On paper, Aquaman has all the razzle-dazzle that makes for a proper superhero tentpole experience. It’s immersed in special effects, world building and engages in wall-to-wall action that should provide proper entertainment. On some level, it does provide sporadic entertainment and features some impressive set pieces but for some reason, a lot of it feels empty. In my review of Bumblebee, I mentioned how previous Transformers films lacked depth and focused more on CGI and robot violence and Aquaman seems to follow that motif. Beneath the $200 million production budget and initially awe-inspiring visuals, there isn’t much of a story worth telling. Admittedly, I’ve never been into the character of Aquaman because I find his backstory cheesy even by comic book standards so perhaps I’m the wrong person to judge his first solo adventure. What I do know is that some comic book films can create a universe that isn’t grounded in reality and yet make it feel as if it’s a world we know. There isn’t much to relate to in the intergalactic goings-on in Guardians of the Galaxy but the film finds a way to make you care. That’s the problem with Aquaman. For a story about a man who would be the king of the sea, I just didn’t care how his journey would progress. It’s all style and very little substance.
The movie opens with a prologue narrated by Arthur/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) about how his mother, Queen Atlanta of Atlantis (Nicole Kidman), and his father, lightkeeper Tom Curry (Temeura Morrison), met, fell in love, and bore a child. When the Atlantians come calling, wanting their queen to return and fulfill her part of an arranged marriage, she goes back to protect her husband and young son. That boy grows up to be a strapping man with extraordinary strength, speed, and resistance to weapons. In flashbacks, we see him training with Viceroy Vulko (Willem Dafoe), who has been tasked by Atlanta – now dead after being sacrificed by her Atlantian husband to the “trench monsters” – with Arthur’s safety.
Skipping to the present day, we learn that Arthur’s diabolical half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), is planning a war against those who live in the world above. He is joined by another of the underwater rulers, King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren). Secretly in opposition, Vulko dispatches Nereus’ daughter, Princess Mera (Amber Heard), to seek out Arthur. The plan – have him find the sacred relic of the first king of Atlantis and, with that magical trident in hand, challenge Orm for the throne. Things don’t go as planned. Following a resounding defeat at the hands of his half-brother, Arthur goes on the run with Mera. They are pursued not only by Atlantis’ finest but a revenge-obsessed pirate (Yaha Abdul-Manteen II), who, outfitted with prototype armor and weapons supplied by Orm, calls himself “Manta.”
Perhaps the biggest problem with Aquaman is that there is too much plot, or attempts at plotting, for one film. At 2 hours and 23 minutes, the film runs long and yet a lot of the plot points move a bit too fast and not enough sufficient time is spent to fully flesh out the story. There is a bit of a quest-style narrative that moves the film along but there are moments when it’s clear that a slower and more deliberate approach would’ve benefitted the story. All the necessary plot threads are there but they aren’t given enough time to really resonate. The interplay between brothers, one a “half-breed” and another of full blood is something of Shakespearean proportions but it’s told in the simplest form. The flirtatious back and forth banter between Arthur and Mera is meant to establish their budding romance but a lot of it feels forced as if her role as the sole female presence other than his mother is to be his romantic co-pilot. Their back and forth could’ve been fun to watch but only Jason Momoa is up to the task while Heard is out of her depth. Momoa, clearly having fun in all aspects of the role, doesn’t pair well with Heard who seems to only know how to deliver her lines in a monotone fashion. Then there is the subplot involving “Manta,” which feels shoehorned in to set up a future movie rather than drive the story forward. As I said, there is a lot of story in Aquaman but not enough focus to tell it in the way it deserves.
Aquaman is heavy on special effects and while some are employed to create a beautiful world in which the characters inhabit, a lot of it is so steeped in CGI that you become aware that you’re in a world created on a computer. Some CGI created locales can make you forget this but Aquaman has too many moments where you feel like you’re looking at special effects. Maybe there isn’t much you could’ve done with live-action actors inhabiting the sea but some of it comes off pedestrian rather than a sight for the eyes. There are times when it’s obvious the characters are digital representations rather than actors and it can take you out of the story from time to time. Director James Wan populates the screen with as much bang as he can get for his buck and to his credit, the action sequences are generally well-executed (although some of the frenetically paced battles can be difficult to follow). I’ll give credit to one action set piece in particular which has a battle that takes place across rooftops. It’s one of the few moments where the film comes alive and it’s an exhilarating sequence that leaves an impression.
As for the world created in Aquaman, there is no doubt that it’s beautiful on the surface but it doesn’t feel “lived” in. Atlantis relies almost exclusively on CGI and while it is often pretty and, at times, breathtaking the film’s focus on visual elements detract from its ability to establish something that’s more than just an animated locale in which the live-action actors can play. It never quite comes to life the way it was intended to.
If there is something that breathes life into Aquaman, it’s Jason Momoa. His charisma is evident. He’s physically capable in the role and he’s clearly invested in the character. Whenever my patience would wear thin with the film, I was largely brought back in by Momoa’s clear dedication. Also worthy of praise is Patrick Wilson as King Orm who conveys the necessary menace to be a compelling villain despite being a tad underdeveloped. I honestly thought Wilson was better than what he was given and that’s a testament to what he brings to the role. Among the leads, Amber Heard is the lone misstep. While clearly beautiful, she seems out of her range and isn’t a commanding enough presence for Mera. There was no fire or passion in her performance and she comes off largely one-note. In supporting roles, Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe are a welcomed presence although they don’t have much to do. If anything it’s cool to see Kidman playing in the DC pool again after Batman Forever, which is a fun little nerd fact that several people in our audience kept mentioning.
Despite my ho-hum response to the film, there is no denying how well it’s doing in the current holiday box office. I’m willing to admit that this may not be a film for me. While I thought a lot of it came off loud, overblown, and cheesy, others may be swept up in what Aquaman has to offer. Back in October, critics tore Venom apart while audiences found something to love. A lot of these films, especially ones that have a unique world to build, come down to personal preference. What may work for you, may not work for me. In the case of Aquaman, I’m not sure it’s a world I want to continue to explore but if another tale is told with more care, I could be tempted to take another dip in the ocean.
