Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom [2023] – Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom does a great job at being irrelevant due to its confusing status as the unofficial end to the DCEU. Momoa deserved better, but he certainly enjoyed this one.

What’s sad about this sequel is that it almost has its moments. It’s obvious that director James Wan was really trying to do something good here. Sadly, the powers that be clearly meddled. From the ridiculous early 2000s video games like CGI all the way to the story itself. This sequel was dead before it even started.

Instead of the potential of a multifaceted villain with Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), we get a cardboard cutout angry villain. Instead of moving the story further or getting a satisfying ending, the movie rides the coatails of global warming and ends the sequel almost exactly where the first one started. Nothing really changes, all the events of the first movie are almost reset, except having Arthur as the king.

While the first Aquaman was a tsunami of dumb fun spectacle, this dizzy sequel sinks into abysmal depths due to an unbearable weight of massive silliness. Yes, I love silly Momoa, but this is just too much. No one was really trying to do their job, from the actors to the production tram, and it’s obvious. As one of my friends’ said, “Nicole Kidman‘s hair did the most acting in this movie”.

Should You Watch It?

Not funny enough, not dramatic enough, not well acted enough – but I wasn’t bored.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on Crave Canada and Max.