Jon McIntire

After the exceedingly disappointing filmic fiasco that was Justice League, Aquaman generates a new wave (and then rides said wave) for the DC Comics film franchise. The best way to describe it: a visually stunning epic. Intertextual homages abound from both other unrelated films and the Aquaman comic. Sure, there are some hokey bits (like the drumming octopus ushering in the gladiatorial match between Aquaman and his brother) thrown in for good fun, but many of these campier elements are direct homages to the kitsch of the comic book itself and an embrace of the endless "sea" of pop-cultural Aquaman jokes. Both Orm (Aquaman's half-brother) and Black Manta are villains with understandable motives for their antagonism. Director James Wan has created a undersea world that is comparable to other cinematic, sci-fi vistas such as Blade Runner, Tron, and even the fantastical Elfin kingdoms in the Lord of the Rings films. I left the theater wanting to explore more of this envisioned Atlantean world. Unlike many contemporary superhero films, the third act was epic in its scale - imagine Return of the King in the neon glow of a "November 2019" Los Angeles or the "Grid"-iness of Tron. There's even one spoiler that will surprise both ardent comic-book fans of Aquaman and anyone unfamiliar with his lore. This film feels like it is more than simply the latest superhero film from Warner Bros. and more like an epic bildungsroman immersed in Bulfinch mythology and submerged in high adventure. The acting was solid from the entire cast and even Nicole Kidman gets a standout, if not dizzying, action sequence. My two cents: the Aquaman film has a lot heart and is a refreshing take on the superhero film genre that has sadly become standardized and Disneyfied as of late. Well worth two (or four or eight) hours of your life.