Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to my final movie review of 2018.
Well, looks like we're in last superhero film, but its time to going back to DC.
But as far as we all know, DC Extended Universe are always in shape for weak stories, some very bad effects and lack of character development. Except for Wonder Woman, that movie was done pretty good. Not just about about Ben Affleck's stepping down as Batman, but also the delayed of Wonder Woman 1984 and the concerns of cheap effects since Justice League, like Superman's ugly mouth.
So, they made their second standalone film, this time, its about the king of Atlantis since we saw at Justice League.
"Aquaman" is a 2018 DC superhero film directed by James Wan (also a writer for the story), produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, then written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick,Will Beall and Geoff Johns.
Aquaman may or may not be considered as a best DC superhero in many years, he was basically described as the king of Atlantis, summons the sea animals and even communicating with them. But sometimes, DC can make him look badass for new designs in the old days, like where he uses his own weapon after his arm being cut off. But for DCEU, they made him somewhat badass that he's currently played by Jason Momoa.
So, with all that said, will this movie could be another good DC's standalone film, or is this film deserved to be drowned or polluted?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
For the story, we expected if they made focus about the setting, the development and the plot of this movie? Well, it kinda works.
It started the origin for how Aquaman was born, a man who lives in the lighthouse from Maine name "Thomas Curry" who witnessed at a woman from the storm name "Atlanna". Despite being rescued, she decided to stay on the surface and falling in love with Thomas to have a hybrid baby name Arthur Curry, which we all know he's gonna be Aquaman. Unfortunately, she was being attacked by the army from Atlantis, demanding her to stay in her homeland and later claimed that she was being sacrificed while returning to her home. Twentey years later and picking up one year after "Justice League", Aquaman is outside of Atlantis, which he wasn't prepare to be in there, or perhaps he's born as a hybrid. After saving the Russian Naval, he was confronted by David Kane after killing his father Jesse. After escaped, Arthur was interrupted by the daughter of King Nereus named Mera, who asks him to going in Atlantis for help to avoiding pollution from the upcoming war of Atlantis. According to Aquaman's mentor name Nuidis Vulko, he said about a powerful weapon Trident of Atlan was used to be king of Atlantis in order to keep in peace. So its up to Aquaman and Mera to finding the Trident before the war from a selfish king name Orm.
I find the story is actually quiet nice to have a big journey to finding a powerful weapon in order bring peace in the ocean like Atlantis without making a war, which is no wonder why we like to routing for Arthur in order to becoming the new king. But the downside is that the story gets messed up from transition to transition, mainly because it focused on character development about Aquaman's training and the truth, or even the history about the powerful Trident. Like it feels like it was mixing up that plot just goes whatever it does. Not to mention, they also including the element of environment, i know it was used to pointing out about the humanity, but the problem is that the environment part has nothing to do with the main plot. Whats the point if they mixing up the plot elements, it just doesn't work that it ended up messing up the plot. Plus, i find the movie is like a combination between Wonder Woman and Thor Ragnarok, due to the fact it has an adventurous plot and some sense of humor. Which i have to admit, i did chuckle at some moments, even though some jokes are head scratching of question. Not to mention, this movie drags on, very long, due to the fact that this movie's runtime is nearly 2 hours in half.
The story is quietly good than some of disappointed DCEU films that they gave us, but it feels messy for how we're follow and know the meaning.
The Production
With this movie with Aquaman, you'll think if that they've done a better presentation than Justice League with a terrifying Superman's mouth? Well, this one is wonderful and colorful. Most of...
At first, the background and the filming location is fantastic since they have the big budget about 160–200 million dollars estimate. They film in Australia for the coast, Morocco for the desert, Sicily for mini village and few others in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Talk about a big deal for filming in four locations, especially in Canada. And then there's the fictional backgrounds like Atlantis, the ocean in CG looks pretty cool, its almost like we're in the submarine with some nice CG effect. And for Atlantis, it looks amazing and colorful with all the corals, the buildings, the vehicles and more. Thats a pretty cool imagination for the lost city Atlantis.
As for the suits of superheroes, they look nice and almost in comic to life, which they made a suits to be rather faithful from the comics, but with some details like Aquaman and Mera. Even though the outfits for our two main heroes, but i also like the battle armor of Atlanteans and the suits of Black Manta.
As for the action scenes, they're always pretty cool in the ocean like Aquaman fights against Orm or even on surface against Black Manta. As well with Mera fighting against Atlantean marines, it is quiet of fun to watch, which i guess its likely the highlights. Not to mention, some fights could be violent with stabbings from Black Manta's sword stab to chasing away from the creepy creatures called "The Trench".
Despite they effort for the imaginations, the filming and the supersuits. But it doesn't mean that its perfect, because like Justice League, some part is video game-ish what i looked at. Such as the sea creatures, which i know they wanted to make some sea animals like seahorses, crabs and others for what they look of moves, but some details could be botchy a bit. But hey, its not as cheap than "Justice League" like Superman's creepy mouth.
Despite some errors what i've seen, but at least its a nice presentation for imagination what Atlantis look like and the colorful.
The Characters
You'll also think if they can make some likable characters for their development and their personality? Well, i'd say it works, for about like 70%.
For starter is our titular hero Aquaman, aka Arthur Curry (played by Jason Momoa). I find him to be an interesting one, he's like a DC aquatic version of Thor, but not as perfect. He's rather a hybrid hero that he likes to spend time in surface, sometimes kinda losing when anyone mention about his lost mother and other times he might be a D*** at Atlanteans. As a hybrid, he has the ability to swim faster, super strength, creating tides and even communicating sea creatures for team up and peace. He may not be better like Wonder Woman, but he's rather likable and Jason likes to have fun for his character.
Next, we have Aquaman's sidekick/love interest named Mera (played by Amber Heard), though she may have a beautiful look, her outfit and her powers, her portrayal is rather ok. She's just a female character who cared so much of our main hero than Orm from the start, because she's like a rebel against Orm's power and believe if the Trident is out there. Her ability is pretty cool too with manipulation of water and telepathic powers for aquatic environment and communication. Though Amber did a nice role, but she maybe a likable one for her belief and her ability.
Then we have Nuidis Vulko (played by Willem Dafoe, aka Norman Osborn and Green Goblin from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man). He's basically a counselor of Atlantis that he's given plot development about how to be the king of sea and also a mentor to our main hero. He's more of a teller about the history and teacher to Arthur before denied him based on our hero's origin. Even though im always familiar about Willem as the Green Goblin, his role in this movie is not bad that i can say.
And then we have our main villain name Orm, aka Ocean Master (played by Patrick Wilson), though despite he's a half brother of Arthur, but he's easily the arrogant douchebag in the movie, which he's basically a villain who wants to taking over the kingdom for war and believing the humanities are evil for making pollution. In other words, he's one that you love to hate this guy, like we want to see him being taken in prison for his manipulation and his genocide towards to the kingdoms for war and the blame of human kinds. But in fairness, Patrick did a nice work of his role and probably better than Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor.
Btw, you're probably wondering the villain Black Manta, aka David Kane (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II)? We expected that he's gonna be the second villain for targeting Aquaman, right? Nope, he's a throw away villain that he has no purpose of the main plot. He's basically a bad guy with vengeance over he dead father (how cliche) and he's pretty much like Jared Leto's Joker, a bad guy who appeared as a villain in filler that he interrupts the main plot from the first act. Though Yahya may have a badass performance as Black Manta, but with a poor potential that i like to see an epic battle between Aquaman and Black Manta.
They're few other characters like Nereus (played by Dolph Lundgren, aka Ivan Drago from Rocky 4 and recently Creed 2), who's basically Orm's henchman from Xebel, Atlanna (played by Nicole Kidman) who's a mother of Arthur Curry, but being sacrificed as a crime and Thomas Curry (played by Temuera Morrison, even though i thought he's played by Alec Baldwin), the father of our main hero for... Plot development?
The characters are rather nice to see what they do, their portrayal and their powers. But Aquaman and Mera are likely the main focus for their adventurous story.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Aquaman is rather a good film that i might say, the premise is good, the presentation is fantastic and the characters are not bad, but we can agree that Aquaman and Mera are the main focus for their adventure and love relation. Even though the story is messy that it got interrupted for Arthur's childhood training and the truth, some CG effects would've been better a bit and Black Manta is like Jared Leto's Joker for the waste of potential. And not to mention, with nearly 2 in a half hours aren't helping for how long the movie goes for the story.
So, does that mean its better like Wonder Woman? Its rather "yes and no". Which in Wonder Woman, it has a better story (for the most part), a nice setting, cool presentation and some likable characters. Which Aquaman has some good moments for the characters and the action scenes although its pretty cool, but other times a bit violent.
So, this is rather another good standalone film ,but not as better than Wonder Woman. So, i guess i can say that i recommend to watch this one, whether like to see for your anticipation of curiosity.
So, i give this movie with 6.5/10.
Well, i guess thats the end of my movie review of 2018, which means im preparing to do the top lists. And if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, Merry Christmas, and im Anthony, signing out to 2019.
For the story, we expected if they made focus about the setting, the development and the plot of this movie? Well, it kinda works.
It started the origin for how Aquaman was born, a man who lives in the lighthouse from Maine name "Thomas Curry" who witnessed at a woman from the storm name "Atlanna". Despite being rescued, she decided to stay on the surface and falling in love with Thomas to have a hybrid baby name Arthur Curry, which we all know he's gonna be Aquaman. Unfortunately, she was being attacked by the army from Atlantis, demanding her to stay in her homeland and later claimed that she was being sacrificed while returning to her home. Twentey years later and picking up one year after "Justice League", Aquaman is outside of Atlantis, which he wasn't prepare to be in there, or perhaps he's born as a hybrid. After saving the Russian Naval, he was confronted by David Kane after killing his father Jesse. After escaped, Arthur was interrupted by the daughter of King Nereus named Mera, who asks him to going in Atlantis for help to avoiding pollution from the upcoming war of Atlantis. According to Aquaman's mentor name Nuidis Vulko, he said about a powerful weapon Trident of Atlan was used to be king of Atlantis in order to keep in peace. So its up to Aquaman and Mera to finding the Trident before the war from a selfish king name Orm.
I find the story is actually quiet nice to have a big journey to finding a powerful weapon in order bring peace in the ocean like Atlantis without making a war, which is no wonder why we like to routing for Arthur in order to becoming the new king. But the downside is that the story gets messed up from transition to transition, mainly because it focused on character development about Aquaman's training and the truth, or even the history about the powerful Trident. Like it feels like it was mixing up that plot just goes whatever it does. Not to mention, they also including the element of environment, i know it was used to pointing out about the humanity, but the problem is that the environment part has nothing to do with the main plot. Whats the point if they mixing up the plot elements, it just doesn't work that it ended up messing up the plot. Plus, i find the movie is like a combination between Wonder Woman and Thor Ragnarok, due to the fact it has an adventurous plot and some sense of humor. Which i have to admit, i did chuckle at some moments, even though some jokes are head scratching of question. Not to mention, this movie drags on, very long, due to the fact that this movie's runtime is nearly 2 hours in half.
The story is quietly good than some of disappointed DCEU films that they gave us, but it feels messy for how we're follow and know the meaning.
The Production
With this movie with Aquaman, you'll think if that they've done a better presentation than Justice League with a terrifying Superman's mouth? Well, this one is wonderful and colorful. Most of...
At first, the background and the filming location is fantastic since they have the big budget about 160–200 million dollars estimate. They film in Australia for the coast, Morocco for the desert, Sicily for mini village and few others in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Talk about a big deal for filming in four locations, especially in Canada. And then there's the fictional backgrounds like Atlantis, the ocean in CG looks pretty cool, its almost like we're in the submarine with some nice CG effect. And for Atlantis, it looks amazing and colorful with all the corals, the buildings, the vehicles and more. Thats a pretty cool imagination for the lost city Atlantis.
As for the suits of superheroes, they look nice and almost in comic to life, which they made a suits to be rather faithful from the comics, but with some details like Aquaman and Mera. Even though the outfits for our two main heroes, but i also like the battle armor of Atlanteans and the suits of Black Manta.
As for the action scenes, they're always pretty cool in the ocean like Aquaman fights against Orm or even on surface against Black Manta. As well with Mera fighting against Atlantean marines, it is quiet of fun to watch, which i guess its likely the highlights. Not to mention, some fights could be violent with stabbings from Black Manta's sword stab to chasing away from the creepy creatures called "The Trench".
Despite they effort for the imaginations, the filming and the supersuits. But it doesn't mean that its perfect, because like Justice League, some part is video game-ish what i looked at. Such as the sea creatures, which i know they wanted to make some sea animals like seahorses, crabs and others for what they look of moves, but some details could be botchy a bit. But hey, its not as cheap than "Justice League" like Superman's creepy mouth.
Despite some errors what i've seen, but at least its a nice presentation for imagination what Atlantis look like and the colorful.
The Characters
You'll also think if they can make some likable characters for their development and their personality? Well, i'd say it works, for about like 70%.
For starter is our titular hero Aquaman, aka Arthur Curry (played by Jason Momoa). I find him to be an interesting one, he's like a DC aquatic version of Thor, but not as perfect. He's rather a hybrid hero that he likes to spend time in surface, sometimes kinda losing when anyone mention about his lost mother and other times he might be a D*** at Atlanteans. As a hybrid, he has the ability to swim faster, super strength, creating tides and even communicating sea creatures for team up and peace. He may not be better like Wonder Woman, but he's rather likable and Jason likes to have fun for his character.
Next, we have Aquaman's sidekick/love interest named Mera (played by Amber Heard), though she may have a beautiful look, her outfit and her powers, her portrayal is rather ok. She's just a female character who cared so much of our main hero than Orm from the start, because she's like a rebel against Orm's power and believe if the Trident is out there. Her ability is pretty cool too with manipulation of water and telepathic powers for aquatic environment and communication. Though Amber did a nice role, but she maybe a likable one for her belief and her ability.
Then we have Nuidis Vulko (played by Willem Dafoe, aka Norman Osborn and Green Goblin from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man). He's basically a counselor of Atlantis that he's given plot development about how to be the king of sea and also a mentor to our main hero. He's more of a teller about the history and teacher to Arthur before denied him based on our hero's origin. Even though im always familiar about Willem as the Green Goblin, his role in this movie is not bad that i can say.
And then we have our main villain name Orm, aka Ocean Master (played by Patrick Wilson), though despite he's a half brother of Arthur, but he's easily the arrogant douchebag in the movie, which he's basically a villain who wants to taking over the kingdom for war and believing the humanities are evil for making pollution. In other words, he's one that you love to hate this guy, like we want to see him being taken in prison for his manipulation and his genocide towards to the kingdoms for war and the blame of human kinds. But in fairness, Patrick did a nice work of his role and probably better than Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor.
Btw, you're probably wondering the villain Black Manta, aka David Kane (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II)? We expected that he's gonna be the second villain for targeting Aquaman, right? Nope, he's a throw away villain that he has no purpose of the main plot. He's basically a bad guy with vengeance over he dead father (how cliche) and he's pretty much like Jared Leto's Joker, a bad guy who appeared as a villain in filler that he interrupts the main plot from the first act. Though Yahya may have a badass performance as Black Manta, but with a poor potential that i like to see an epic battle between Aquaman and Black Manta.
They're few other characters like Nereus (played by Dolph Lundgren, aka Ivan Drago from Rocky 4 and recently Creed 2), who's basically Orm's henchman from Xebel, Atlanna (played by Nicole Kidman) who's a mother of Arthur Curry, but being sacrificed as a crime and Thomas Curry (played by Temuera Morrison, even though i thought he's played by Alec Baldwin), the father of our main hero for... Plot development?
The characters are rather nice to see what they do, their portrayal and their powers. But Aquaman and Mera are likely the main focus for their adventurous story.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Aquaman is rather a good film that i might say, the premise is good, the presentation is fantastic and the characters are not bad, but we can agree that Aquaman and Mera are the main focus for their adventure and love relation. Even though the story is messy that it got interrupted for Arthur's childhood training and the truth, some CG effects would've been better a bit and Black Manta is like Jared Leto's Joker for the waste of potential. And not to mention, with nearly 2 in a half hours aren't helping for how long the movie goes for the story.
So, does that mean its better like Wonder Woman? Its rather "yes and no". Which in Wonder Woman, it has a better story (for the most part), a nice setting, cool presentation and some likable characters. Which Aquaman has some good moments for the characters and the action scenes although its pretty cool, but other times a bit violent.
So, this is rather another good standalone film ,but not as better than Wonder Woman. So, i guess i can say that i recommend to watch this one, whether like to see for your anticipation of curiosity.
So, i give this movie with 6.5/10.
Well, i guess thats the end of my movie review of 2018, which means im preparing to do the top lists. And if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, Merry Christmas, and im Anthony, signing out to 2019.
