Watching–'Aquaman'

Aquaman is the sixth entry into the set of DC films that take place in the cinematic universe originated by Man of Steel. The set of films have been divisive to say the least with only one of the previous five films gaining near universal praise form both critics and audience members alike. I am one of the rare individuals that have liked all five DC films thus far to varying degrees, and the reasons for liking them has always been different. Aquaman is the same, I liked it for reasons that are not wholly comparable to the previous films.

Historically speaking, Aquaman has been a victim to a significant amount of ridicule, however James Wan (most notable for the mainline Conjuring films, Insidious, and the seventh installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise) manages to make the character, played by Jason Momoa (well known for being in Game of Thrones) a truly powerful individual worthy of the title of king of the seas.

The narrative picks up soon after the events of Justice League where Arthur Curry’s half brother King Orm (Patrick Wilson) is gathering the kingdoms of the oceans so that he could launch an attack on the surface world. Inevitably, Arthur is the only one who can stop him, and with Mera’s (Amber Heard) help he searches for the trident of the first king of Atlantis, in order to unite the seven kingdoms.

The visuals of the film are stunning to the point that a still frame could be hung up on a wall as a piece of art. The colours underwater are incredibly vibrant and vivid making the film a visual treat for the eyes. This is especially true for the moments when they are in Atlantis, and the finale of the film. The visuals give the films a high fantasy feels as a result of them spending a significant portion of the film underwater. It is without a doubt, the most colourful, bright, and vibrant film in the DC world so far.

The performances of all the cast were quite strong, with the exception of Dolph Lundgren. That being said he is a side character, and considering he is playing a king, he holds himself up with an undeniable presence which, to me, makes up for the acting. Jason Momoa plays an Aquaman who is simultaneously intimidating, yet approachable, the duality bringing much of the humor in the film, in addition Jason Momoa’s natural charisma bleeds through the character making him instantly likable. There are also a few surprise cast members who you would not expect to be in the film if you have not already checked the cast list, which is quite surprising.

Rupert Gregson-Williams gives us another fantastic original soundtrack. Having previously worked on Hacksaw Ridge and Wonder Woman respectively, when listening to the soundtrack in isolation many of his sensibilities shine through in many of the tracks in both Aquaman and Wonder Woman. When used in combination with the film, a sense of scale, wonder, and the fantastic shines through elevating the film as a whole while remaining distinct. Black Manta’s theme being a particular highlight.

In terms of weaknesses, the most prevalent one is one that is more common to many of James Wan’s films, the moments of emotion, which unfortunately fall short of their potential, though not from a lack of trying. There were also moments when the switch from dramatic to comedic was far too sharp to be fully acceptable.

The film is incredibly formulaic, and it is likely you will predict the entire film, however it pulls off the formula with an incredible amount of heart and sincerity. It is an ambitious film with the scale and scope of an epic. In addition this is an example of James Wan flexing his filmmaking muscles to give us a visual treat, showcasing his ability from action to horror. This is one spectacle I highly recommend for the cinema experience.