Film Review #038 - Aquaman: Lost Kingdom

  1. Facts of the film

Distributor: “Warner Bros. Pictures” distributed Aquaman: Lost Kingdom.

Production Budget: The estimated production budget for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom was $205-215 million. It is one of the DCEU's most expensive movies, with a budget that is similar to Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The budget increased from the first Aquaman movie, which had a budget of $160-200 million.

Worldwide Gross: The worldwide gross for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom is $145.3 million while the first Aquaman movie - $1.152 billion, making it the 29th highest-grossing film of all time.

Originality of the Story: The story for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom is original. It was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, based on a story by James Wan. The film is a sequel to the 2018 film Aquaman and is set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The story follows Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as he faces a new threat to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis.

Director: James Wan directed Aquaman: Lost Kingdom. He is a Malaysian-born Australian filmmaker known for his work in horror, action, and science fiction films. James Wan is best known for directing the films Saw (2004), The Conjuring (2013), Furious 7 (2015), and Aquaman (2018).

Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall wrote the screenplay for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom. 

Johnson-McGoldrick is an American screenwriter known for his work on horror films.David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick is also known for writing the films The Conjuring 2 (2016) and Rampage (2018).

Beall is an American screenwriter and producer known for his work on action films. Will Beall has written the screenplays for the films 47 Ronin (2013) and Gangster Squad (2013).

Actors and Their Famous Works: 

Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman: Momoa is an American actor known for his work in action films, such as the Fast & Furious franchise and the Conan the Barbarian reboot.

Amber Heard as Mera: Heard is an American actress known for her work in action films, such as Justice League and Zombieland.

Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius / Ocean Master: Wilson is an American actor known for his work in horror films, such as the Insidious franchise and The Conjuring.

Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus: Lundgren is a Swedish actor and martial artist known for his work in action films, such as Rocky IV and The Expendables franchise.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane / Black Manta: Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor known for his work in television, such as Watchmen and The Matrix Resurrections.

  1. Review

I recently watched 'Aquaman: Lost Kingdom' at a local cinema on a big screen in 2D format. I believe watching it on an IMAX screen or 3D would be even more impressive. The film is action-packed and visually stunning. The film explores themes of family, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Cinematography: The film begins with a narrative introduction reminiscent of Scorsese's "Goodfellas," featuring dynamic storytelling and cinematography. This style is complemented by fast transitions akin to those in "Saw X" and wide-angle shots that recall the cinematography in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." No wonder I mentioned Saw X because James Wan himself directed the Saw I movie and he was Executive Producer in the Saw X film. Moreover, the film often employs a technique where the camera slowly moves forward into a medium and close-up shot. While this is generally an effective and cool technique, it sometimes feels overused.

The film also makes creative use of various camera angles and techniques. Dutch tilts and overhead shots are used effectively, along with point-of-view shots, all contributing to a masterful cinematic presentation.

The ending fight scene is particularly noteworthy for its varied camera work. It seamlessly incorporates Dutch tilts, wide-angle shots, and overhead perspectives, along with crisp, clear, and precise medium and close-up shots. These techniques added intensity and clarity to the action.

The location known as Devils Deep is visually stunning, with its breathtaking scenery reminiscent of the visual style in the "Avatar" movies. This location serves as a highlight of the film's impressive visual achievements.

Music: The music significantly enhances the film's atmosphere in many ways. The introduction features excellent rock music that immediately sets an engaging tone. The well-written score throughout the movie is skillfully crafted. The soundtrack has an overall mix of blockbuster Hans Zimmer Brass and epic vibes and Ludwig Gorannsons Electronic type sounds. Particularly notable is the use of electronic sounds, which effectively amplify the blockbuster vibe, especially in scenes featuring the villain. Moreover, I like that when human characters are underwater they have added a bit of flanger and chorus effect. 

Storytelling: The movie's storytelling is versatile, introducing a unique blend of comedy, drama, mystery, witty lines and jokes and science fiction. I particularly enjoyed the character of Topo the squid. Topo's witty, occasionally clumsy, and clever traits added a delightful element to the film.

Costume Design: The costume design in the film is outstanding, showcasing both advanced technology and artistic beauty. It’s evident that a great deal of professionalism went into their creation, and I absolutely loved this aspect.

CGI: Regarding the CGI, although I'm generally not a big fan, I found it exceptionally well done in this movie. The complex setups and visual effects were remarkable, and I appreciate the effort put into this aspect.

Ending scene: One of the highlights for me was the inclusion of an extended ending scene. While there was a point where the movie seemed to be concluding, the extension provided by the epilogue added depth and interest to the overall narrative.

Conclusion: In conclusion, "Aquaman: Lost Kingdom" impresses with its dynamic cinematography, compelling storytelling, and masterful use of music and sound. The film's visual and auditory elements, combined with excellent CGI, costume design, and a cleverly extended ending, create a captivating cinematic experience that is likely even more spectacular on an IMAX screen.

Rating: 8/10

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