Aquaman

By: Arlene Allen

Aquaman is a conundrum. On the one hand it’s a fun, dazzling, action packed superhero movie that doesn’t stray too far from its comic book origins. It’s the most lighthearted of the DC movies, thank goodness, filled with the humor lacking in all but Wonder Woman.  On the other hand, it’s overlong with a predictable plot. It relies heavily on CGI and while everything is pretty to look at, it doesn’t give the film any genuine heart.

Based on Geoff Johns’ 2011 comic book, we learn the story of Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa). He was born to lighthouse keeper Tom (Temuera Morrison) and the queen of Atlantis, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman). Their love story is cut short though when soldiers of Atlantis come for Atlanna and she is forced to go back into the sea and honor her arranged marriage to King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren).

Growing up, young Arthur (Otis Dhanji) is counseled by Atlantis’s vizier Vulko (Willem DaFoe). Vulko teaches Arthur that his mother had been executed for having dealings with a mortal. It is for that reason that sixteen-year-old Arthur (Kekoa Kekumano) is determined to have nothing to do with Atlantis. But then three things happen: 1) modern pirates led by Manta (Yahya Abdu-Mateen II) attack a submarine, 2) Arthur’s half-brother from Atlanna’s arranged marriage [King Orm (Patrick Wilson)] tries to declare himself Oceanmaster and wreak havoc on the land and 3) Mera (Amber Heard) shows up on Arthur’s (by then taken on by Momoa) doorstep and tells him he must challenge King Orm or else earth will be destroyed. You know, the usual megalomaniac stuff of deranged rulers everywhere.

Arthur is hard to convince. After all, the Atlanteans killed his mother. But Mera is persuasive and Arthur agrees to join her on the hunt for the true king’s trident, something that’s been lost for centuries. If you’re looking for an original plot, you’re not going to find it here. It also gets milked for all its worth. Still, it’s a lot of fun and in its best moments calls to mind Indiana Jones and Star Wars.

Everyone is beautiful, as I guess Atlanteans are, and none so gorgeous as Jason Momoa. It’s a two hours plus moving centerfold pinup of Momoa, but you won’t find me complaining about that. None of the cast is given any meaty dialogue or deep emotional scenes to work with, so it’s very easy not to pay attention to anyone’s acting skills. Heard is the female equivalent of Momoa, although she doesn’t get as much screen time. Nicole Kidman is always gorgeous, and Patrick Wilson is eerily attractive as Orm. In short, the film is eye candy – beautiful actors, gorgeous under the sea CGI and exciting action sequences. Director James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring and Furious 7) does a great job of making a DC movie that isn’t dark and gritty; this is good family fun.

The soundtrack is a little unusual, a bit on the discordant side in places, but that goes with the ambiance of Atlantis. However, the closing theme song “Everything I Need” performed by Skylar Grey is hauntingly beautiful. Speaking of credits, be sure to stay as there is one stinger.

So, while Aquaman is no Wonder Woman, Momoa’s screen presence, an action filled plot and some gorgeous under sea special effects will guarantee a good box office turnout. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Aquaman.