Story and tone

“Aquaman” stands as the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. The Aquaman character has already appeared on the big screens twice before – he got a shortcut in “Batman v Superman” and joined the superhero team in “Justice League.” So it’s finally time for a full introduction to the superhero, whose story will last nearly two and a half hours. They will fly by in an instant.

The film reveals the mysteries of Aquaman’s origins, who was named Arthur at birth. He is the son of Atlanna, the queen of Atlantis, who escaped to land and fell in love with the lighthouse keeper. Arthur knows his mother only from his father’s stories; she had to return to the underwater kingdom. But over time, the boy begins to master the powers and abilities he inherited from her.

“Aquaman,” unlike other films from the DC universe, is full of bright colors and sparkling jokes, just like in the Marvel movies. Also, it is impossible not to compare Arthur with Thor; scriptwriters do not try to avoid such associations. Aquaman is strong, good-natured, and a bit silly.

His fight scenes are reminiscent of campaign commercials, with models waving their hair and staring expressively into the camera lens. This was the idea; from the first few minutes of Aquaman, the viewer refuses to take the world seriously and willingly laughs at Arthur’s chit-chat.

Nicole Kidman as Aquaman’s mother, became the Oscar-winning actress to join the screen version of the comic book. There is no shame in starring in such projects now. On the contrary, many respected artists embrace at least one fantasy universe in their filmographies, so viewers quickly accept Willem Dafoe as Atlantis’s chief scientific adviser without questioning his costumes. In addition, he, like Kidman, feels like a fish in water in “Aquaman”.

Music and sound

The film is saved from an overload of information by the plot’s humorous, almost sarcastic presentation. Everything that other superheroes do with the most serious face, Aquaman turns into nonsense. That’s the beauty of the adaptation, where even the soundtrack alternates between Pitbull and Depeche Mode songs along with instrumental compositions.

Visual imagination

Another reason why it is impossible to keep your eyes off Aquaman is the ocean world. Several companies specializing in visual effects worked on it, and the result is really impressive. Atlantis, painted in shades of green, blue, and even pink, hides a different civilization that makes you want to immerse yourself in it with 3D glasses.

Pros

• A light and humorous tone that clearly separates the film from darker DC entries.
• Charismatic and approachable portrayal of Aquaman as a superhero.
• Strong supporting cast that feels natural within the comic-book setting.
• An impressive and richly detailed underwater world.
• A colorful visual palette that keeps the film lively throughout its runtime.

Cons

• The story relies heavily on familiar superhero tropes.
• Some action scenes feel more like stylized showcases than meaningful confrontations.
• The humorous approach may undermine emotional depth for some viewers.

Final verdict

Aquaman is an entertaining and visually striking superhero film that chooses fun and spectacle over seriousness. Its playful tone, memorable visuals, and confident performances make it an easy and enjoyable watch, even if the narrative itself remains fairly conventional. While it does not aim to reinvent the genre, it succeeds as a bright and self-aware adventure that knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.