The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
IN as far as DC movies go, “Aquaman” is the best attempt the production house has made! Attempts to bring to life the laughing stock of DC properties was always going to be hard.
But somehow, James Waan — director of action flick movies — manages to come off original and smartly presented, with most pundits hailing it as the best DC movie to date. However, I am of a different opinion. I believe there was a bar set on previous DC movies released. The less said about Henry Cavil’s “Men of Steel” movie the better.
“Wonder Woman” was nothing but feminist propaganda, while “Suicide Squad” and “The Justice League” movies look more like straight-to-DVD kind of movies. Luckily, Jason Mamoa does a decent job as the film’s protagonist. Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, is aptly aided by an even stronger and more experienced supporting cast that includes Nicole Kidman (Atlanna), Amber Heard (Mera), Patrick Wilson (Prince Orm), William Defoe (Nuidis Vulko), Dolph Lungren and the promising Yahya Abdul-Mateen. Most will remember Abdul-Mateen as the only shining light in the flop that was “Baywatch Reboot”.
Yes, Lungren and Defoe appear to be totally wasted, appearing and disappearing at will. “Aquaman”, the movie, follows the journey of Thomas Curry — the half human/ half Atlantia. The film is basically an origin story that sees Queen Atlanna (Kidman) wash up at shore after running away from Atlanta, especially after being forced to marry a king she does not love.
She is rescued by the Lighthouse keeper, Curry, after which the two fall in love and have a kid together, whom they name Arthur. Arthur grows up on land, with the powers of both a human and an Atlantian.
He is forced back when war, at the behest of his younger brother Orm (Wilson), threatens to break out between land and sea.
In order to stop the war, he must find the Trident of Atlanta, which will give him power over the seas and declare him king.
The main plot is neatly packaged, wherein we are given detailed account of Aquaman from how he came to being, right up to his ascendancy to the throne. The link between this “Aquaman” movie and its predecessor, Justice League, was neatly handled, with Steffenwolf, the protagonist from the latter, being mentioned once or twice. It shows continuity. Mamoa gives a little edge to the Aquaman character, which up until now has always been presented as a one-dimensional and totally boring stooge.
He demonstrates comic timing many never knew the character or actor in question possessed. Mamoa and Heard demonstrate good chemistry, but will most of the supporting cast bring their A-game.
The only problem with this movie, and it’s a big one, is the atrocious Computer Generated Images (CGI). It is one area DC is still to muster. After the nightmares that was “Suicide Squad” and “Justice League”, it boggles the mind why they still have not invested more time and funds into improving their CGI.
It ruins the climactic battle, which occurs under water and I truly pity those that watch this movie in 3D. It is terrible, and literally ruins what could have been a very strong and competent movie.
