In 2014, it was announced that Jason Momoa had been cast as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe. And since then, fans have been waiting for the character’s big screen debut, after decades of viewing him in comics and animated television adaptations, which did not do the character justice in terms of portrayal. After a cameo in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and a supporting role in last year’s Justice League, Momoa returns to play the character in a central role.
The film, set a year after the events of Justice League, sees Arthur Curry/ Aquaman, a half human and half Atlantean offspring, reluctantly returning to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, to challenge his half brother Orm, played by Patrick Wilson, for the throne, who intends to take over the seven seas as well as the surface world. Arthur, along with Princess Mera, portrayed by Amber Heard, must locate the ancient trident of King Atlan of Atlantis, in order to defeat Orm.
Director James Wan ensures that the viewer is immersed in the world the film is trying to bring to life. Filled with impressive set designs and stunning visual effects, the depiction of Atlantis is aesthetic and looks like it is straight out of the comics. The effects are equally complemented by the stunning cinematography which specifically stands out in several long takes. Rupert Gregson-Williams’ musical score deserves mention as he combines electronic and orchestral elements seamlessly, which reminds one of the music from the 80s’. The film itself borrows elements from several movies of that decade. Works of Steven Spielberg in the 80s’, such as Indiana Jones, later films such as The Adventures of Tintin and Ready Player One, and other films such as Star Wars, Avatar and The Lord of the Rings, heavily inspire the aesthetics of the film and the adventurous aspect of the film.
However, the film suffers from a weak script and poor dialogues in some instances. The script tries to incorporate various elements, genres and tones, such as science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure as well as social commentary on aquatic pollution, which leads to a very messy storyline and pacing.
The film’s strengths lie in the director’s ambition and dedication, which is clearly visible, and the actors do their best to complement the director’s vision. Jason Momoa delivers a fun and awesome interpretation of Aquaman, after having proved his talents in Justice League, despite having a limited screen time. He is clearly having fun playing the character, and brings a new take. He is characterised as a fun loving protagonist, but is equally conflicted given his half human and half Atlantean upbringing, which provides a new angle to his arc in the movie. Amber Heard as Mera shines in her role and credit should be given to the director and screenwriters to have her and Arthur on an equal footing. Momoa’s and Heard’s chemistry is one of the best parts of the film. Patrick Wilson portrays a strong villain, with reasonable motivations, a characterisation which is not visible in most superhero films. Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe are incredible in their supporting roles as Queen Atlanna and Vulko, respectively. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s role as the secondary antagonist Black Manta does have some cool moments, but his minimal screen time and poor dialogues could leave viewers disappointed and hoping for a bigger role in a future installment.
Overall, Aquaman is a fun but messy installment in the DC slate of superhero movies, and leaves room for improvement and more amazing stories to tell in the future.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 