After a brief introduction in Batman vs. Superman and shared adventures with the Justice League, the King of Oceans plays it solo in Warner's new superhero movie. An ambitious company, which aims to keep the DC film world afloat.
Un film pratiquement stand-alone
The action of the film Aquaman takes place mainly after the events that took place in Justice League. Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) returns to the kingdom of Atlantis and discovers that his brother is seeking to seize power by unleashing a war between the people of the sea and those of the land. He therefore embarks on a battle to keep the peace.
Nevertheless, flashback scenes come to intersect this frame. These show us the origin of Aquaman, including a Arthur Curry child, but also scenes showing the meeting between his father Thomas Curry, a human fisherman, and his mother Atlanna, queen of Atlantis (role held by Nicole Kidman). A union that is important in history.
To watch the movie, you do not necessarily have to watch many other DC movies. Aquaman works perfectly as a stand-alone. Ideally, however, we will watch Batman Vs Superman and Justice League before going to see it in theaters.
A la recherche du Trident
Aquaman is not only able to breathe underwater with ease and swim at supersonic speeds. He also has a superhuman physical strength and the ability to telepathically communicate with any form of marine life. He can also see in the depths of the abyss as in daylight.
Finally, he has a magic weapon, his trident, which allows him to control the elements like ice, lightning, wind and, of course, water. For example, it can launch devastating tides. In the film, Aquaman is looking for this trident designed to give him the legitimacy to rule on Atlantis.
A film less dark than other DC films, despite the director's DNA
Even though director James Wan comes from the world of horror (we owe him, among others, Saw and The Conjuring), he wanted to make Aquaman a show that pays tribute to the 80's adventure films, in the lineage of an Indiana Jones.
The color palette is also less dark than on previous DC films, with of course blue hues as well as brown, green and red. Despite a serious story with shakespearian accents, the film does not forget to be regularly light and to assume some touches of black humor.
Two antagonists instead of one
One of Aquaman's main enemies, both in the comic book and in the film, is his half-brother, Orm Marius (played by Patrick Wilson). He covets the throne of Atlantis and wants to wage a battle against humans to conquer the earthly world. Also known as Ocean Master, it has telepathic powers and can handle large amounts of energy.
A secondary antagonist is also present in the film. This is Black Manta. Initially presented as a pirate, Black Manta will manufacture a combination and a high-tech helmet that allows him to shoot destructive rays through his eyes.
A film shoot almost without water
Paradoxically, Aquaman was very little shot underwater. Some scenes have been shot in large pools filled with water (facilities that are present in Australia), but the challenge was to "fill water" film in post-production and editing.
"The main reason for not turning underwater is the impossibility of moving properly with pressure and, of course, there is the problem of breathing. From then on, it makes complex the logistics of the shooting and the difficulty to simulate that we are at the bottom of the ocean. We are lucky to have a director as passionate as James Wan who has created a visually fantastic world, "says actor Jason Momoa who holds the title role.