Aquaman Makes Waves in the DCEU

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2018)

Reel Nerd Review: Aquaman
By Nelson Nantanapibul
Directed by James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison
Being an Amazon prime member I was one of the lucky viewers who had the opportunity to see an advanced screening of the film Aquaman from The Conjuring director James Wan. Aquaman is a jam packed high fantasy adventure that has call backs to films like Indiana Jones, Clash of the Titans, 80's/90's action flicks and the Harryhausen films of old except substitute claymation with CGI.
James Wan had a lot of heavy lifting to do with this film due to the fact that the DCEU or whatever they're calling themselves these days is in pretty dire straits after the box office and critical disaster that was Justice League. In my humble opinion James Wan did exactly what he needed to do in giving the audience an entertaining thrillride of a comic book film that looks and feels different than most comic book movies out there. Wan infused a lot of color and humor and action in his film which is something critics have complained was missing in previous installments in this shared cinematic universe.
You can tell Momoa is having a good time on screen and because of it we as the audience have a great time along with him. Mera (Heard) tracks down Arthur aka Aquaman to help her take down his half brother Orm as he wants to launch a full scale war against the surface world for the atrocities they have committed upon the sea dwelling populace via pollution and war and only Arthur can stop him as he by birthright should be the true King of Atlantis. Think of Orm as an environmental extremist if you will who will at any cost exact his revenge upon the world.
Of course it's not as easy as all that and Arthur must go on a quest to find an object that will help him in his bid to become the new King of Atlantis. Momoa is a force of nature who brings charm, wit and vulnerability to his role as Arthur Curry. Amber Heard is enchanting as Mera the daughter of King Nereus (Lundgren) one of the heads of the seven kingdoms of Atlantis who joins Orm in his bid to take on the surface world.
Let me say how happy I am to see a renaissance in Lundgren's career giving stellar performances in two back to back films this year Creed II and now Aquaman. The whole cast was just stellar form Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry Arthur's dad and Nicole Kidman as his mother Queen Atlanna. It's this love story that helps drive the film forward and I like how they bring everything back full circle by film's end I won't spoil it as officially the film doesn't open until next week and many of you have yet to see it.
Yahya was so awesome as Black Manta and from certain events that take place very early on in the film you can at least partially empathize with why he has such a searing hatred for Arthur and he is hot on the heels of Arthur and Mera as they are out and about on the surface world. The action sequences that many of us saw in the trailers where Manta and his men are chasing down Aquaman and Mera throughout Italy was even more amazing to behold on the big screen.
I attended the Hall H panel for Aquaman at San Diego Comic-Con and the excitement and enthusiasm from the cast about the making of this film was contagious. Wan jam packed this film with iconic Aquaman villains, friends and lore and some may even find the film overstuffed and to a degree it is with varying tones and sub plots and stories but I feel Wan successfully merged everything together for the most part. Some of the character arcs could have used some fine tuning but that's what future films in this potential franchise are for.
I loved the action sequences in the film and the epic battle that takes place in the third act was a spectacle to behold. I think this is the film that the DCEU has been desperately needing that will help solidify this universe as a worthy competitor to the Disney/Marvel universe. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to see this film early. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it to all of you reading this blog.