Phil Roberts 
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is a treasure from the deep. Despite a few minor niggles, James Wan has delivered a fun popcorn adventure that sends the DC Universe out with a bang!
James Wan’s original AQUAMAN is a tough act to follow. As an original ’60s animated series fan, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat when the credits rolled. I emerged from the auditorium praising the director for delivering MY AQUAMAN. The character I fell in love with as a child. So when the sequel was announced, I was elated. However, in the years that followed, the studio has been restructured multiple times, the stars have endured many controversies, and fans are even boycotting the movie as a result. But despite all the behind-the-scenes theater and cast stigma, AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM is finally swimming into cinemas today. But can James Wan stick the landing and send this chapter of the DCEU out with a bang? Or should Atlantis remain a sunken treasure?
Fear not, DC fans, because Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is a treasure from the deep. James Wan has delivered a stellar follow-up to his groundbreaking DC bonanza and built upon the foundations cemented in 2018. The undersea visuals are stunning, the character development of some of its cast is gloriously played out, and the comic book roots of the characters are well preserved. That being said, the film isn’t without its flaws. The plot of the opening hour is painfully thin, a few tired tropes emerge for another outing, and the storyline becomes a little formulaic after a while. But despite these minor niggles, James Wan has delivered a fun popcorn adventure that sends the DC Universe out with a bang.
THE PLOT
For the most part, the plot does exactly what it says on the tin. Black Manta, still seething from his father’s death, has sworn an oath of vengeance against Arthur Curry/Aquaman. His quest has taken him to the depths of the oceans, endlessly seeking Atlantian technology to repair his destroyed suit of armor. And within minutes of the opening salvo, he stumbles upon an ancient artifact lost to the depths for eons – the mythical Black Trident. This undersea weapon has been bestowed with dark magic tethered to the warmonger that forged it. And no sooner has Manta retrieved the weapon from the sediment than he is plagued with tantalizing visions promising him the power required to destroy his nemesis. All he needs to do in return is to free the tyrant from his incarceration – a prison forged within the polar ice caps.
With the promise of unlimited power ringing in his ears, Manta sets off to release the fallen villain from his bondage. The only way to achieve this is to pollute the world’s atmosphere enough to melt the ice caps and liberate the monster from within. This juicy plot point is a pertinent running critique of real life. With the world’s atmosphere degrading by the day and climate change affecting our everyday lives, this social commentary has never been more poignant. Nor is it misplaced. Thankfully, it serves as a subtle undertone to the story and never feels like a mission statement from the creatives. But it does enough to leave the conversation fresh in our minds and for that, I applaud James Wan and his team.
ARTHUR CURRY
With Manta’s search for pollutants ushering him ever closer to the Atlantean border, we are reunited with Arthur Curry. As the trailers suggest, Arthur is now a father and happily married to Mera (Amber Heard). The couple has divided their lives between the land and the sea desperately trying to find the balance between their Royal duties and their roles as parents. However, the mundane diplomatic and bureaucratic duties of the position have chipped away at Arthur’s resolve leaving him disillusioned. But after Black Manta’s forces attack the undersea kingdom – Aquaman is drawn into a confrontation that brings vengeance to his front door.
What follows is a race against time, on one side of the story we follow Black Manta as he continues to pollute the atmosphere. On the other hand, Arthur must find a way to track Manta/David Caine and stop him before the world is pushed beyond the point of no return. And the only person with any prior association with Manta is his imprisoned half-brother Orm. But can Arthur convince his former nemesis to help him track down Manta? Or is the rift between them too great?
UNDERSEA TREATS
To scour more of the plot would do the film a major disservice. So I’ll leave you to explore the film for yourself, but needless to say, the film is another visual treat. James Wan’s first outing to Atlantis was packed full of visual splendor, and the sequel continues the trend with some truly jaw-dropping images. The underwater kingdom is clean, crisp, and presented in gloriously vibrant luminous colors. Despite the criticism, Wan and his team have maintained the underwater effects from the last film on the hair of every character to ensure continuity. And thankfully, it is far less jarring in this outing.
Wan and his team have also increased the character development of the abundant sea life used in the film. Unlike the previous outing, here many of the creatures are given names and characters much in the same vein as the classic animated series. Optimizing this point is Aquaman’s trusty seahorse Storm. Throughout the series, Arthur and his trusty steed have enjoyed the relationship of a master and a pet and Wan has maintained that relationship here. There is something truly special for me, as a fan to see Aquaman riding Storm into battle, and in the film, the duo look truly remarkable together.
CELAPOD MAYHEM
Even the noble Octopus gets a contemporary polish in this film, and one in particular serves as the perfect foil for Arthur. Their exchanges are some of the most entertaining moments in the film and will have everyone tickled as they banter back and forth. How anyone could banter with an Octopus is beyond me. But Wan has found a way to make it hilarious and for this story, it works to a tee.
THE CAST
Thankfully, the previous outing cemented the major players in place for the sequel. And every member of the cast delivered great performances here. Nicole Kidman, despite her limited screen time, is wonderful as Queen Atlanna. Dolph Lundgren turns in another solid performance as Nereus. Randall Park adds bundles of character depth to Dr. Stephen Shin and emerges as one of the true standouts. Temuera Morrison once again delivers a scene-stealing performance and elevates the film whenever he is on the screen. To be fair, he enjoys more screen time than Kidman’s Atlanna, but his comedic delivery here is the stuff of legend. And in truth, I could watch him sinking pints of ale and regaling us with words of wisdom for hours.
Once again Jason Momoa sinks his teeth into his new fun-loving incarnation of Aquaman and looks to be revelling in his newfound freedom. Here, his enjoyment is tempered by the burden of responsibility, but the actor clearly loves this character and it shines through with this performance. That being said, during this outing, he fades into the background to let others emerge as the standout stars. It’s not a detraction, but when the King of Atlantis is your lead, you’d expect him to carry you along on the journey.
ORM AND MANTA
But make no mistake, this film belongs to Orm and Black Manta. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is relishing his time as the main antagonist in this film and it shows. Here, Manta is as foreboding as ever. Ruthless, wrathful, and unflinching in his quest for revenge. The actor slips effortlessly into gear and presents us with a true DC villain. One that could give Lex Luthor a run for his money. It is wonderful to see Black Manta fully realized and bestowed with all the weapons, vehicles, and traits he is famous for. And by the time the credits roll, we will all be kicking ourselves that we never got to see more from him. A legion of villains headed by Luthor and Manta would have been exceptional. But sadly, we’ll have to wait until the newly minted DC Studios has cemented itself before we can look forward to that possibility.
And finally, Patrick Wilson is magnificent as Orm. The former King of Atlantis enjoys a journey of self-discovery in this film, and the result is a character we can root for. At times we will despise him, at others, we will cheer for him. But in the end, every DC fan will love him. Orm’s interactions with Arthur are the true jewels in the film’s crown. And the exploration of brotherhood and family is a positive message that we can all learn from. The film was touted as a buddy comedy, and it certainly lives up to that mandate. But with Orm’s bitterness permeating every exchange with his half-brother, the comedic aspects are beautifully tempered. Bravo Patrick Wilson. We needed more of this in the DC Universe.
POSITIVES
Rounding out the plus column is another wonderful score from Rupert Gregson-Williams. His score from the last outing is refreshed with all the bells and whistles the composer could muster. The result is fantastic. Arthur’s heroic theme is refreshed and presented anew. Manta’s theme feels darker and more twisted than ever, and the score delivers where it counts. And lastly, kudos to James Wan for a few well-placed easter eggs in this film. I won’t be pointing them out to you, but listen closely to the last time you see Black Manta’s submersible. Fans of Steven Spielberg will be grinning from ear to ear. Trust me.
VERDICT
Overall, Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is an absolute blast. One that sends the current DC Universe out to pasture with its head held high. The film isn’t perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. But it delivers everything a DC movie should. A wonderful villain, a positive message, an uplifting finale, and an experience that whisks you away to another world. And that is what cinema was made for!
Sure the film isn’t the massive climax we were all expecting. Not every climax is ENDGAME level. But The Lost Kingdom does exactly what a solid standalone adventure should. It delivers a fun time at the movies. So book your tickets for the biggest screen you can find. Strap yourselves in, and prepare to venture into the gloriously rich depths of the oceans. There the king of the seven seas will take you by the hand and show you a jolly good time for two hours and change. Thank you James Wan for delivering my Aquaman AGAIN!
Farewell DCEU. You’ve been a worthy friend in the darkest of times. But now, and new adventure awaits. One led by the glorious red and blue of a new Superman. The shadows of a new Batman, and the glowing green of a new Lantern. Over to you James Gunn. Make us believe a man can fly.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom is playing in cinemas everywhere now.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
