The DCEU comes to a close.
The long delayed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom finally came out as the final installment before James Gunn’s films start coming out in 2025.
I had the bar set really low for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and, unfortunately, it seems as if the film stumbled over it.
There was nothing obnoxiously unwatchable about the movie. It just wasn’t very good and there were plenty of times where it was actively stupid. I found much of the first act or so boring. The third act was the typical DC CGI fest and it was really predictable.
Jason Momoa still does a decent job as Arthur Curry, but I am not sure that a lot of the humor worked well. Momoa and Patrick Wilson’s chemistry was okay, but it did feel like a poor-man’s version of Thor and Loki. Amber Heard’s presence felt awkward because of her outside situations.
CGI was a mishmash. Some moments it was pretty good. I’d say the background with the settings were always beautiful. However, some of the action and the evil villain from the past was not good. When that green Groot-like looking thing showed up, I got real Paralax from Green Lantern vibes. I almost laughed at the character the first time he appeared.
There were several things that did not make sense, but I can’t go into these without spoiling. One thing from the third act involving Randall Park that I just could not get past.
I also spent a lot of time watching their hair flitter in the water but nothing else happened. No bubbles from the mouth. No other things floating. I was distracted by Momoa’s hair every time he was supposed to be underwater.
This was just not very good and it sent the DCEU sputtering off into the night. Bring on James Gunn’s new DCU.
2.2 stars