Whizz-bang effects and a rollicking good time
AQUAMAN (M) AVAILABLE FROM APRIL 17
TO THE exhilaration of many, the world of comic-book heroes is becoming more and more a part of our cinema-going experience.
Aquaman is the latest of the DC icons to get the treatment, courtesy of Australian director James Wan who, after the huge success of his Saw and Insidious franchises, moved into big Hollywood action with Furious 7.
Blessed with the charisma of leading man Jason Momoa, who occupies centre screen big-time (and I mean big-time!), the film charts the politics of the aquatic realm of Atlantis – ruled by Orm (Patrick Wilson) under the guidance of his vizier, Vulko (Willem Dafoe) – and the personal history of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur (Momoa).
His mother Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), the future queen of the undersea world, flees an imminent arranged marriage and is washed up on the shore near the cottage of landlubber Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison).
The two fall in love and the resulting child is Arthur.
But Atlanna knows her family will never be safe while she is with them, so she returns to Atlantis to an uncertain fate, leaving behind the two most loved people in her life.
Many years later, her younger son Orm – the product of her arranged marriage – is king, but has ambitions to rule both land and sea, and sets about forming an undersea alliance with King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren), whose daughter Mera (Amber Heard) is concerned about the prospect of war between the two worlds.
She approaches Arthur, who is the rightful king of Atlantis, to help prevent the conflagration.
Arthur is reluctant, to say the least.
With whiz-bang visual effects, a colourful world is created in the deep, as major conflict arises between the opposing forces.
Momoa is star material, there’s no doubt.
His wry creation of the character of Arthur is both robust and romantic – certainly for Mera.
Wilson is a long-time collaborator of Wan’s and makes a fine antagonist for our hero.
Don’t expect deep characters, but do expect a rollicking good time in the deep.