A Hero Rises from the Water

in Aquaman

by Kathia Woods

The DC has struggled as of late with the unimpressive Justice League and Ben Affleck as Batman. Wonder Woman gave them a little hope however it’s not enough to catch Marvel

So here comes " Aquaman " to save the day.

Jason Momoa makes a striking superhero. He has the physique and acting chops to pull it off. Amber Heard is equally convincing as the princess Mera despite bad costuming. It was refreshing to see Nicole Kidman step out of character as Queen Atlantis stating that she accepted the role for the sake of her children. Other notable castings are Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko and Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master. Dolph Lundgren continued his comeback tour as Nereus.

All the above are positives that should translate to a movie packed with action and adventure however intent and delivery are two things.

There are parts of this movie that are charming however they come few and far between. The flashbacks of young Arthur were a nice touch, but they needed more details such as when did he discover his powers? How did he and Nuidis meet?

I enjoyed Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta. Why was he a pirate and when did he choose the moniker of Black?

We needed answers not assumptions to the above.

Even the humor at times came across as labored.

Ultimately, I believe that was the objective of this movie to have zero context.

It's merely cheesy and borderline absurd. The crazy thing is that it works. Ultimately during this time of year where most of the films out have a firm tone or are geared towards a younger audience this movie fits the bill. "Aquaman" is a delightful mess. Movie-goers are looking to escape from the Holiday noise, relatives and day to day troubles. So, buckle up throw away any expectations and enjoy the crazy world of "Aquaman."

Scale- it receives a six due to Jason Momoa (he worth the price of admission). The special effects are also impressive.

Diversity - it receives a seven. It interwove Momoa's Polynesian heritage into the film. The casting of veteran actor Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry further cemented the consistency in cultural representation. Many of the soldiers and stunt team were also of Polynesian/Samoan heritage. James Wan at the helm demonstrated that DC is not just throwing the verbiage of diversity around. It's important for minorities to receive an opportunity to direct big movies with big budgets such as "Aquaman."