James Wan’s AQUAMAN entertains the DC fans around the world
Spoiler Alert! This movie review contains possible spoilers from AQUAMAN. Aquaman is a DC superhero film based on the original comics with the same title, by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. This movie was released on December 7 in China, and is the first full-length film featuring the character Aquaman. In addition, the character made his first two debuts in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and Justice League in 2017.
The plot of the movie centers around the main character Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), also known as the Aquaman, and his journey to prevent the disastrous war between Atlantis, the underwater nation, and the land. Also, under the persuasion of Mera (Amber Head), the princess of the Kingdom of Xebel, Arthur is determined to fight against the wild ambitions of his younger half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) and search for the lost trident in order to reclaim his place of the king of Atlantis.
Although the DC fans had lower expectations for Aquaman at the beginning, James Wan, the director, made this movie unexpectedly entertaining. The screenwriters David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall describe Arthur as a reluctant hero who refuses to involve in crisis in Atlantis, but justice, the central theme in the DC movies, motivates him to solve the problem and save the world.
The movie has other subplots as well which creates more suspense. While Arthur is fighting against Orm, he also confronts David Kane’s (Yahya Abdul—Mateen II) revenge and deciphers the holographic message to find legendary trident, and finally, his mother Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), who was thought to be sacrificed to the Kingdom of the Trench and killed. Moreover, the chemistry between Arthur and Mera is the highlight of the movie. The romantic storyline of the two characters is natural and expected. Although the kissing scene is a little awkward and cliché, it is still a decent ending that obviously reveals their relation.
The battling scenes are the important parts of this movie. The battle between Arthur and Orm and the war among the underwater kingdoms are filmed with professional camera angles and animated with detailed designs and marvelous special effects. The original soundtrack adds the most effect to the movie as it conveys the emotions of the characters and the atmosphere of the scenes to the audience. In addition, the marvelous details in each scene make the movie more fascinating. For instance, there are no visible bubbles when the Atlanteans speak, but the audience could hear the bubbling sound in the characters’ vocal distortion. The costume and makeup of Mera reminds the audience of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and the dresses are designed with great detail which transorm Mera into a real noble from Atlantis.
The aspect that makes Aquaman stand out is that it also reveals several significant themes to the audience. The film emphasizes that violence is the method to solve all problems. Even though there are quite a lot of battlefield scenes in the movie, some of the conflicts are solved with peace. During the last battle between the two brothers, Arthur’s decision of forgiving his younger brother changes Orm’s personality for the better. Critics worldwide agree with the success of Aquaman. Creating an ocean-world society is believed to be a challenge, but the final movie exceeds the public’s expectations. Critics consent that Aquaman “[offers] CGI superhero spectacle that delivers energetic action with an emphasis on good old-fashioned fun” (Rotten Tomatoes). The movie is definitely a good entertainment choice to watch during the Christmas holiday. It fills the theatre with laughter, cheers, and fun.
Featured Image –AQUAMAN PosterPhoto Courtesy of Forbes
by Selina Tai