If “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” were a musical composition, it could be compared to Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me.” The Canadian rock band produced a pseudo-MTV-friendly grunge anthem that arrived on the scene nearly a decade after the early '90s genre had lost its rawness and vitality.
In the world of superhero sequels, this film comes after a major reboot of the comic book universe under the direction of James Gunn of the newly renamed DC Universe. The familiar faces of Arthur Curry's ally Batfleck may be gone forever, and Ezra Miller's Flash has rebooted the multiverse so dramatically that the unexpected could happen, like Krypto the Superdog leading the Justice League or Dumb Bunny reigning supreme. as Queen of Themyscira.
Director: James Wan
Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, James Wan, Jason Momoa
Stars: Jason Momoa , Ben Affleck, Patrick Wilson
At its core, “The Lost Kingdom” presents itself as a seemingly out-of-sync superhero movie, struggling to maintain audience interest when even those responsible recognize that the game may be up and audiences may have lost interest. This may explain why the recently released debut trailer, after years in the editing room, appears to have been meticulously crafted by director James Wan and his team to make it feel like a major cinematic event.
On the surface, the film boasts stunning visuals, featuring explosive underwater spectacles featuring megastastic fantasy creatures, Lord of the Rings-style slow-motion battles, and elaborate aqua-mech. However, the feeling remains that if Wan and his team really had something groundbreaking to show, they could have delayed the big reveals until viewers had a chance to experience the actual film.
Instead, a well-worn comic book movie narrative unfolds: the superhero bromance. Aquaman teams up with the villain Black Manta, inexplicably teaming up with the previous film's strangely popular antagonist, Patrick Wilson's Orm (also his half-brother). There's a faint echo in the comics realm, reminiscent of Marvel's Thor and Loki, perhaps turning in their future fictional graves.
It is clear that the enthusiasm for this installment is a challenge for me. Rumors are circulating, unconfirmed, of walkouts at test screenings leading to extensive reshoots, a claim director Wan has denied. The hope is that the final film will untangle the convoluted ending of the DC Extended Universe and seamlessly transition into Gunn's imagined reality.
However, recent statements from Wan suggest little interest in aligning himself with Marvel's vision. “The complicated thing from the beginning was not knowing if Aquaman would come out first or after [The Flash]. So we had to be prepared,” Wan explained. “At the end of the day, the best thing I would say about this movie is that it is in no way connected to any of those movies. That is the conclusion.”
Anticipation for “Aquaman 2” may be fueled by hopes of a brighter future for Gunn-led DC, but signs point to potential disappointment.
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