AQUAMAN Blu-ray Review

AQUAMAN (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Studio: Warner Home Entertainment

Video: 2.40:1 & 1.78:1 (IMAX) 1080p Widescreen

Audio: English Dolby Atmos (TrueHD 7.1 Core), English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

THE RATINGS

The Movie Itself - ★ ★ ★ ½ ✰

Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Special Features - ★ ★ ★ ½ ✰

Overall - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰

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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
Water you doing? Make a splash and grab this Blu-ray that's fluid in every way.

Reviewed by Gavin King

Could DC be stepping up to Marvel's broadly-set plate? It's a likely bet. Shazam!, which released earlier this month, has been blessed with plenty of critical praise (take a look at the 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, and rightfully so... there's a hint for a future review I could give on the film). It's also important to take into consideration that their animated joy from last summer, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, scored very well with critics and audiences alike... and that's for an animated movie based on a television series that has not received the most glaring love in the world. Like, that's huge, Scoob! But DC's latest work that just might be their attention statement to the already prodigious Marvel is none other than Aquaman, which may not be the cinematic universe's most right-off-the-bat recognizable icon but nonetheless shattered records at the box office by crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide... talk about a surprise. And it's a good thing the movie itself is fun, too, because had this been another Batman vs. Superman or Suicide Squad (which for some reason was not only nominated, but won an Oscar... Santa Chihuahua!!!!), DC just might have been the laughing stock of the cineplex neighborhood. But we have our friend James Wan to thank for making Aquaman enjoyable; he may have a horror film background (he's helmed films like The Conjuring and Lights Out), but he sure enough boasts the firepower to be at the center of a superhero spectacle. Mind you, the film isn't anything all that remarkable - we'll discuss more of that in a moment - but it certainly brings forth plenty of well-directed action, visual prowess, and most of all a lovably charismatic performance from Momoa as our hero... it's easy to see why fans went gaga for it.

Yeah, I'm looking at YOU... you handsome little reader.

Aquaman follows Arthur Curry (Momoa), the son of a lighthouse keeper named Tom (Temuera Morrison) and Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman). Arthur's telepathic power with the sea was discovered at a young age - boy, did those abilities really help with fending off those bullies at the aquarium! - and now the bulky aquatic icon is the heir to the throne of Atlantis. But Arthur's half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) has plans of his own... resulting in a soon to be giant clash between the land and ocean. And you can probably guess what goes on from here. Big explosions, laser blasts, underwater mayhem, lots of yelling, etc.

The good news is that the movie is an acceptable deal of fun. It never truly takes itself that seriously and is sprinkled with bits of humor that the DCEU desperately needed. If I were to compare Aquaman to, say, Batman vs. Superman, it's clear that the differences in tone are fairly drastic. The latter is almost brooding to a fault, tonally dull, and more often than not excessively depressing. It's all bad guy this and deep voice that and quite honestly grew monotonous for not just me but thousands of other superhero fans and critics. (I somewhat digress... the extended cut of BvS was a decent improvement. But I'm referring to the original cut.) Now take a film like Aquaman that in and of itself still has some self-serious snags here and there - then again, this can't just be a silly SNL sketch tossed together by Wan and company - but balances it all with a rewarding amount of levity and lightness, almost - almost - in an MCU sort of way. Not all of the humor lands and some one-liners work better than others, but it's a very welcome step in the correct direction for DC and thank goodness they hired a talented director like Wan to make that magic happen.

Whoever this "Aquaman" character is... tell him he's getting fish fried!

Much of this is thanks to Jason Momoa's entertaining onscreen presence, who may flash (no cinematic universe pun intended) the chiseled abs, deep voice, and wavy hair (isn't he just dreamy?), but manages to bring out the best in Aquaman's character thanks to the cadence he allows to flow from the script to the screen. It really could have been any well-built actor who could've portrayed the Atlantean heir, but Momoa is clearly having a lot of fun bringing Aquaman to life, fishy suit and all, and he's one of only a select few actors out in Hollywood who could've nailed the balance between powerful and humorously approachable. (I'm thinking the Rock, though I'd probably laugh my rear off at his exterior appearance. Plus, he doesn't have the hair for it.) He's given plenty of room to shine most any scene he's featured in and his supporting cast does well to aid in his good intentions. There's a line here or there that sometimes comes across as just really kind of laughable - I'm thinking of a line I can't quite place during the film's climactic final act that's delivered by Patrick Wilson's Orm - but it's all in good fun and doesn't hurt the overall goal the film and its dependable cast are aiming for.

Not everything in the film clicks. It's a bit too overlong for its own good and stretches out to a drag of sorts as the plot gets further and further to the final battle. It wouldn't hurt the film to trim off about perhaps no more than half an hour of the fat in between that timeframe but luckily it doesn't kill the movie. It is however in these scenes where one wishes there was a tinge more unconventionality in the way things were executed as here such drawn-out scenes feel formulated to the senses. But, like I said, this isn't the death knell for the film itself. I have my few gripes with Aquaman but I'm just another amateur reviewer at the end of the day. Plus, I found the film to be quite enjoyable despite my minor nitpicks. No matter how you feel about Wan's take on the oceanic character, you can't deny its crazy ambition. There's plenty of moments where it's clear that the filmmakers really gave a damn about making Aquaman a success. The production design in Atlantis is sprawling and often gorgeous to look at, and there's a good deal of action sequences that are a ball to watch. Simply put, it's the Hollywood dictionary definition of big popcorn fun. (Emphasis on that popcorn, because when I saw Aquaman theatrically, there was a fellow who sat next to me who ate each kernel louder than the IMAX sound. Not that I'm truly complaining, but have just a speck of decency for the packed theater...?)


AQUAMAN Blu-ray - Video Quality

First and foremost, and to address the elephant in the room; Thank you, Warner, for preserving the original IMAX ratio on this Blu-ray. I saw the film theatrically in an IMAX theater and the presentation featured shifting aspect ratios for the scenes that were shot natively with the format-accentuated digital cameras. Now, however, to the main focus here: does Aquaman shine bright on Blu-ray? You bet. Aside from maybe a few shots which go slightly digital flat and smooth for their own good, the image boasts all of the tip-top clarity and varied, buoyant coloring one would expect from a big-budget superhero tentpole picture. Viewers will enjoy plenty of noticeable details on high-end costumes, onboard a flooded submarine, amidst water droplets on characters' skin, and heaps more. It all just goes to show the digital capture's competence in representing ultra-clear visuals that even to this day impress. Colors can range from appropriately dim to oftentimes eye-hypnotizing. The film's opening moments in which Arthur's parents are introduced don't really do all that much to get the excitement senses throttling - it's all rather reserved and neutral by intent - but once the action hits underwater, be ready for a delicious onslaught of insanely gorgeous and heavily punchy splashes (no pun intended) of color that not only make for one heck of a great-looking Blu-ray but also add more fun to the film's climactic action. Black levels are spot-on deep and banding and other annoying compression artifacts prove non-issues. This one's a winner.

AQUAMAN Blu-ray - Audio Quality

Just when you thought the visuals were impressive enough, on comes Aquaman's effortlessly dynamic, fully detailed, and altogether fabulously assertive Dolby Atmos soundtrack. This is a definitive superhero movie multichannel presentation. It's at points very aggressive and demanding but it also doesn't skimp out on the small stuff. As expected, action scenes explode - literally, in some cases - through each speaker in the setup with an incredible deal of weight and power that will have audiophiles jumping for joy. Things get off to a terrific start with Atlanna's fight scene; sounds zip, debris cracks, and the trademark action sound effects are ever-potent and weighty. Arthur's encounter with sea life of all sorts at the aquarium too is fantastically forceful; the sound of the shark pounding onto the glass boasts significantly commanding dominance. Any moment the track calls for big intensity is never wasted and constant surround utilization, deep and active bass, and nonstop clarity are all attributes of each scene. Some nicely submersive underwater ambience is also seamlessly enveloping and fully transports the listener to Atlantis without a fault. Gunfire pops, explosions blast, water sprays... this one pretty much checks off everything on the list. Dialogue remains fully clear through it all and is perfectly mixed within the onscreen chaos. It's full-on reference-quality bliss... what more needs to be said?

AQUAMAN Blu-ray - Special Features

- Becoming Aquaman (1080p, 13:09) Describes the process of casting the character of Aquaman, what Jason Momoa brings to the title role, what he endured on set, and more.

- Going Deep Into the World of Aquaman (1080p, 19:28) Through interviews with director James Wan and the cast and crew, we're given a look at the challenges of creating a cinematically fitting and visually vast universe that fits snugly into Aquaman.

- James Wan: World Builder (1080p, 7:42) Takes a peek at how director James Wan designed Aquaman's key facets - its characters, locales, weapons, etc.

- The Dark Depths of Black Manta (1080p, 6:39) Yahya Abdull Mateen II talks up his role of the menacing villain, its history in the comic books, and more.

- Heroines of Atlantis (1080p, 5:31) Focuses on the film's central female lead characters, Atlanna and Mera, and their actresses, Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman, respectively.

- Villainous Training (1080p, 6:21) As one would rightly expect, this featurette takes a look at the film's main villains, such as King Orm and Black Manta, the work it took to make them seem intimidating, and cast interviews.

- A Match Made in Atlantis (1080p, 3:12) Praises upon Jason Momoa and Amber Heard's chemistry on - and off - screen. Hey, you two should kiss!

- Atlantis Warfare (1080p, 4:40) Discusses the nitty-gritty of the film's battle sequences, Atlantean weapons (my personal favorite is the hydro-pulse flash guns), how visual effects combined with hand-to-hand combat, and more.

- Creating Undersea Creatures (1080p, 7:15) Looks at how each Atlantean life form was developed, whether that be seahorses, fish, or even crabs.

- Aqua-Tech (1080p, 5:42) Introduces viewers to the various visual effects techniques the film utilized during production, with plenty of nerdy technological vocabulary to boot.

- Scene Study Breakdown (1080p, 10:15 in total) Three climactic scenes from the film described with behind-the-scenes notes from the cast/crew as well as b-roll footage. These include Submarine Attack (2:44), Showdown in Sicily (3:54), and The Trench (3:36).

- Kingdoms of the Seven Seas (1080p, 6:59) Dolph Lundgren invites viewers to discover the origins of Atlantis, dating back from the comic book days to this film incarnation.

- Shazam! Sneak Peek (1080p, 3:27) A clip from the hit DC film Shazam!.

AQUAMAN Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation

DC seems to be doing something right. As of the time of writing, Shazam! has already raked in more than $325 million worldwide, and the latest trailer for the very highly-anticipated Joker origin feature was met with lots of positive hopes, me included. Aquaman is not without flaws but it is a fun, breezy, visually arresting, and thrilling detour for a studio that has become epitomized for brooding darkness to a point where it's become essentially a meme. Jason Momoa portrays the charisma and charm of the titular character very well and the film also boasts some impressive action set pieces to spare. Perhaps it's a bit too long and drags a hair at a small fraction of points but that doesn't stop it from being a success in its most renowned areas. And Warner Bros.' excellent Blu-ray release certainly helps, too. Video is terrific, audio is demo-worthy, and supplements are surprisingly many. Fans can without a doubt pick this one up in a heartbeat and maybe, just maybe, blind buyers might find it worth their time, too.

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