since before he was born. He’s the reluctant hero and the reluctant leader and proceeds because he has no other choice. Events of the story compel him and shortly after the start there is no way he can back out. Then again Vulko (Willem Dafoe) is pulling strings to force whom he feels to be the better king to step up.

This manages some genuine laughs that do not ever undercut the action or the drama or anything they are building. It plays into the situation or is because of the character rather than at their expense. It is not repetitively self-aware. Nobody acts exceedingly stupid here and the political intrigue aspect works very well. This is much more complex than explosions and fistfights.

I had serious doubts that water-based combat could be anything exciting or on the same level as a Star Wars film yet here we are. What I am used to was what you could see in For Your Eyes Only for example. A bunch of guys in scuba gear swimming slowly and firing harpoon guns at one another. We get here is some pretty good stuff with the cumulative battle at the end being thrilling and edge of your seat. That alone is a perfect payoff to everything that came before it. 

If I had any complaints it would be this: why did they need the map from the Desert Kingdom? Seriously. Either Ocean Master or his father were apparently aware of the creature that was believed to have eaten Aquaman’s mom Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) where the magic trident and mythical armor were protected by Julie Andrews. (She voices the creature Karathen.) After they got the bottle it certainly sounded like they already knew where they needed to go. At least based on dialogue from Mera as well as Orin in separate scenes.

It does add a level of emotion and reward to the meeting between Arthur and his mother as well as an excuse to touch on a little more of the character’s more recent mythology. The possibility of being added or unnecessary is not really something that strikes you until the credits roll and you start talking so the viewing experience is not harmed.

With great action and stunning visuals and a story that holds your attention because it’s more than just random action scenes strung together by a thin plot, Aquaman is a surprisingly good film. This is a step above many other recent superhero movies and I highly recommend this one!