For some unknown reason throughout time, Aquaman has gradually shifted from being a well-respected comic book character to the punchline of many jokes. This downward spiral hasn’t been kind to the king of Atlantis, but now, it seems it’s finally his time to shine again.
Director James Wan’s depiction of Aquaman shows the toughness, determination, and sheer power of the half-Atlantian, half-human superhero. No more will the name of Aquaman be dragged through the mud. Wan’s vision showed Arthur Curry, played by the polarizing Jason Momoa, as a god-like figure, towering over everyone around him. Momoa’s grandiose stature helps get this message across, as I’m not sure anyone would want to tangle with a 6’4, 235 pound man, let alone a guy who can speak to the creatures of the deep.
Other than Momoa’s godly physical traits, the level of humor throughout the film, and especially from Momoa, was a perfect blend. Many have questioned the vision Warner Bros. has with their DC films being so dark compared to the light-heartiness of Disney’s Marvel films, but Wan was able to create a brilliant recipe for success. Momoa dropped handfuls of quirky one-liners, Amber Heard’s Mera looked like a doppelganger of Disney’s Ariel as she tried to figure out the complexities of the surface world, and there just happened to be an explosion to interrupt every heart-felt moment. How convenient. These subtle changes are what separates Aquaman from the other DC movies, being able to properly juggle dark, intense themes while also finding ways for comic relief. Yes, certain comic book movies have thrived in taking a more darker tone (i.e. The Dark Knight trilogy), but Warner Bros. hasn’t had the best of luck replicating those successes in the DCEU. So seeing Wan take a different page with Aquaman, and succeed in the process, is a sigh of relief.
In some comic book movies, it’s difficult to showcase everything that a hero can do. Wan and Momoa made it a top priority to unleash the full potential of Aquaman. Everything from communicating with sea creatures to displaying his steel-like exterior and super strength, nothing was left untouched. Momoa needed his full arsenal of powers battling the likes of his half-brother Orm and the sea pirate Black Manta. Patrick Wilson’s Orm was pivotal in the growth of Arthur Curry, and his eventual ascension to the throne. While Orm’s desire to siege the surface world is, you know, bad, you can’t help but to sympathize a little. People dump enormous amounts of trash into the oceans, continuing to poison about 71 percent of the planet. It’s not a big surprise that the sea dwellers would want revenge. The same can also be said about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s David Kane, aka Black Manta. Sure, nothing really good comes out of sea piracy, but Curry’s decision not to save Kane’s father put him squarely on the path of villainy. Black Manta was a great supplement bad guy for Curry to deal with, and at some points, stole the spotlight from the real crisis of Orm.
Wan’s Aquaman is a tremendous pseudo-origin story in a crucial time for the studio. After hitting on Wonder Woman, but following up with a dud in Justice League, Warner Bros. needed Aquaman to perform well, and it does just that. Momoa makes him mark and truly establishes the character of Arthur Curry as his own. The blend of action and humor, mixed with a sprinkle of impending doom, was the perfect recipe of success. With on-going rumors surrounding rebooting the DCEU or possibly focusing on more solo adventures, Warner Bros. should use Aquaman as a prime example for future films, if they wish to continue creating a shared universe. Regardless though, the main message that hopefully everyone has upon leaving the theater is that Aquaman is no longer the punchline of a joke or some second-rate hero. He’s the king of Atlantis and currently the king of DC, and he should be treated as such.
Final Score: 9/10
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