Aquaman

MFC Review

Warner Bros. surprises everyone with an unexpected turn in Aquaman (2018), the latest release in the DC Extended Universe. The film has collected over $1.1 billion worldwide, and has become the highest-grossing DC film to this date.

Directed by James Wan (Saw, 2004; The Fast and the Furious 7, 2015), co-written by Geoff Jones, former CCO of DC Entertainment and the mastermind behind the revamp of the Atlantean hero during DC comics’ 2011 storyline The New 52. What was expected to be an exaggeration in the use of visual effects and CGI (Computer-generated imaginery) turned to be one of DC’s greatest films.

Wan, who had already worked with Patrick Wilson in The Conjuring (2013) and Insidious (2010), casted him to play the villain Orm Marius, a.k.a Ocean Master, half-brother of Aquaman. Again, the fishman was portrayed by Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, 2011-2012) as he has done in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017).

Colorful and loud, this new version embraces the grandeur of a battle between mythological figures, leaving behind the serious and dark tones of the past DC films. Thus, the director decided to create the action driven story that the audience wanted. Aquaman rescues an already damaged character, becoming him a fan favorite.

This movie is the over-the-top and colorful experience that it’s supposed to be, creating a well-crafted water world never seen before. With an outstanding visual production, costume design and direction, the movie gives us a whole new world to be immersed in, with a variety of fantastic places and creatures that build the world of Aquaman, leaving us eager for more. As seen in Wonder Woman (2017), the worldbuilding that DC achieves may be one battle won in the constant clashing against Marvel Studios.

This is a highly recommended film if you want to catch up with the visual developments within the superhero genre. Even though the movie takes place mostly underwater, Aquaman may be the grasp of air that the DC Extended Universe needs to regain the confidence of its fans.