AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM (2023) ***

Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) finds the “Black Trident” that possesses him with an ancient evil and gives him enhanced powers.  He then goes around stealing precious resources from the sea that help him build an army.  Consequently, his actions cause global warming to rapidly accelerate, and it’s up to Aquaman (Jason Momoa) to stop him.  Of course, he’s gonna need all the help he can get, so he breaks his warlord brother Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson) out of prison to lend him a hand. 

The opening scene of Aquaman trying to balance fatherhood and being King of Atlantis is fun.  Think Mr. Mom for the superhero era.  There are other amusing bits along the way.  There’s a nifty desert prison breakout scene and a silly encounter with a Jabba the Hutt-inspired gangster fish (who was apparently played by Martin Short?!?) in an underwater pirates’ den.  The most effective stretch is when it turns into a buddy movie as Momoa and Wilson outrun giant insects on a jungle island. 

Director James (Saw) Wan isn’t afraid to let his horror roots show.  There’s a tentacle attack reminiscent of Deep Rising, sound effects stolen from Jaws and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and costumes straight out of Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires.  Like most of these things, it’s a little derivative (it uses the same plot as X-Men 2 where the hero is forced to make an alliance with the villain of the first movie), runs on too long, and doesn’t know when to throw in the towel.  That said, it’s hard to dislike any superhero flick where Nicole Kidman rides a robot shark or Dolph Lundgren argues with a crab man.  With this being the last film of the “DC Extended Universe” and Warner Brothers completely rebooting its big-screen comic book franchises, it’s almost a given we won’t see shit like this in the new DC Era.  And frankly, that kind of makes me a little sad. 

DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE RANKING:  

Batman v Superman:  Dawn of Justice: ****

Man of Steel:  ****

The Flash: *** ½ 

Aquaman:  *** ½

Wonder Woman:  *** ½

Justice League:  *** ½

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom:  ***

Shazam!:  ***

Suicide Squad:  ***

The Suicide Squad:  ** ½ 

Blue Beetle: ** ½ 

Black Adam:  **

Shazam!  Fury of the Gods:  **

WW84:  * ½ 

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn):  * ½