Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster Aquaman, directed by James Wan and starring Jason Momoa as the half-human, half-Atlantean hero. The film follows Arthur Curry as he tries to balance his duties as the King of Atlantis with his family life on land, while facing a new threat from his long-lost brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), who wants to unite the seven seas under his rule. The film also features Amber Heard as Mera, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, and Dolph Lundgren as Nuidis Vulko.
The film is a typical superhero adventure that relies on spectacle, humor, and action to entertain its audience. It has a colorful and vibrant underwater world that is full of wonders and dangers, such as giant sea creatures, ancient ruins, and hidden kingdoms. The film also has some impressive visual effects that bring the ocean to life on screen. However, the film also suffers from some flaws in its storytelling, character development, and technical aspects.
The plot of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is not very original or coherent. It borrows heavily from other sources, such as The Little Mermaid1, Pirates of the Caribbean2, Clash of the Titans3, and Thor: Ragnarok4. The film does not explore much of its own mythology or history of Atlantis, which was introduced in the first film. The film also does not have much depth or nuance in its themes or messages. It mostly focuses on family drama and sibling rivalry between Arthur and Orm, without delving into their motivations or backgrounds. The film also does not have much stakes or consequences for its actions or decisions.
The character development of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is weak and inconsistent. Jason Momoa does a decent job of portraying Arthur’s charisma and humor, but he does not have much room to grow or change as a character. He remains mostly one-dimensional throughout the film. Patrick Wilson is more interesting as Orm, who has a complex personality and backstory that makes him more sympathetic than his brother. However, he also does not have much agency or impact on the plot. Amber Heard is reduced to a love interest who has little personality or role in the story. Nicole Kidman is wasted in a small cameo that does not add anything to her character’s arc.
The technical aspects of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are mixed at best. The film has some impressive action sequences that showcase Arthur’s abilities and skills as an underwater warrior. However, these sequences are often repetitive and predictable, following a formulaic structure that makes them boring after a while. The film also has some awkward transitions between land and sea scenes that break immersion and continuity. The dialogue of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is cheesy and clichéd at times, with some lines that are either funny or cringeworthy depending on your taste.
The strengths of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are its visual effects, its humor, its cast chemistry (especially between Momoa and Wilson), its soundtrack (featuring songs by Post Malone5 ), its fun factor (especially for fans of superhero films), its family-friendly appeal (especially for children), its positive messages (such as embracing your identity), its entertainment value (for what it is).