What’s It About
After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In the DC Extended Universe, which seems to be winding down, Aquaman stands out as the lone hero injecting some much-needed fun into the scenes. Playing the half-human Prince of Atlantis, Jason Momoa gives us an Aquaman who’s athletic and a laid-back, beer-chugging, high-fiving, wisecracking bro. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is the sequel where Momoa hits his peak, battling the returning bad guy Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who’s seeking revenge for his dad’s death in the first film. Momoa steals the show. He’s the alpha-cool action star who manages to be a bit jerk-ish while still making us believe in the decency of his character. His emotional range is impressive, seamlessly switching between smart-alecky commentary and heartfelt moments. The self-awareness he brings never feels forced or awkward; instead, it keeps us engaged scene after scene. The second-best reason to watch is the chemistry between Momoa and co-star Patrick Wilson, who is reprising his role as Orm Marius, Arthur’s half-brother and the Ocean Master. Wilson plays Orm as dry as a man underwater could be, the perfect foil to Momoa’s Arthur Curry. Their banter and a dash of estranged brotherly reconciliation add depth to the film. However, despite the fun, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” falls short of greatness. It lacks the boldness of the original, with its dramatic family dynamics and over-the-top spectacle. The production feels cluttered, as if there were chaos behind the scenes. The mix of CGI and real locations might fare better without the 3D effect. While the supporting cast, including Kidman, Morrison, Lundgren, and Abdul-Mateen, commits to the story, their integration feels a bit forced. The movie is still an enjoyable ride, succeeding despite its shortcomings. There’s merit in a big-budget fantasy that knows its limits and when to bring the curtain down.
OUR RATING – AN OVER-HYPED 7
MEDIA
- Genre – Comic Book
- Street date
- Digital – January 27th, 2024
- DVD/Blu-Ray/4K – March 12th, 2024
- Video – 1080p
- Screen size – 1.78:1
- Sound – English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
- Subtitles – English SDH, Canadian French, Parisian French, Latin Spanish
Extras
- Finding the Lost Kingdom – Go behind the scenes as director James Wan reveals how he and the cast and crew pulled off their biggest endeavor yet, an epic sequel to the largest grossing film in the history of DC.
- Aquaman: Worlds Above and Below – When the filmmakers set out to create a sequel that eclipsed the original in scale and scope, they knew they would have to send Arthur and the rest of the cast to all kinds of new wild and wonderful worlds both above and below the sea.
- It’s a Manta World – Black Manta is more powerful than ever now that he has discovered the Lost Kingdom of Necrus and taken possession of the Black Trident. From inspiration to execution, filmmakers reveal how they leveled Black Manta up to the realm of supervillains.
- Necrus, The Lost Black City – Ages ago the great battle for the earth took place here, in this legendary lost Atlantean city. Discover how the filmmakers created the Black City from its “surface city” concept and its inhabitants: Undead Necrusians (Zombies), to its execution.
- Escape from the Deserter World – From idea to execution, explore how the filmmakers created this barren desert landscape and the Deserter Prison, how its creatures and inhabitants were brought to life, and how they planned and executed the daring Orm “breakout” sequence.
- Brawling at Kingfish’s Lair – The Citadel is the last frontier of the ocean, a deep trench filled? with sunken old ships, stacked high like a rusty city. From concept to completion, discover Kingfish’s Lair, a bar within, where the worst of the worst hang out.
- Oh TOPO! – The Tactical Observation and Pursuit Operative Octopus is a living legend and all-time fan favorite. Director James Wan and the filmmakers discuss the decision behind bringing TOPO back to the sequel and its promotion to Arthur’s on-screen sidekick.