Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: James Wan, DC Entertainment & Warner Bros, M 143 Minutes.
The latest superhero to join the DC cinematic universe is Aquaman in his own origin movie.
His parents are Tom Curry (NZ actor Temuera Morrison ‘Mt. Zion’) a lighthouse keeper and Atlanna (Aussie actress Nicole Kidman –‘Lion’) the Queen of Atlantis.
However their peaceful existence is soon shattered when Atlantean soldiers attempt to take Atlanna back to Atlantis but are beaten back and to ensure the safety of her family Atlanna decides to go back promising to return one day.
Aquaman (Jason Momoa – ‘Justice League’) is now an adult adopting the name of Arthur Curry and is next seen aboard a submarine rescuing its Russian crew while simultaneously refusing to save the father of the pirate leader David (Yaha Abdul-Mateen 11 – ‘Baywatch’).
With his heroic fame spreading, Atlantean princess Mera (Amber Heard –‘London Fields’) approaches Aquaman for help warning him that his half-brother King Orm (Patrick Wilson – ‘The Commuter’), down in Atlantis, is planning to wage war on the surface.
Iinitially unmoved, Aquaman finally agrees to accompany Mera to Atlantis after being told of Orm’s war-like plans to join with other underwater kingdoms to inflict havoc on everyone living on the land as well as in the sea.
Besides his coalition with close ally King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren – ‘Creed 2’) Orm has also colluded with pirate leader David/Manta, determined to exact revenge against Aquaman for the death of his father in the submarine.
Before he can defeat Orm and his cohorts, Aquaman, together with Mera and his mentor Vulko (Willem Dafoe – ‘Padre’, first find the long lost Tritan of Atlan which, when found by Aquaman ultimately endows him with super-human powers.
The stage is then set for the “mother of all underwater battles” – the ascension of a new King of Atlantis – and an emotional reunion between a son and his mother Queen Atlanna.
Since making such horror movies as ‘The Conjuring 1-2’ Malaysian-born Australian director James Wan has made an enthralling and entertaining action adventure highlighting DC comic’s latest superhero, including some stunning special effects.
Despite the duration of the film being 143 minutes, this blockbuster production can derive considerable enjoyment from the performances of the lead actors especially that of Momoa, Kidman and Heard, not to mention the spectacular underwater scenes shot mainly on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
