‘Aquaman’ Review: 4 Things To Love About DC’s New Movie

“Aquaman” swims into theaters this month, and it’s definitely one of the more impressive superhero movies from DC in recent years. There is plenty to love about the new Warner Bros. movie.

Atlantis — There’s no other way to say it: this movie is really pretty. Director James Wan has created a world that is largely computer-generated, and that risk paid off. Atlantis is gorgeous and feels like no other superhero’s world. It’s also well-developed, with Aquaman’s (Jason Momoa) journey requiring plenty of speedy history lessons about how the underwater city came into existence.

Mera — Superhero movies don’t always get the love interest right, but Mera (Amber Heard) is fantastic — and a lot more than just Aquaman’s girlfriend. She seeks out Arthur because she knows that he is the only one with the authority to challenge King Orm (Patrick Wilson), her fiancé and Aquaman’s brother. The film doesn’t pay much attention to the potential love triangle and instead lets Mera prove that she’s a worthy fighter and intelligent strategist. Her mid-movie freak out after realizing she may have gone a step too far makes her one of the most relatable characters in the movie.

Action — At 2 hours and 23 minutes, “Aquaman” is the average length of a superhero movie, most of which are a bit too long. While it definitely could’ve been shorter, it never drags. The action sequences just keep coming and the film moves along quickly.

Cast — The cast is working with some overly dramatic dialogue and a few jokes designed for kids who go with their parents, but they make it work. Jason Momoa is having the time of his life, and that makes “Aquaman” fun to watch. Heard seems to be having just as much fun, and they have great chemistry. Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Patrick Wilson round out a great lineup of actors.

That said, “Aquaman” doesn’t get everything perfect. As mentioned, the dialogue gets super dramatic, and the villains aren’t that compelling. One of them is there almost purely to set up a sequel. Still, “Aquaman” is one of the better DC films in recent years. It’s fun, watchable and worth the price of admission.

“Aquaman” will release in theaters on Dec. 21.