By Addison Schwing – Staff Reporter

“Aquaman” rides the wave into theaters as the 6th installment in the DC Extended Universe. Directed by James Wan, “Aquaman” tells the story of Arthur Curry, the mixed-race son of a human lighthouse keeper, and Atlanna, the deposed queen of Atlantis. The movie follows Arthur as he explores his Atlantean heritage, and quests to fulfill his destiny as the Aquaman, the rightful king of Atlantis, and ruler of the Seven Seas.

“Aquaman” has many high notes. The combat sequences are electrifying and are complemented with excellent cinematography to boot — the usage of continuous shots with no breaks, and effects such as spinning and wide-angle shots. One of the best examples of this is the fight between Aquaman and the Ocean Master, where the ferocious, one versus one combat is captured on a single angle rather than many jump cuts. The visual effects are very stunning as well. Everything pops with vibrant colors, and the city of Atlantis is stunning. The creatures in the movie are very well done, from the many species of fish and other aquatic life to more legendary creatures like the Fishermen and the leviathan Karathen are brought to life with stunning reality. Moviegoers can still notice that they are computer animated, but the work is impressive nonetheless. Jason Momoa does a stellar job as Aquaman, bringing a well-balanced mix of gruff seriousness and lighthearted comic relief. Other

The movie does suffer from some low points as well. For example, the pacing is horrendous. The plot jumps erratically from destination to destination, and many moments, such as the first reveal of Atlantis, feel extremely out of place. The movie also puts a great deal of emphasis on marine pollution, which while serving as a logical motive for King Orm, the movie’s villain to declare war on the surface world, feels forced. The plot is unoriginal and uninspiring, featuring a cookie-cutter hunt for a legendary MacGuffin to resolve a conflict in a somewhat peaceful manner, culminating in a final battle and only being averted before one particular side comes out on top.

Aquaman is a notable departure from other films in the DC Extended Universe. It’s a lighthearted romp that is fun and engaging, if only jumpy and cliche. It’s not a bad film by any means; it has merely some rough edges that prevent it from being perfect. Either way, it’s an exciting film that should pique viewers’ interest – whether they are die-hard DC fans or not.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars