Aquaman is in the same class of Excalibur, Lord of the Rings, Conan, and Highlander.

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2018)

When you hear "comic book movie" you probably think of Disney/Marvel (D/M) because of all of the D/M movies out there. Let's face it though, D/M have definitely developed a formula to making their movies, which isn't good, because movie formulas make movies samey. It is a successful formula, to be sure: D/M have made, what, 20 movies? But this kind of formulaic approach will kill the comic book movie. Perhaps part of the success of 2018's "Venom" is how it broke from the mould by being its own weird and wonderful entity. "Aquaman" goes further still: Aquaman does not just break this mould, it *shatters* it. Aquaman is an excellent film, one of the best fantasy films I've seen, and highly worth your time. It is not formulaic, it is not a filler movie until the next crossover: it actually helps reinvigorate the term "comic book movie" and succeeds on nearly every level.
The plot is classic fantasy: there is a rightful heir to the throne, an evil dictator, a princess, and magic, all set through the lens of the sea. Instead of swords and sorcery you have tridents and Atlantean technology. It is familiar but different, thanks to the underwater aesthetic and how the movie treats its lore. It is not constantly patronizing us with stupid jokes or nods that break immersion like Marvel and Deadpool movies, nor does it take itself too seriously like the Dark Knight movies. Perhaps that should be the distinction between DC and Marvel: DC adheres to its lore more closely, and in doing so benefits from greater immersion.
The leads, Aquaman and Mera, have chemistry together but neither are fantastic actors. But they are earnest and look their parts, and there is so much wonderful content to this movie that when they fumble a line or a moment it is of little consequence. The movie is also quite long, but that is a nitpick: you can't hurry epic fantasy.
It is fitting that the characters call Aquaman "King Arthur" at the end of the movie. Aquaman is in the same class of Excalibur, Lord of the Rings, Conan, and Highlander.