I’ve been laid up in bed with a back injury, and haven’t written a post for over two weeks. James Wan’s “Aquaman” was the medicine I needed to get back to work. The film was worth every penny of the extra money I paid for recliner seats!
THE PLOT (Contains Spoilers):
The seemingly lost land of Atlantis, is poised to attack surface-dwellers or people who live on land, with its advanced technology. Arthur aka Aquaman (Jason Momoa), the half Atlantean son of Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), is the only one that can prevent this destructive war. He must cross many hurdles such as King Orm (Patrick Wilson) and the Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II); but fortunately has the help of the beguiling princess Mera (Amber Heard) from under the sea.
Jason Momoa in a scene from the film. Picture courtesy: http://www.denofgeek.com
THE COMMENTARY:
Everything in this film is stunning to look at. Breathtakingly gorgeous actors, achingly beautiful scenery both on land and under water, sharp camera work that ensures one is hooked throughout. Fortunately, its beauty isn’t its sole claim at worthiness.
The plot is interesting, if slightly rushed, as there is much ground to be covered. I particularly appreciated the theme exploring the destruction of the environment. Though superheroism is the main focus, the subtle message about the human race destroying its waterways, comes through strong and clear.
The actors do their jobs well. Each character is believable, apart from being a pleasure to look at. The simple love story is cute without taking up too much space.
The cinematography, editing and camerawork as mentioned above, are par excellence. The amazing underwater fight scenes are most noteworthy. The special effects are at the top of their game, making the recent Indian attempt in ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ (review here) fail miserably in comparison.
The background score is catchy and youthful, keeping with the general vibe of the film.
Though the Marvel Comicverse has been leading the superhero genre this year, with “Aquaman”, DC has picked up its game!
At times, the film has a tendency to be slightly frivolous and that’s where it loses a point. I also wish the badass princess had been in the running for the one true heir- she certainly fit the bill!
THE VERDICT:
I recommend the film to all fans of DC Comics, and superhero movies in general. It’s very enjoyable to watch and easy to follow as the first in its series. Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Patrick Wilson are drool-worthy attractions.
However, I wouldn’t recommend it to young children as there are many scenes that they may find scary. You’d be better off showing them wholesome entertainment like Badhaai Ho (review here), Hotel Transylvania 3 (review here) or a number of Christmas movies out now. If you’re looking for something else in the fantasy genre, check out my review of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”.
Film Rating 4/5