Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom X review- Jason Momoa’s charm was not enough to bid a satisfying farewell to DCEU’s James Wan-led franchise

Aquaman 2 begins a short period after the last film, with Arthur Curry juggling two jobs- fatherhood and kingship. Not only does he have a son with Mera, but he is also responsible as the King of Atlantis, for half a billion residents. Sadly, the peace does not last long as Black Manta returns, imbued with dark powers and a special Trident, intent on vengeance.

Now, it is for Aquaman, aka Arthur to decide. Will he be able to reunite the seven kingdoms under his banner to fight the new threats (yes, there is more than one) by making peace with his imprisoned brother, Orm, the former ruler of Atlantis, or will he lose both his kingdom and all those he adores?

Also read: As Aquaman 2 inches closer, 7 superhero sequels that were better than the predecessor - The Dark Knight to Logan 

Thankfully, we do not have to wait for an answer anymore as Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is finally here. But not everyone is happy with the way the film has turned out. The beloved underwater adventure was accused by many for its weak plot line, cliche jokes, underdeveloped character arcs, and flimsy logic.

The fact that Amber Heard’s character was butchered and chopped down to an irrational extent without proper onscreen logic was also not appreciated by several viewers. Some decided to show their hate by avoiding the film, a few bought tickets to gleefully revel in her character’s miserable onscreen time, while fans of her chose to support her.

But there were also many fans who adored the excellent visual effects and poignant storytelling. The fact that audience-favorite Jason Momoa stars in the film, is in itself a huge usherer for viewers. His jokes, his portrayal of Arthur Curry, his hotness (need we say!), all have proved to be a huge bonus, along with his smarter, new, King of Atlantis suit.

But not even Momoa’s charm can save an improperly assembled film, which had huge potential to be the next thing. Despite possessing actors like Nicole Kidman, Patrick Stewart, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen, the film fails to utilize them properly and leaves them either without proper purpose or decent scenes.