Aquaman
/“A war is coming to the surface. And I am bringing the wrath of the Seven Seas with me.”
Filmology Rating: 2.5 out of 4
Aquaman is DC's latest attempt at trying. The entire cinematic universe rests on Aquaman? Aquaman must claim the throne and prove he is a worthy King when his brother decides to invade the surface because of pollution and CNN.
This is was directed by James Wan who is mostly known for his ability to turn decent horror films into terrible franchises. He also did Furious 7 which is a wonderful piece of film schlock. Here he is, making a Aquaman movie sarcastically. I actually have a theory that he made this film sarcastically because watching this movie with the right mindset going in, makes you get a vibe from James Wan that says, "I am making an AQUAMAN movie...." It's a really dumb film with an even dumber premise. However, James Wan is a smart filmmaker and I got the sense that he made the film almost as if he was making fun of it at the same time. The premise is basically the same plot as Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and Black Panther. This movie was so weird that I really liked it. It's Creature from the Black Lagoon meets Black Panther meets modern technology and it was so quirky that I really enjoyed it. It felt like I was watching a really fun 50s B movie.
The cinematography is what surprised me most. This is easily the best looking DC film with gorgeous visuals and costume design that I loved. The Atlantian Land gear looked so cool that I really dug the insane premise. The humor in this did not feel tacked on, it felt very character centered and not Marvel quippy dialogue, which I appreciated. It's a premise that took itself seriously, so it made me buy into the weird, dumb stuff easier.
The action is very impressive with many long unbroken takes, but after a while, the action became too much and almost felt like the writer got bored so wrote in another action scene. There is also a side plot with Black Manta, who is in the first few minutes of the film, but then disappeared for an hour
I also really appreciated that this film had a sense of awe and wonder to the world of Atlantis. Usually in film today, we see this extraordinary world that we are new to, but the characters act like it's a regular old day in this world (Fantastic Beasts). But the audience is unfamiliar to it, so we need a character to experience this great new world with (Luke Skywalker, Marty McFly, Harry Potter) also known as a framing device. This film had Aquaman as that framing device and I really appreciated that detail. Jason Momoa is also a charismatic fellow in this film and wasn't annoying like in Justice League where everything he says is a one-liner.
In the middle of the film, it took a very odd shift in tone. Like out of nowhere, a Pit Bull song starts playing and I'm wondering what movie I'm watching. There was also some very obvious and strange social commentary about pollution in oceans. There is this strange CNN rant that lasts literally 4 seconds that had me incredibly confused. It further feeds into my theory of James Wan making a complete joke out of this film where I'm enjoying the weirdness with the filmmaker.
The film suffers from a dull script that's a little long with a few too many villains, but I was craving those weird Atlantian suits and the bright look of Atlantis. I enjoyed this much more than Wonder Woman, disregarding grade. It's a dumb ride with lots of spectacle and colors that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating: See It
-Nolan
Aquaman has the grave misfortune of being released just a week after the best comic book film of all time; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; so it would seem that the latest adventure in the DC multiverse might feel like a lesser affair. It also doesn’t help that the film is following the critical blunder that was Justice League. Needless to say, Aquaman has an uphill current to swim against and it seemed too intense for the hero.
Arthur Curry, played by Jason Momoa, was born of two worlds, the Atlantean and the human. For years Arthur has attempted to ignore his birthright as true King of Atlantis but when his step-brother Orm, played by Patrick Wilson, vows vengeance on a cruel human world Arthur must go to the sea to reclaim the crown and unite the seven kingdoms of the sea.
After the uninspired Furious 7 I never thought I would want to see James Wan behind the camera again for an action film. It would turn out that my reasons for worrying were well founded after watching Aquaman. Wan cannot direct a scene in an action film in which the action feels like it has weight to it and where the action helps tell a story. Look back at some of the best action films of recent years, Mad Max: Fury Road and John Wick: Chapter 2, they are all telling character motivations and where the characters are mentally tough. The action helps elevate the story of the film while instead Aquaman goes for the most simplistic yet populous pleasing use for action: spectacle. Slow motion should be outlawed in action films, it has been overused and lost its effectiveness yet for some reason most people think the effect makes the action more badass than it truly is. That is truly the entirety of Aquaman, where it comes across more badass than it truly is.
When the film is focusing on the Shakespearean brother relationships it’s hitting all of the sweet spots of compelling drama but when it switches over to underwater action to becomes yet another banal superhero film. Most people call The Dark Knight the best superhero film and it’s not because the film offers the most impactful action because it doesn’t, the film offers compelling themes and characters that make the movie stand out from the rest. For those who have read the Geoff Johns and Dan Abnett runs of “Aquaman” you will know that they turned the title into a rebut of the Trump era saying especially how his isolationism and nationalism will be the downfall of our country. While if you squint you can see those themes being played out in the film, it still would have been more compelling to dive deeper into those themes which could make the film one of the more compelling superhero films of recent years.
One aspect that reminded me of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 was the creation of the villain. While in actuality the origin probably goes back to golden age comics, it seems to feel more modern that the hero creates the villain who will do anything to get his vengeance on those who have wronged him. It makes you sympathize with the villain, wanting him to at least find some sense of solace which makes for a compelling and engaging film. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta is sadly the secondary villain of the film but with the performance that Abdul-Mateen brings you wish that he could have been the core focus of the film, even the main character. Abdul-Mateen brings humanity to a role which could be played like a comical megalomaniacal but you never lose sight of his motivations and humanity due to the performance being given.
The film is clearly a half hour too long, and you can feel the extra bloat dragging this film down to the muck of the ocean’s bottom. While I have no problem with long runtimes, I have issue with ones in which the film is simply embellishing itself for no reason and is offering weightless action that has no ramification for the actual story. We live in a world that needs to remind people that actions have consequences, yet most characters end the film the same way they started, this was maddening since the film is so long. If screenwriters David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Red Riding Hood, and Will Beall, Gangster Squad, cannot make characters grow from the first frame to the last, then I think someone needs to read some literature to understand what needs to be done to make characters compelling.
While I personally wouldn’t want anyone to waste money on this film, if you do feel the need to see it then go all out and see it on the biggest screen possible. If you are in the mood for an inconsistent visual treat then Aquaman will satisfy your hunger. The groundwork has been laid for an impressive sequel, one that could possibly blow me away like how this film will blow away general audiences.
Rating: Rent It
-Jonny G