This weekend sees the much-anticipated release of ‘Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,’ the sequel to the 2018 film that follows the aquatic adventures of the DC character, Aquaman. Directed by James Wan, the film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, finds himself grappling with the challenges of being a king, a father, and a member of the ‘Justice League.’ The plot thickens as the formidable Black Manta returns as the antagonist, fueled by a relentless desire for revenge and to bring Aquaman down a notch.
However, the critics haven’t been singing praises for this underwater spectacle. Currently holding a modest 37 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, ‘Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’ is receiving its fair share of criticism. Empire handed the movie a two-star rating, deeming it a “disappointing send-off” for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
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The Independent was even less forgiving, labelling the franchise as “brainless” and expressing disappointment in the legacy of the DCEU.
IGN, slightly more lenient, gave the film a six out of ten stars, acknowledging a slow start but noting that things pick up for an enjoyable stretch. They reminisced about the playfulness of the first movie, acknowledging that “The Lost Kingdom” captures that tone quite well. However, they weren’t shy about criticizing the film’s visuals, pointing out that the visual allure primarily lies in landscapes and underwater civilizations.
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Collider took a different stance, praising the dynamic between Momoa’s Aquaman and Wilson’s Orm, characterizing it as a successful buddy comedy. They also commended the writing by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick for keeping the story on a relatively small scale, evoking the DCEU’s past successes on a smaller canvas.
Despite these scattered positive notes, the overall critical reception is leaning towards the negative. The BBC, with a meagre two-star rating, lamented the film’s hasty editing, suggesting that perhaps the rush to conclude the movie led to a blur of montages and voiceovers.
While some find solace in the chemistry between characters and the scaled-down narrative, others are left yearning for the engaging magic that a superhero film should deliver.