Aquaman

DC tries its best and Aquaman is definitely not bad. James Wan was a good choice for the director’s stool and Jason Momoa as lead was also great. I can’t imagine anyone playing such character in a different and better way. I only add that the biggest surprise for me was Dolph Lundgren, who was having fun in his role and I can imagine him playing more similar parts. The problem of this film lies in the scenes that try so hard to be funny that they end up being painfully awkward. Jason Momoa tries to emulate Chris Harmsworth’s Thor’s humor, and in the beginning he didn’t manage to convince me. Over the time, however, I’ve become used to him and it wasn’t so bad. Patrick Wilson, too, is a rather ridiculous adversary, I don’t understand why everyone praises him so much. You see that when I’m writing this review it surprises me how many faults I’ve found with the film. I don’t even know why I’m so critical as I was actually more or less happy with it. It was a pleasant surprise from DC, even though it’d be a routine standard had it been made by Marvel. (15/04/2019)

Aquaman can't be denied one thing, it is truly monumental. James Wan sends countless creatures, monsters and strange beings to the screen, or at least actors in really crazy costumes. Is it overstuffed? Yes, but on the other hand, the magnificence is really impressive and on top of that, every single underwater creature was really elaborate. Something this gigantic and epic hasn't been done since Avatar. And when it starts moving or fighting, it looks great on screen. Unfortunately though, Aquaman has two quite possibly the worst Hollywood actors in the lead role and that's where it grinds. Wan does manage to restrain Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, giving them minimal room to act and mostly just doing what they're good at (looking good), but as soon as the film attempts romance, humour, or pathos, it doesn't work due to their ineptitude. Fortunately, it's not that often. In fact, I was also initially bothered by the rather chaotic narrative structure, where they jump from the present to the past so that the origin story can somehow be caught up quickly and what would otherwise be worthy of a standalone film is crammed into two scenes. And unfortunately, the level of stupidity also occasionally crosses the line. Still, I'll happily sign off that this is the best DC Comic film and if I were twelve, I'd want to sign up for a diving club. On the other hand, I'd rather watch four out of five Marvel movies than this one, because there's still the problem that previous Warner comic-book adaptations have struggled with: it takes itself too seriously for the crap it is. And yet, right here, during the scenes where Amber Heard is floating on a killer whale and shooting water lasers out of her hands, it really needed that bit of levity. (14/12/2018)

Roughly as OK as Wonder Woman. Aquaman benefits mainly from the innovative world that mixes together Star Wars and Avatar, with a pinch of Sahara desert sand and a dash of Sicily. Wan keeps the overwhelming story (according to the garrulous Geoff Johns) on a tight leash with great ideas and the movie's unbelievably sophisticated visual aspect. Momoa is all right (I can imagine even an R-rated version where he rips off people’s heads); his concept of the hero is attractive enough that he's able to carry this fantasy on his shoulders. Redhead Amber Heard is again a pleasure to watch. The biggest drawback of the film is probably the unintentionally funny Black Mamba, whose aquarium will probably bother Curry next time as well. (20/12/2018)

A dull coloring book from DC that more than anything resembles the sterile world of Marvel with a host of good-hearted heroes and bad guys who oddly enough want to destroy or dominate the world. Plus points for the fact that this time it takes place underwater, thumbs up for the sound engineers and effects guys, who really went all out on the underwater cities, and Jason Momoa is cool and knows how to rock, something we've known for a while now. The story, though, it’s about nothing. (19/03/2019)

I am incompatible with the new DC films; in fact, I am specifically allergic to their tone. Momoa is a nice guy, but as soon as Wan steps on the pedal and the camera pulls him in to the sound of guitars, I lose the last bit of interest in the character. And I have even less interest in the modest underwater people. This universe is not for me. (05/05/2019)