At a Theater Near You — “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom” is the current super-comic-movie in theaters. It is an action-packed fantasy film with colorful great visuals and entertaining multiple last-minute minor twists, in a worthy follow-up to one of the best from DC Comic’s inconsistent comic world.
If anything, there’s too much to see in the brief action scenes…but I’m certain that is calculated to increase repeat viewing of the overpopulated secretive underwater world.
Of all the elements of the movie, I was impressed with the ingenious octopus / squid-based swimming / walking / flying ships – which were also well-imagined as archaic super-tech, and to me recalled the WWI-era fantasy craft in another underwater adventure, Disney’s “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001).
Jason Momoa continues his muscle-bound snarkiness as Aquaman, and is also credited with contributing to the story. Patrick Wilson tries to retain his handsome dignity as Aquaman’s rival brother while being played as a fish out of water at times.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II returns as Aquaman’s nemesis Black Manta, who adds being possessed to being maniacally vengeful.
Nicole Kidman is still elegantly beautiful even being two years older than me…but there’s something just a little artificial about her appearance now. She also gets to contribute to some battle action.
Amber Heard has a smaller role as wife, mom, and conjurer. Martin Short makes a cameo with a slothful piratical reference to “Return of the Jedi.” (Speaking of references, Momoa adds one to the competing Marvel universe, which feels almost like a gleeful ad-libbed line that was worth keeping.)
Showing in Chillicothe’s Danbarry Cinemas through this weekend, at least.
My rating: Four and a half out of five glowing tridents and glowing eyes.
