What a fabulous flick.
It's become cool to hate DC films, and I simply do not understand why. People suck their teeth and shake their heads and say words like "bad" without giving any evidence, let alone articulating why they simply didn't like the movies, which is their real complaint. Maybe because I don't like hopping on hateful bandwagons, or maybe because I'm not a big DC fan anyway so creative liberties in new adaptations don't bother me, but I've never felt less than thoroughly entertained in a DC superhero film. And Aquaman is no exception.
If you, like me, knew precious little about the hero, I'll give you a quick rundown. Son of a lighthouse keeper and the princess of Atlantis (Nicole Kidman), Arthur Curry embarks on a mission to save the world. A year after the events of Justice League, the reigning king of Atlantis, Arthur's half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) sows strife among humans and sea-dwellers to justify his preparations to launch an attack on the surface world. Warned of this plot, Arthur begins a quest to find the lost trident of Atlantis, a magic weapon that will establish Arthur as the rightful king and master of the oceans.
It's not an original story, and this Arthur seems to be a curious mixture of Hamlet and King Arthur searching for his Excalibur. Combine it with the visual wonder, though, of a James Cameron film and the rollicking energy of the very best fantasy/action pictures, and suddenly this Indiana Jones-meets-Avatar adventure launches itself into a memorable new stratum. Director James Wan gives us an underwater world like we've never seen, bright and vivid, teeming with life and creativity, completely absorbing in its every detail. There's everything from soldiers riding sharks and seahorses to an octopus playing the drums. What's not to like?
Aquaman provides the DC franchise with a fresh aesthetic and energy. Though elements of its plot are needless or needlessly complex and contrived, it's an engaging story that knows it's running on tried and tested ground. Its novelty doesn't even lie with its hunky hero, Jason Momoa, whose swagger and haunting eyes lead the picture with incredible star power, nor with its other stars, of whom Nicole Kidman is easily the brightest. Rather, this movie works best because it simply has fun with every single moment. An infectious sense of joy bursts out of the screen at you, flooding you with wonder and good humor.
I was enjoying myself, I'd like to note, until one scene right before the final third of the film. In this moment, when Arthur finally enters the Trench, where monstrous hordes were thought to have murdered (eaten) his mother. Escaping the snapping teeth, he enters a portal to the center of the earth. There had been a Jules Verne reference early in the movie, and here it comes gloriously alive as dinosaurs -- yes, dinosaurs! -- swoop over a secret beach, and Nicole Kidman is revealed as the lone warrior who helped Arthur escape the Trench. It was at this moment I stopped enjoying the movie and grew to love it. It's emotional and beautiful and exciting and basically everything I wanted. Oh, and not long after, Arthur gets his magic trident which is guarded by a Kraken-like monster voiced by Julie Andrews. I mean, honestly, does it get any better?!
I'd also be lying if I didn't add that this movie gives me hope for a quality live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
IMDb: Aquaman
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