After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction.
The DCEU saga has reached its conclusion as a collective breath is taken across the world with the words ‘THANK GOD’ followed thereafter as Aquaman 2 is so painfully bad that one the pretty pictures showcased on an IMAX screen kept me from walking out!
Aquaman The Lost Kingdom was set up and ready to bid farewell to the DCEU as we know it and instead not only summarised the heap of awful movies our eyes have been subjected to over the years but even lessens the impact of the original which did incredibly well soaring to $1.1 billion in the box office.
Having Amber Heard back in this movie as Mera is actually a disgrace and whilst her scenes have been toned down massively the fact she’s even in here was a sour taste before the first frame of the film was even shown. Warner Brothers really dropped the ball there and already released a movie that people were going to actively avoid just because she’s still in it but even without her scenes this film sinks faster than an anchor around Aquaman’s ankles.
In a confusing half hearted revenge plot with heavy dialogue Manta (David Kane) is still on a mission to seek vengeance upon Aquaman and stumbles across a weapon known as Article Ice which will allow him to attack Atlantis and finish Aquaman once and for all.
Sadly, I’ve lost interest at this point despite Momoa and Patrick Wilson bouncing off each other in numerous ways that actually provide the films only watchable moments. They’re an odd aquatic couple but their chemistry is easily the most delightful moment of the film but they’re few and far between this absolute mess of a movie.
All of the allure and attraction of the original movie fades away and only the beautiful picture rendering and audio in a nice comfy, warm IMAX cinema in Broughton on Christmas Eve kept me sitting comfortably and at least enjoying the quality of the images on screen as opposed to the mess of the movie I was witnessing,
But alas, the IMAX treatment did start to wear thin after a while due to the feeble attempt to capture the magic of “Avatar: The Way Of Water,” with the depth of field 3D effect which adds little value, culminating in an overwhelming CGI finale that induces headaches rather than awe, a fate shared by its predecessors.
Seeing DC crumble to ashes over the years hasn’t been a pleasant watch and it’s hard to see how they will ever recover as superhero fatigue is in full effect with even Marvel facing some absolute stinkers as of late.
This is one Christmas present I really wish you could return as I’ll never get that time back.
Aquaman The Lost Kingdom is hands down the worst superhero film I have witnessed this year and I hope and pray that whatever James Gunn has planned for the company’s future is a damn sight better than this absolute dumpster fire of a movie.
Aquaman 2 IMAX review by Sean Evans
 

Our Rating

Summary
One of the worst DCEU instalments ever created, a film that even Jason Momoa can’t save as the DC era crumbles to ashes before our very eyes in this ridiculously convoluted, confusing and pointless dumpster fire.