Everyone who has even just a little bit of superhero movie knowledge knows that Marvel is much better than DC, creator of  the monstrosity called Green Lantern. Aquaman already had that going against it. Add in the fact that as an everyday human (especially one that can’t swim), I couldn’t relate to anything in the ocean.

That’s already two things  against Aquaman. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a chance and watch the movie. Boy, am I glad that I did.  

I can honestly say it is one of the best movies I’ve seen in awhile. Jason Momoa, who plays Aquaman, is utter and pure perfection from his rippling pectorals to the tattoos adorning his chest. Yes, the point isn’t him, but it sure did add to my movie-going experience. Anyway, the movie starts just as every hero’s tale does; love that doesn’t work followed by death.

Nicole Kidman, Aquaman’s mom, looked absolutely stunning in the way she played her character, Atlanna. The love in her eyes when she looked at her husband made it hurt when they had to say goodbye. I felt her pain of losing the love of her life as well as her child.

The movie progresses to when Aquaman is older, and he’s doing standard heroic things, such as saving a group of soldiers from bad guys. In the process, a bad guy’s dad dies, which creates the movie’s antagonist. Aquaman is similar to people like Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games or Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars—the hesitant hero who steps up because they are needed.

Being “King of the Ocean, Protector of the Seas” is not a title he, nor many of the people who live in the ocean, wants to have. His jump into the ocean is brought on by necessity. There’s soon to be a war between the land dwellers and the ocean folks that Aquaman wants to avoid at all costs.

See, he blames this all on himself because he’s the product of a land and ocean dweller, which is a big no-no in the world in which they live. While in the ocean, Aquaman meets his brother, the King. SPOILER ALERT! They have a duel to prove who is the true heir to the throne, a duel which Aquaman loses. Cast out, Mera, the King’s bride-to-be, chooses to help him find a new trident because he broke it.

Mera portrays very…promiscuous behavior throughout the movie. She goes from being all into the King to wanting Aquaman. I don’t blame her because the latter is really handsome, but she’s a promised woman.

A thing that I genuinely enjoyed about the movie was the way it felt real. Yes, it was underwater, and, yes, they were talking about people breathing in the unreached black depth of the oceans, but the relationships and emotion were real. I felt Aquaman’s frustration, and I understood him wanting to give up.

It was a good movie with believable relationships, admirable acting, and even better direction. Four out of five stars.