Film Review: "Aquaman" (2018).

"Home is calling" in Aquaman. This superhero film directed by James Wan, written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, and based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It is the third live-action theatrical film featuring Aquaman, following Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), and the first full-length feature film centered around the character. Once home to the most advanced civilization on Earth, the city of Atlantis is now an underwater kingdom ruled by the power-hungry King Orm. With a vast army at his disposal, Orm plans to conquer the surface world. Standing in his way is Aquaman, Orm's half-human, half-Atlantean brother and true heir to the throne. With help from Mera and Vulko, Aquaman must retrieve the legendary Trident of Atlan and embrace his destiny as protector of the deep.

Since 2004, the project fell into development hell, with several producers onboard including Sunrise Entertainment and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way. Until, in August 2014, Beall and Kurt Johnstad were hired to write the script after the release of Man of Steel (2013). Beall and Johnstad based the script on Geoff Johns's 2011 rendition of Aquaman. In October, the film was officially announced. Jeff Nichols and Noam Murro were considered to direct the film. Jason Momoa publicly expressed interest in wanting Zack Snyder to direct. In June 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Wan signed on as director. In November, Johnson-McGoldrick was hired to rewrite Beall and Johnstad's script. Wan cited the adventure films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Romancing the Stone (1984) as an influence on the film. With Momoa cast in October 2014. Between mid January 2016 and early May 2017, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman were confirmed to have rounded the film's cast. In early May, principal photography began, and wrapped in late October. Filming took place at the Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, as well as New South Wales, Newfoundland, Canada, Sicily, Italy and Morocco. Shortly thereafter, post-production began. Charles Gibson and Kelvin McIlwain would serve as visual effects supervisors, with Rodeo FX, Scanline VFX, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Weta Digital, Method Studios, and Digital Domain providing the visual effects for the film. In early November 2018, post-production was completed. In early March 2018, Rupert Gregson-Williams was announced to compose the film's score.

The film stars Momoa as the title character, with Heard, Dafoe, Wilson, Lundgren, Abdul-Mateen II, Morrison, and Kidman. The cast gave spectacularly charismatic performances, particularly that of Momoa. Who has proven, like Chris Hemsworth with Thor, he is Aquaman. Both Momoa and Heard enlivened the film with their well-matched chemistry.

Thrilling, earnest, and buoyed by Momoa's charismatic performance, Aquaman succeeds in spectacular fashion. The film is one of the most consummately entertaining superhero / adventure movies in recent years, reaching back to the classic Saturday morning serials of old with an action-filled adventure.

Simon says Aquaman receives:

Also, see my review for The Conjuring 2 and Justice League.