Entertaining, engaging and certainly extravagant.

Rating: 7/10 (4 January 2019)

Story doesn't take precedence in this world any longer. Gone are the days of DARK epics and COMPLEX anti-heroes that fall over their own motives. The DCEU has realised it's better off trying not to emulate Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy and Aquaman strikes a much finer balance because of it. As far as origin stories go (if you can call it one after Jason Momoa's equally strong performance in Justice League), it's much larger than the usual efforts that aim more precisely to establish rather than finish anything. Instead, Aquaman has loftier ambitions and though the pace can border on unrelenting at times, it's forgivable given how big this world is and how thoroughly the filmmakers immersed themselves in it. There's enjoyment to be found in simply being along for the ride, even if most of it was clearly computer generated. Aquaman knows that we aren't going to take everything it gives us with the utmost seriousness and it's refreshing that the film doesn't try to play its sillier moments with a straight face. It's definitely a fine instalment into the ever-growing panoply of superhero movies and absolutely worth watching on a Friday evening with handful after handful of popcorn.