2023 has been a weird year of superhero movies, where the majority of which have been box-office disappointments when compared to the last decade that was dominated by superpowers and spandex. When you look at the DCEU, concluding its tenth and final year, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle have not grabbed people’s attention for the possible reason that we are waiting for what James Gunn and Peter Safran are cooking up when they reboot the DC universe in the coming years. However, can Jason Momoa as the dude-bro king of Atlantis in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom give one last hurrah before we see the hierarchy of power in the DC universe is about to change?
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom sees Arthur Curry ruling the seven seas where the diplomatic and bureaucratic royal duties are boring and is always entering conflict with the Atlantean council, Momoa’s Arthur Curry is also a family man taking care of his new son. However, when David Kane/Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) returns to seek revenge against Aquaman with the use of a mysterious, powerful black trident, Arthur seeks the help of his evil half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson).
When James Wan directed the first Aquaman in 2018, he went into it with the thought that if I was only to make one of these movies, I’m just going to throw everything in the kitchen sink. Best described as “The Most Movie Ever Made” in that nearly every scene is from a completely different movie, Wan did not hold back in embracing the outlandish comic book visuals that perfectly showcased the adventures of a hero who can talk to fish. In an age where modern gonzo blockbusters like Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets are box-office bombs, Aquaman was the exception, being the only DCEU instalment to gross a billion dollars.
Five years later, how did James Wan top “The Most Movie Ever Made”? Well, he doesn’t. As the two squabbling brothers go on a globe-trotting adventure, where they encounter strange new locations including the titular Lost Kingdom, the world-building doesn’t feel as grand as it was before. As much as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has looked at some of the works from their “Marvelous” rival such as the Black Panther movies, this sequel never really showcases Aquaman’s role as king with Atlantis barely being a character, apart from the council who serves as a foil that is pushed aside after the first act.
The first movie may not reach a Shakespearean level of writing, but in an attempt to be a bit more serious with the theme of family running throughout, whether it is Arthur and Orm’s relationship or Black Manta’s quest for revenge, Wan and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick never reach the dramatic goal they attend.
This is not to say Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom loses its sense of fun, a lot of it is rooted in the comedic banter between Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson, with the former continuing to have the best time whilst the latter shows a humorous side in a role that was previously a bland villain. It’s worth nothing that whatever your thoughts are towards Amber Heard given the controversy surrounding her, her role as Mera is heavily minor here as if her presence was deliberately trimmed during the editing; even Nicole Kidman gets more to do as Atlanna. Seeing this in IMAX 3D, the CGI didn’t always look great, but Wan has fun showcasing some crazy set-pieces including a Fishman concert and Jules Verne-like machines piloted by henchmen who dress like they were in 1965’s Planet of the Vampires.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
