It’s probably the most hyped movie in the last 6 months and with the onslaught of comic-themed blockbusters that have taken over that’s no mean feat.
But Aquaman actually managed to make a rather good impression and despite the somewhat ridiculous premise and silly storyline, it all comes together in a whirl of watery CGI and amusing one-liners.
Stellar Cast and Crew
The role of Aquaman, or Arthur Curry when he’s on land, is played by Jason Momoa and he seems to fit the mould perfectly, as he doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s also embraced his sex symbol persona perfectly and hams it up with funny quips like asking for ‘permission to come aboard’ when tackling a submarine filled with human enemies.
The movie is directed by James Wan who was also behind Saw and The Conjuring, and he’s managed to ride the line between sweet and goofy characters in a world that’s almost psychedelically weird. He’s got the feel of a spoof and a melodrama down pat, and much like sports betting NZ offers, is a force to be reckoned with.
The Plot
Arthur Curry is the offspring of a lighthouse keeper and a stranded Atlantean named Atlanna (played by Nicole Kidman) who fell in love with a landlubber.
Curry feels torn between the two worlds and not loyal to either, and he harbours great resentment to the Atlanteans as they sentenced his mother to death for having given birth to a half human child.
Eventually, Curry’s hand is forced by an Atlantean by the name of Mera (played by Amber Heard) and he heads deep beneath the waves to help thwart his half brother’s attempts at destroying the land dwellers. Orm, his half brother has a point though, he’s hell-bent on revenge against the land dwellers, as they have polluted his ocean…
Along the way Aquaman has to engage in several battles of will with his half brother, and he not only finds out his mother is still alive, he also falls in love with Mera, and becomes the King of Atlantis.
The story does play out in a rather predictable way, but it’s an immersive and entertaining one that doesn’t lag much at all.
Well Worth a Watch
It is safe to say that Aquaman deserves blockbuster status, and it’s well worth watching, Every single frame has incredible details and there is so much to see. The attention to detail is simply astounding, and there’s a subtle element of humour in a lot of the scenes that you may not see at first.
The director has incorporated the sea in so many subtle ways, and whether its armour made of lobster claws, dresses made of jelly fish or octopus that play percussion instruments, there’s an incredible incorporation of the theme at every level.
Aquaman has been described as an evolutionary step forward for the comic book genre and it’s a movie that DC can be proud of. In the future other movies in the genre could take a leaf out of this one’s book and break the mould in all the right ways.