Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom Movie Review: After numerous postponements and apparent production problems, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom finally arrive in theaters to conclude this complicated and up-and-down year for comic films. However, it arrives above all as the final blow of the DC Extended Universe, on which the arrival of James Gunn and Peter Safran as new co-CEOs of DC Studios has definitively put an end, ready to give life to a reboot of the franchise starting from 2025.
The news of this imminent conclusion and future reboot seems to have had a certain weight in the disappointing economic results of the DC comic films released this year. From Shazam! Fury of the Gods to The Flash and Blue Beetle, none of these managed to obtain the desired revenues.
The sequel to Aquaman directed by James Wan is therefore eagerly awaited by those who are curious to find out if the rumors that have circulated in recent months are true: that the film is a disaster, that Amber Heard's role has been significantly reduced, and that the entire project would have been conceived as a standalone.
With the heavy legacy of the previous film's global gross of around a billion dollars on its shoulders, Aquaman 2 arrives at the cinema between indifference and curiosity to give an answer to all this. The answer is rather surprising: the film, continuing not to take itself seriously, turns out to be a fun and entertaining adventure comedy and that should be enough.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Movie Plot
We therefore find Arthur Curry alias Aquaman (Jason Momoa), torn between the boringness of his role as king of Atlantis and the difficulties of being a father. The adventures of the past are fewer and fewer and less exciting, but of course, this is set to change.
From the depths of the abyss, David Kane aka Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), still driven by the need to avenge his father's death, has entered the power of the mythical Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will then have to turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson). However, the two will have to put aside their differences to protect their kingdom and the entire world.
Aquaman 2: The second and final adventure is a welcome surprise
Probably the best way to watch Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is to forget that it's part of a shared universe. The film helps in this, not presenting even a reference to the other DCEU titles, neither verbal nor in the form of a cameo. The new Aquaman can therefore really be considered a standalone feature film, linked only to the chapter to which it is the sequel.
This autonomy allows us not to get distracted by elements that would have meant little or nothing to the story, instead focusing on adequately building a new story about this reluctant king desperate for new adventures, without forgetting to send a convincing message about the dangers of climate change.
By following him in them, Wan can therefore indulge himself in offering both comic situations tailor-made for the protagonist and an exploration of new underwater environments and cultures that turn out to be more fascinating than expected. There is in fact a taste for the image, the scenographic reconstruction, and the use of special effects on which the director and his team demonstrate that they have worked with great care, achieving exciting results.
Visually, therefore, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom offers continuous joy for the eyes, despite some aesthetic choices that may make some turn up their noses. Certainly, the result is well above what was achieved by another film that partially explored the abyss such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Returning to the story, this may perhaps appear too simple in its unfolding, but it is precisely this simplicity that rewards the film, taking the viewer from one point to another and then to another, without the subplots overflowing into the main one. Wan had also anticipated that we would find ourselves faced with a sort of buddy movie focused on the relationship between Aquaman and Orm, and it is precisely their sharing of the scene that gives the film, particularly brilliant moments.
Of course, you're not faced with comedy that makes you laugh out loud, but it's right that this is the case or otherwise the film would have risked becoming zany. Once again, Aquaman therefore does not take himself seriously and this is his strong point.
Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom Movie Analysis
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom therefore denies the rumors that it was a complete disaster, offering two hours of wholesome entertainment, without demonstrating particular ambitions but making its simplicity its strength. Sometimes, in reality, one gets the impression that he plays it too safe, thus not obtaining particularly engaging moments from an emotional point of view.
As high as the stakes are, perhaps a greater sense of danger or vengeful fury on the part of the protagonists would have made them more interesting, leaving something more of them in the spectators. This doesn't happen but it matters up to a certain point. The film presents the right ingredients to amuse, entertain, and, like it or not, conclude the adventure of the DCEU.
Summary
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom aims for simplicity, focusing on telling his story without external distractions. It fails to generate a particular interest in the protagonist's characters but manages to offer valid entertainment between humor, a taste for adventure, and fascinating special effects.