Review of Aquaman (2018) by Geoff L — 22 Dec 2018

There is a very fun, interesting, beautiful movie somewhere inside this horrible story.

It felt as though they were filming an entire trilogy and halfway through got tired of their jobs and put the scenes they had shot into one movie.

Such amazing actors played opposite to actors that were just there for a paycheck. Some of these characters did have interesting build up, but the audience was treated like babies that just deserved something flashy because their parents never bothered to get to know their kids. "Sorry, can't talk right now. We gotta earn the money, kids".

It left me wanting more yet not wanting to stick around to see what I get.

Black Manta was too good to be left behind as a side plot and the reason for the dry land/wet land conflict was forgotten in exchange for lots of underwater explosions.

I really want to like this movie, and there is a ton of fun to be had in the theater, but some additional editing would have really paid off.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

Just like Avatar stole it's plot from Fern Gulley, this move stole (I'm using the word stole instead of homage for a reason) a ton from the movies listed below:

Tron.

Star Wars (The bad ones).

Literally the 'King Arthur' story.

Ragnarok.

Pitch Black.

Casino Royale parkour scene.

Loki's entire existence in the MCU, except the interesting parts.

Every poorly written romcom filmed in Italy.

National Treasure.

Ant-Man and The Wasp.

A used book of stamps (this is because this movie is a junk drawer of items just thrown into one place).

Worst parts: Boat scene to get back to Atlantas in a hurry. What the hell was with the flute? Aquaman taking a ride on a boat when the world is on the verge of a war is like watching Superman waiting to charter a flight to The Fortress of Solitude. What the hell, guys?

Best part: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Patrick Wilson, and properly writing in Jason Momoa's talents into the story. Bravo to some of the actors and their dedication to their characters, as written.

Let's hope this didn't ruin the characters. There is the movie we will enjoy somewhere in there.