IF I had to describe Aquaman in one word, it would be ‘spectacular’, which is defined as ‘beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way’. In other words, it looks stunning.
The movie has a lot on its shoulders. It is tasked to introduce a superhero that no one is really familiar with, expand the DC Superhero Universe by building a whole new undersea world, and win the hearts of average moviegoers who are more likely to be a fan of the opposite camp of comicbook superheroes movies.
Aquaman does this with flair. Each scene has a shot that looks like it would make the perfect movie poster or desktop wallpaper.
Director Wan has succeeded to make Aquaman look cool. And the action scenes are a sight to behold. Every movement and character is clear and recognisable, despite the tumbling cameras, sweeping shots, and fast cuts.
The only scenes that bothered me visually are when present-day Heard morphed into Willem Dafoe in a flashback. Also, Nicole Kidman looks like a computer-generated elf.
However, the storyline is not Aquaman’s strong suit. It is entertaining, but too straightforward and holds no real surprises.
To me, it is akin to old sci-fi serials, as most of the story is told in exposition, and when something is shown, it is also described and pointed out to the audience. That said, the visuals will provide more than enough of a distraction.
When it comes to the talented cast, a few stands out. Wilson, who plays the villainous Orm, has a screen presence that makes him believable as an heir to the throne of Atlantis, and Dolph Lundgren is perfect in the role of King Nereus.
On the other hand, Momoa who plays the titular character, comes off more like a lovable goof, and Heard is all right, I guess.
One thing of note, the legendary Julie Andrews is in this movie. Try and spot her in the film without Googling the credits.
Aquaman is one of those movies you’d want to watch on the biggest screen, with the best sound system you can afford. It is all about the spectacle, with action and story thrown in here and there.
There is also one mid-credit scene which is so predictable you can skip it, and no end credit scene.
