Aquaman (2018) Movie Review: A Deep Dive into the King of Atlantis

 

Aquaman (2018): From Superhero Punchline to Ocean God

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

I'll admit it - I've spent most of my life thinking Aquaman was kind of a joke. The guy who talks to fish? The superhero who's useless unless there's water around? Yeah, that Aquaman. So when I heard Jason Momoa was getting his own solo movie, I was curious but skeptical. Could anyone make the lamest member of the Justice League actually cool?

Well, James Wan just dropped the mic on everyone who ever made an Aquaman joke. This movie is absolutely bonkers in the best possible way - a gorgeous, over-the-top adventure that's equal parts Lord of the Rings underwater fantasy and Indiana Jones treasure hunt. It's the kind of big, colorful, unapologetically fun superhero movie that reminds you why you fell in love with this genre in the first place.

After the disappointment of Justice League and the mixed reception of other DCEU films, Aquaman feels like a breath of fresh air. It's confident, visually stunning, and most importantly, it's actually fun to watch from start to finish.

The Story That Actually Works

Arthur Curry has spent his whole life caught between two worlds - the surface world where he grew up with his lighthouse keeper father, and Atlantis, the underwater kingdom he's destined to rule as the son of Queen Atlanna. When his half-brother Orm threatens to unite the seven underwater kingdoms in a war against the surface world, Arthur must embrace his destiny and claim his birthright as the true king of Atlantis.

The plot is straightforward hero's journey stuff, but it's executed with such enthusiasm and visual flair that it never feels stale. Arthur has to prove himself worthy by finding the legendary Trident of Atlan, which leads to a globe-trotting adventure that takes us from the Sahara Desert to the deepest ocean trenches.

What I love about this story is how it completely embraces the mythological aspects of Aquaman's character. This isn't a grounded, realistic take on a superhero - it's full-blown fantasy adventure with ancient curses, mythical weapons, and underwater cities that look like they were designed by someone on the best acid trip of their life.

Jason Momoa: The Perfect Casting Choice

Jason Momoa was born to play this character. His Aquaman is part surfer dude, part mythical warrior king, and completely magnetic on screen. Momoa brings a natural charisma and humor to the role that makes Arthur instantly likable, even when he's being reluctant or making mistakes.

The best thing about Momoa's performance is how he balances Arthur's insecurities with his growing confidence. Early in the film, he's clearly uncomfortable with his Atlantean heritage and destiny. By the end, he's fully embraced being the bridge between two worlds. Momoa sells this transformation without making it feel forced or unearned.

His chemistry with the entire cast is fantastic, but he's particularly good in the quieter character moments. The scenes with his father Tom (Temuera Morrison) have real emotional weight, and you believe in their relationship completely.

Momoa also handles the action sequences like a pro. His Aquaman fights with a kind of primal intensity that makes every battle feel personal. Whether he's wielding his trident or just throwing punches, every movement has weight and purpose.

Amber Heard Brings Mera to Life

Amber Heard as Mera could have easily been just "the love interest," but she brings real strength and personality to the role. Mera is a warrior princess in her own right, with hydrokinetic powers that make her a formidable fighter and a crucial part of the story.

The relationship between Arthur and Mera develops naturally throughout the film. They start as reluctant allies, but their shared quest and growing mutual respect builds into something that feels genuine rather than obligatory. Heard and Momoa have great chemistry, making their romance feel earned rather than tacked on.

Heard also does excellent work in the action sequences. Mera's water-manipulation powers are visually spectacular, and Heard sells the physicality of using them in combat. She never feels like she needs rescuing - she's Arthur's equal partner throughout their adventure.

The Supporting Cast Delivers

Patrick Wilson as Orm/Ocean Master is one of the DCEU's better villains. He's not just evil for the sake of being evil - his motivations actually make sense. The surface world has been polluting and destroying the oceans for decades, so his desire to strike back feels justified, even if his methods are extreme.

Wilson brings real conviction to the role, making Orm feel like a true believer rather than a mustache-twirling bad guy. His relationship with Arthur has genuine emotional stakes because they're brothers, which adds personal weight to their conflict.

Willem Dafoe as Vulko, Arthur's mentor, brings his usual intensity to the role. He serves as the exposition machine for much of Atlantean history, but Dafoe makes even the most complicated mythology feel compelling and important.

Nicole Kidman has limited screen time as Queen Atlanna, but she makes every moment count. Her sacrifice at the beginning of the film and her eventual reunion with Arthur pack real emotional punch.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta creates a genuinely threatening secondary villain. His quest for revenge against Arthur feels personal and motivated, and his costume design is fantastic - like something straight out of a comic book but somehow practical and intimidating.

Visual Spectacle Beyond Belief

This movie is absolutely gorgeous to look at. James Wan and his team have created underwater worlds that feel both alien and believable. Atlantis is a massive, thriving civilization with its own culture, technology, and social structure. The attention to detail in the world-building is incredible.

Each of the seven kingdoms has its own distinct visual identity. The main Atlantis is gleaming and advanced, while the Fishermen Kingdom feels more organic and primitive. The Trench sequence is pure nightmare fuel, with creatures that look like they crawled out of Lovecraft's worst fever dreams.

The action sequences are choreographed beautifully. The underwater fights have a unique three-dimensional quality that makes them feel different from typical superhero battles. Characters can attack from any direction, and the water itself becomes part of the combat.

Don Burgess's cinematography captures both the intimacy of character moments and the epic scope of the underwater battles. The color palette is rich and vibrant, making this one of the most visually distinctive superhero movies in recent memory.

The Sicily Sequence: Pure Adventure Gold

The middle section of the film, where Arthur and Mera travel to Sicily to find clues about the Trident, is peak adventure filmmaking. It feels like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, complete with ancient puzzles, booby traps, and a spectacular chase sequence through a picturesque Italian town.

This sequence perfectly balances action, humor, and character development. We get to see Arthur and Mera work together as a team, their relationship develops naturally, and the action is creative and exciting. The wine-tasting scene provides some genuine laughs, while the rooftop chase that follows is expertly choreographed.

It also gives the movie a chance to show off different environments and visual styles. After all the underwater scenes, getting some sunlight and Mediterranean architecture provides nice visual variety.

Rupert Gregson-Williams Delivers an Epic Score

The music in this movie is fantastic. Rupert Gregson-Williams creates themes that feel both modern and timeless, perfectly capturing the mythological scope of the story. The main Aquaman theme is heroic and memorable, while the underwater sequences get appropriately otherworldly treatment.

The score also incorporates elements from different cultures, reflecting the global nature of Arthur's journey. The Italian sequences have Mediterranean flair, while the Atlantean music feels ancient and mystical.

The use of popular music is also well-handled. Pitbull's "Ocean to Ocean" over the end credits is exactly the kind of fun, slightly cheesy song this movie deserves.

Action Sequences That Actually Excite

James Wan knows how to stage action, and it shows in every sequence. The underwater battles have real weight and consequence, with each hit feeling impactful. The three-dimensional nature of underwater combat allows for more creative choreography than typical superhero fights.

The final battle is particularly impressive. It's a massive-scale conflict involving multiple armies, sea creatures, and individual hero moments, but it never becomes incomprehensible. You can always follow what's happening and understand how each piece fits into the larger battle.

The Karathen sequence is a standout - Arthur's encounter with the massive sea creature guardian is both visually spectacular and emotionally important to his character development. It's the moment where he fully accepts his role as king.

Embracing the Comic Book Aesthetic

One of Aquaman's greatest strengths is how fully it embraces its comic book origins. The costumes look like they came straight from the page, but they work in live action because everyone commits to the reality of this world.

Aquaman's classic orange and green costume could have looked ridiculous, but the movie earns it by building up to it gradually. When Arthur finally dons the full Aquaman regalia, it feels like a triumphant moment rather than a costume change.

The movie also isn't afraid to be colorful and fantastical. In an era of dark, gritty superhero movies, Aquaman stands out by being bright, fun, and unabashedly optimistic.

Themes That Resonate

Beneath all the spectacle, Aquaman has something to say about environmental responsibility, finding your place in the world, and bridging different communities. Arthur's journey is about learning to accept all parts of his identity rather than choosing one side over the other.

The environmental message is woven throughout without being preachy. The ocean pollution we see is real and disturbing, making Orm's anger understandable even if his methods are wrong. Arthur's role becomes finding a way for both worlds to coexist rather than destroy each other.

Minor Criticisms

The movie is probably about 20 minutes too long. Some of the middle sections drag slightly, and a few action sequences could have been trimmed without losing impact. The pacing occasionally feels uneven, particularly in the second act.

Some of the dialogue is pretty cheesy, though this feels intentional rather than accidental. The movie is going for a classic adventure film tone, and sometimes that means embracing slightly corny dialogue.

The villain plot resolution feels a bit rushed. Orm's defeat happens quickly after Arthur claims the trident, and his character turn could have used a bit more development.

Technical Achievement

The visual effects work is outstanding across the board. The underwater environments feel completely believable, and the sea creatures are both beautiful and terrifying. The motion capture work on the various sea life is particularly impressive.

The production design creates a fully realized underwater civilization that feels lived-in and authentic. Every detail, from the architecture to the clothing to the technology, feels thought out and consistent.

The costume design deserves special recognition. Making comic book costumes work in live action is always challenging, but every character looks both practical and visually striking.

Cultural Impact

Aquaman proved that there was still appetite for fun, colorful superhero movies. After years of increasingly serious and dark comic book films, audiences responded enthusiastically to something that was just pure entertainment.

The movie also demonstrated the global appeal of superhero films. Much of its massive box office success came from international markets, particularly China, showing that spectacle and character can transcend cultural barriers.

Final Thoughts

Aquaman is the most fun I've had at a superhero movie in years. It's big, loud, colorful, and completely committed to its own ridiculous premise. James Wan has created a movie that works as both spectacular blockbuster entertainment and genuine character development.

This is the movie that finally made Aquaman cool. Jason Momoa's charismatic performance, combined with stunning visuals and solid storytelling, transforms the character from superhero punchline to genuine icon. It's proof that any character can work if you approach them with the right combination of respect and enthusiasm.

The movie succeeds because it never apologizes for what it is. It's a fantasy adventure about a guy who can talk to fish and rule an underwater kingdom, and it treats that premise with complete sincerity while still having fun with it.

Bottom Line: Aquaman is a gorgeous, entertaining adventure that finally gives the character the movie he deserves. It's pure blockbuster fun with heart, humor, and spectacular action.

Perfect For: Fans of fantasy adventure films, people who love spectacular visuals, anyone who enjoys fun superhero movies, and viewers looking for something colorful and optimistic.

Skip If: You prefer grounded, realistic superhero movies, you're not interested in fantasy elements, or you generally dislike underwater/ocean settings.

Best Viewing Experience: This absolutely demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible with great sound. The underwater sequences and epic battles are designed for theatrical presentation, and the visual details reward big-screen viewing.