Aquaman was… dumb fun!
Aquaman is easily the most fun I've had with a DC superhero film since Wonder Woman bringing an appropriately campy tone to the proceedings. Aquaman is big, dumb and loud and it's proud of it. But it's also surprisingly endearing, embracing the cheesy melodrama a story about a fish man can scarcely avoid.
The script is the weakest aspect of this film by far with canned lines that even the most casual filmgoer will recognize instantly. The film's attempts at heartfelt emotion especially during the opening moments are genuinely hilarious and had me doubled over in my seat trying to stifle my snickers. The film lacks the emotional weight of something like Wonder Woman but, it strikes a balance more in line with the silliness of its character. High drama's not why anyone is going to see Aquaman in the first place is it?
The action sequences are easily some of the best in DC cinematic history surpassing Snyder's films with smart camera direction that lets you follow what's going on without feeling the need to drop into slo-mo every three seconds. Despite the obvious necessity of CGI to make a film like this, most things look and feel weighty as they are smashed against Aquaman and each other repeatedly. The effects aren’t perfect, there’s a few moments where the immersion is broken when a CGI monster lurches unnaturally like a marionette dipping into the uncanny valley.
This is a surprisingly gorgeous film which caught me off guard as much of the first half hour or so takes place on land, once we finally get underwater the film really starts to shine, literally plunging you into the beautiful color palette that Atlantis and the other distinct underwater regions have to offer.
Overall, the weak writing and general ham sandwich of a plot doesn't hurt the absolute blast I had watching the film. There is a really amusing trope that the film overuses that only added to my enjoyment in which conversations are interrupted by explosions repeatedly throughout the film. If this is to serve as DC's soft reboot for the series tone and presentation from now on, I'm back on board the DC hype train for the time being.
7/10 Like fishing with dynamite.
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