James Wan has the courage to laugh at his own ridicule... The film is not ashamed to come out in this way and manages to take this fantasy to a heroic level

Rating: 7/10 (3 May 2020)

For many years, Aquaman was considered a minor hero in the DC portfolio and thinking about a film adaptation would have been seen as a reverie a few years ago. The character has always been treated with disdain and has even been the target of jokes in several TV series and even films over the last few decades, always in a pejorative way. The character debuted in More Fun Comics # 73 (November 1941, despite appearing on the cover "November", More Fun Comics # 73 hit the US newsstands on September 25, 1941.). Initially a secondary hero in DC anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes as the main hero.
With the expansion of the DC universe in theaters and the advancement of technology, it was possible to bring to the screen through the hands of one of the most daring and talented directors that have emerged in recent years, James Wan. The Malaysian / Australian director emerged in the mid-2000s when he impressed the world with the iconic horror Mortal Games (2004). Responsible for producing the following chapters of the franchise and for being ahead of other contemporary horror classics, such as the 'Invocation of Evil', 'Supernatural' and 'Annabelle' franchises, the director had already proved himself capable of venturing into other genres typical of blockbuster cinema in the acclaimed 'Fast and Furious 7 (2015)' and now arrives with all the merits to adapt Aquaman's comics for Warner / DC Comics. And in the hands of the director, the final product achieves an unexpected and surprising result.
Being the sixth film in the Extended Universe DC and with a screenplay by Will Beall and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the plot features Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), half-human and half-Atlantean, will have to stop his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), who with a vast army at his disposal, plans to conquer both the other kingdoms of the ocean and the world on the surface, becoming the Master of the Oceans to attack the surface. Along with Mera (Amber Heard) he will have to recover Atlan's lost trident and accept his destiny as protector of the depths.
One of the great successes of this film was in the construction of the characters. After having previously appeared in 'Justice League (2017)', Aquaman has its story told in greater detail, since when his parents met, and why Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) had to abandon her young son and husband and return to Atlantis. Soon after, we saw Arthur grow up as a great partner of his father who raised him and being trained by Vulko (Willem Dafoe) both at sea and on the surface, until one day he could take over the kingdom of Atlantis. At the same time in which he presents the character's past and present, he already inserts the hero into the action, in an excellent sequence in a submarine, which even nurtures a feeling of an enemy's rematch for Aquaman.
One of the great successes of the film and that could have a totally opposite effect is the visual and visual effects. Just as James Gunn can create and dare with the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' look on a risky endeavor, so does this DC adventure. One of James Wan's great merits was taking on the fanciful tone and fantastic elements that are inherent in the character's story. The mission is not only to present Aquaman, but the entire mythology of the Seven Seas, including the history of their largest kingdom: Atlantis.
Building an entire universe in the underwater world was not one of the easiest tasks and the transposition of Atlantis from the comic books to the cinema is impeccable, showing all the financial power of the time when the city sank in the sea. They are a symbol of their time with voluptuous monuments and, at the same time, rich and highly technological of a society that was destroyed by their greed, but that also gave them the skills to breathe underwater and to evolve. The city, practically all built in computer graphics, is a delight in the eyes of those who watch. In addition to the city's architecture, the human costumes and the representation of dozens of marine lives are also perfectly done. The fact that the poetic license regarding the ability of the people of Atlantis to breathe and speak under the water at the same time that we see hair and clothes reacting to contact with water does not bother us at all. In addition to visual excellence, Aquaman's greatest asset is being bold enough to bet on a tacky yet mesmerizing aesthetic. Below the water, we see a parade of colors in the costumes and lighting. Feeling in Atlantis is a duty more than fulfilled, as well as the credibility achieved in the diversity of species in that world. The film is not ashamed to come out in this way and manages to take this fantasy to a heroic level thanks to the urgent and exciting direction of James Wan.
Jason Momoa has a natural charisma and clearly has fun playing Aquaman. If, during the casting, your choice was even criticized for not physically looking like the hero of the comics, when we see Momoa in 'Justice League' and now starring in your film, we can no longer disengage from the character's actor. Momoa forms a good pair with Amber Heard, sharing good romantic moments, which is not repeated so much in the most comical part. The actress is bestowed with the best and most relevant female character within the superhero films, with the obvious exception of Wonder Woman within her own film. Mera is the conductor of Arthur's journey to the throne, and although he is his romantic partner, he escapes the common helpless maiden clichÃ©s. Willem Dafoe and Nicole Kidman, even in minor roles, prove to be extremely efficient, including a super action sequence from the character of Kidman right at the beginning of the film.
The villains are other good hits of the feature. Patrick Wilson denotes the exaggerated tone of the film with his great Orm. The Master of the Seas next to the Arraia Negra lived by Yayha Abdul Mateen II. The first incorporates the megalomania of a son who was denied the throne, while the other is the embodiment of simple and pure revenge. Both work well and represent major threats to Aquaman, from the waters and land. Both are so well constructed, so that one is shown to be responsible for the hero's inability to refuse the call for his journey. Aided by the impeccable look, built from the comics of Ivan Reis and Geoff Johns - a good part of the people, in fact, are inspired by the duo's arc.
Some themes are discussed throughout the plot, citing the interference of man in the environment, in an inspired observation that the first act of the sea war against the land was to return decades of garbage thrown into the ocean. Xenophobia is also addressed in this same tone, with the superior underwater races seeing humans as minors.
James Wan shows all his ability by merging scenes shot on a green background, combining all his ability to direct actors and create ingenious action scenes, which was already evident in the seventh adventure in the cinemas of the franchise 'Fast and Furious'. There are several scenes with interesting elements of transition, continuity, flat action sequences (highlighting one involving the character Atlanna, the duel to the candidates for the throne of Atlantis, the incredible sequences in Sicily, Italy and the entire final stretch after Aquaman took over the post of the true heir of Atlantis capable of wielding the trident of the former King Atlan).
'Aquaman' has an excellent look, action with scale, impact and tension, but it sins when it comes to creating true relationships between the characters. One observation is that the film makes it clear that Warner has freed itself from the shadowy bonds in which its extended universe was established from Man of Steel. The created world is well structured and has such a particular identity that such defects are superimposed. The work is full of references, the passage of Arthur and Mera on the surface includes a sequence that refers to the games, not only by the scenery, but also by the color table, by the conduct of the action and the temple, which resembles 'Indiana Jones', while the hero's first foray into Atlantis refers to 'Star Wars', when Jar Jar Binks takes Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to Gunga in 'The Phantom Menace'. James Wan has the courage to laugh at his own ridicule, putting the hero to talk to fish or riding a seahorse and, aware of the fantasy he proposes, the film of the King of the Seas has fun like no other DC hero has had in years.