AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

US, 2023, 124 minutes, Colour.

Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Marteen, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lundgren, voices of: Martin Short, Pilou Asbaek, John Rhys Davies, Vincent Regan.

Directed by James Wan.

2023 has been a strange year for Superheroes and their movies, for both Marvel and DC. Decline, one might surmise, unexciting with The Marvels, over-exciting with Aquaman, too much, and Shazam 2!!!.

For Aquaman fans, there will be more than enough as long as they keep track of the plot lines and the character links. For those unfamiliar, hopes - a futile effort.

Actually, the film starts humorously, Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Jason Momoa, inflating his account of an attack on vicious pirates (and the battle visualised), told to amuse his little baby son. Then he reminiscences with dad, Temuera Morrison and his wife, also Queen of Atlantis, Amber Heard.

Then two hours of action, action, fights, the weirdest of creatures, enormous monsters, the return of vengeful domination-hungry villain, David Kane/Black Manta, Yahya Abdul-Marteen, exploitation of global warming, then after liberating his rival brother King Orm, Patrick Wilson, urged on by their mother, Nicole Kidman, and the Atlantis Council.

Final dramatic crisis with the abduction of the baby, quite some help from the sympathetic scientist, Dr Shin, from the previous film, Randall Park. But Dolph Lundgren is also there in his most wooden non-emotional dialogue as the King (worthy of a Golden Raspberry nomination).

But, there is a joke about Orm tasting cockroaches and finding them delicious and, during the final credits, is eating, finally, a hamburger grabbing a Cockroach for added savour. And that is after Arthur/Aquaman addresses the United Nations on global harmony.

Where to now for DC?

1. The status of DC comics, the variety of film versions, the Justice League? The place of Aquaman?
2. The continuity with the original film, Atlantis, political disputes and prisoners, Arthur Curry as Aquaman thinking of Atlantis, Mera his wife, the political struggles? The links between the characters?
3. A film of special effects, CGI, monsters and creatures, enormous fights, the musical score? Born to be Wild and other tracks?
4. The opening, the pirates, Arthur exaggerating the story, telling his baby, love for the baby, with his father, their reminiscing, chat and a beer together? After going to Atlantis, sitting at council meetings, the Council itself, visually, his being bored?
5. The introduction of Black Manta, the struggle in the previous film, the death of his father, blaming Aquaman, wanting revenge? His group of scientists, the submarine, the news about the substance for fuel, stealing it, processing it? His reliance on Dr Shin? The plan for revenge, the power of the golden trident, Dr Shini and his wanting out, the terrifying jungle, his remaining?
6. Arthur and his search for Orm, prison, freeing him, Orm emaciated, the pursuits and the dangers, the fights, the bickering amongst themselves, Orm getting to the water, reviving, the fights on the shore, the escape? The arguing with each other? The reunion with their mother, her support of them? King Nereus and his hostility towards Orm?
7. The abduction baby, the bloodline and Black Manta needing the blood?
8. The range of travels, through the sea, the ice, the contrast with the jungles? The episode of eating the cockroach?
9. The buildup to the final fights, Dr Shin trying to save the baby, Black Manta and his staff, the attack? The fight to the death, Black Mountain never surrendering?
10. The global situation, global warming, the news flashes, the visuals of disasters around the world? The finale, Arthur representing Atlantis at the United Nations, his speech, global unity?
11. The happy ending, order restored, and Orm eating his hamburger – and the cockroach?