Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) is directed by James Wan and stars Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman, and Temuera Morrison. The film is the sequel to Aquaman (2018) and follows Aquaman aka Arthur Curry as he attempts to rule the kingdom of Atlantis. When Black Manta (Adul-Matteen II) returns, still seeking vengeance against Aquaman, he discovers a new weapon that could end the world as we know it: The Black Trident. With the help of his half-brother, Orm (Wilson), a former adversary, Aquaman must once again save his kingdom from sure annihilation.  

Momoa once again brings a nice amount of dude-bro energy to the character of Aquaman. I felt he leans more into the Jason Momoa type of energy here. His performance in the first film was subdued perfectly. It’s as if, in that film, he was playing himself 50% of the time. For the sequel, it’s as if the studio said, “Crank it up to at least 90%.” I don’t personally mind this, but it does create a sense of confusion in terms of Aquaman as a character. Is Jason Momoa Aquaman or is Aquman Jason Momoa? 

Patrick Wilson’s Orm is a pleasant surprise here. In the first film, the character was wooden and played your typical whiny villain with no real unique qualities. By making him more of a hero in the sequel, the character becomes much more interesting. The film is smart in using what occurred in the proceeding film to frame this character’s arc. The ending of the first film hints that this change might occur, which leads me to think that this moral turn was planned. It truly does feel that way considering how effective this is. It doesn’t at all feel forced or thought of at the last minute. This also creates a compelling dynamic between the two brothers. Throughout, we see the two bicker like teenagers, distrust one another, and ultimately work together in ways that are cathartic for each character. Any comedy that works here is sourced from the back-and-forth between Arthur and Orm. It was just really genuine in the ways that brothers often interact. They can simultaneously be each other’s best friends and biggest critics.

The supporting cast here is inexplicably pushed to the side. I had a problem with underdeveloped side characters in the first film, but this one just seems to forget about a majority of them completely. Amber Heard’s Mera is predictably pushed to the side after the result of real-world legal issues, Nicole Kidman is forgotten about almost completely, and Randall Park’s Dr. Stephen Shin is a perfect example of a shoehorned side character. The movie would’ve been the same without his presence. He didn’t even add any comedy. Maybe he’s a popular character in the comic books? Either way, it’s forced. 

The comedy here is a bit more juvenile than the first. The comedic lows are a bit lower but the highs are a bit higher. It leans just a tad more into the silliness of everything than the first film. This makes the stakes a bit weaker but also makes everything just a bit more fun/digestible. The film is a bit more special effects heavy than the first, but they’ve also improved in quality. That being said, once again, nothing with this many special effects never seems to look as good as you’d want it to. The action is a bit more well-paced here, but hand-to-hand combat is noticeably less striking. There’s one scene clearly inspired by a sequence from The Incredibles (2004). I don’t want to spoil it, but it was a treat to see a live-action riff on it. 

Overall, this is very similar in quality to the first film. Granted, it has its unique strengths and weaknesses. I don’t feel that this is overly long like the first. I was never checking my watch. The story is much more focused. I liked this, but it unfortunately sacrifices a lot of the grandiose and epic nature that made the first film so unique within the genre. This sequel doesn’t feel as predictable in terms of plot but often reuses silly cliches to the point of annoyance. For example, the amount of times a character is about to be killed and then is saved by an ally at the absolute last second is ABSURD. If you liked the first film, this is on par. I may personally like it better than the first, but not so much that I would objectively say it’s a better film. C+