Review - Aquaman (2018)

     Hey guys, Chuck here. After the theatrical release of Justice League, Warner Bros. decided to focus less on the shared universe aspect of the DC Extended Universe in favor of stories focused on individual characters or groups of characters. And the first film to be released of this new post-Justice League DCEU was Aquaman. 

    The movie opens in 1985, with lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry, played by Temuera Morrison, who rescues Atlantean Queen Atlanna, played by Nicole Kidman, who washes up on the rocks near his lighthouse. The two get along really well, and eventually fall in love despite her being betrothed to an Atlantean royal named Orvax. Thoman and Atlanna have a son together, Arthur, but Atlanna is forced to return to Atlantis when soldiers, on orders from Orvax, arrive to bring her back to Atlantis. As the years go by, Arthur grows up, receives training from Nuidis Vulko, played by Willem Dafoe, and learns to harness his skills to become the Aquaman. 

    Cut to years later where Arthur, played by Jason Momoa, rescues a group of sailors on a Russian submarine, which has been invaded by pirates, led by Jesse Kane, who dies in a failed attempt to kill Arthur. Jesse's son David, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, swears revenge on Arthur. Meanwhile, Arthurs half-brother Orm, played by Patrick Wilson, meets with King Nereus of Xebel, played by Dolph Lundgren, when they are attacked by a submarine, which leads Nereus to agree to join forces with Orm, which is part of Orm's plan to unite four Atlantean kingdoms and be named Ocean Master, and with that title, wipe out the surface world in revenge for oceanic pollution. Nereus' daughter, Mera, played by Amber Heard, locates Arthur to get his help in stopping Orm by having Arthur take his rightful place as King of Atlantis. Arthur is initially hesitant, especially after she reminds him of his hand in defeating Steppenwolf (see my review of Justice League), but after a monster tidal wave nearly kills his father, who is saved by Mera, Arthur agrees and heads to Atlantis for the first time. After an initial confrontation with Orm, leading to a duel in the Ring of Fire, Arthur and Mera escape, seeking the secret location of the ancient trident of Atlan. 

    After finding a clue in the deserts of Egypt, Arthur and Mera head for Sicily, where they find another clue that leads them to the Kingdom of the Trench. However, they are attacked by David, who is now equipped with Atlantean weapons and is going under the moniker of Black Manta. After fending off the attack, Arthur and Mera set off to the Trench, which leads them to the Lost Kingdom, where Atlanna has survived since her exile. Arthur is sent to face the Karathen, voiced by Julie Andrews, a mythical kraken and keeper of Atlan's trident. Arthur succeeds, and with the trident, and comics accurate orange and green suit, in hand, heads to face Orm in a rematch and stop him from wiping out the surface. Orm, meanwhile, has recruited the Fisherman Kingdom, and is preparing to fight the Brine Kingdom in an attempt to recruit them as well. Arthur leads Orm to the surface, thus gaining an advantage for being more equipped for surface combat, whereas Orm is better at undersea combat. Arthur successfully defeats Orm, and after learning that he saved their mother, Orm accepts his fate and goes into custody willingly. Atlanna reunites with Thomas, and Arthur accepts his new role as King of Atlantis, with Mera at his side. 

    Aquaman was a lot of fun to watch, and it proved that DC movies didn't need to be necessarily be dark and brooding to be a good DC movie. Dark and brooding may work well for Batman, but not for other DC superheroes. Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, and the rest of the cast were all fantastic, and the visual effects truly brought the world of Atlantis to life in a way that was near impossible twenty years ago. Director James Wan made, what I think, is the best film of his career, with Furious 7 being second-best, and I can't recommend Aquaman enough. I'd say check it out, but who am I kidding? You've already seen it. Who hasn't? No surprise here, I'm giving Aquaman a rating of 5/5. This is Chuck sighing off. Be sure to stay tuned, as I have one more DC movie to review with Shazam.