When no press screening is organized for a film, it is rarely a good sign. It is therefore in public preview at Pathé Ivry that 20 minutes was able to discover Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom this Tuesday evening, and to be clear about it. Well no, James Wan’s film is not the disaster feared. Let’s be clear, it’s not Broadway either, but an honorable sequel to reserve for spectators who were not put off by the first part.
Jason Momoa and his golden scale breastplate still shine, much more than a minimalist scenario. The big bad Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in “I’m not happy at all” mode) wants to avenge his father by murdering Aquaman’s family and destroying the earth while he’s at it. We suspect that his chances of success are modest on both counts.
Where are the women ?
The big question was what happens to Amber Heard who plays the hero’s wife. The actress has been in disgrace since her setbacks with Johnny Depp and Jason Momoa reportedly even tried to get her fired. If she takes third place in the credits, her appearances are reduced to a bare minimum. Impossible to say if this follows the Depp affair: Nicole Kidman, although absent from the courtrooms in real life, is not better off.
Like brothers
Orm (played by Patrick Wilson) is luckier. Freeze-dried in a prison in the middle of the desert, Aquaman’s felon brother is rehydrated to fight and lend a hand to the superhero. Note that all the performers in the film seem to have undergone a serious digital facelift worthy of the best Instagram moments. The wrinkles have been tracked down but that doesn’t stop the two main actors from rolling their eyes and making a fuss.
The rising beasts
One of the best assets of this second part is the creatures between Avatar and the game Splatoon that the brothers meet. A baby blue octopus and a plump kingfish (voiced by the all too rare Martin Short in the original version) are the most amusing. There are also aggressive green monsters that are really nasty and not nice at all. The aesthetic is always eye-catching. The decoration team still loves fluorescent and so do the costume team.
An ecological message
The preservation of the underwater world is a cause dear to Jason Momoa’s heart, which makes the actor very sympathetic. The ecological message and the ode to peace between peoples advocated by Aquaman never hurt. For this reason alone, a certain indulgence is required for this second part. But perhaps there is no need for a third.