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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Review

·1 hr 29 min·5 clips
The hosts declare Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom the final twitching death of the DCEU, which died back in 2017.
The episode is a review and discussion of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Host David C. Robertson is joined by guest host Effie Oppelders, as regular co-host Jason was unavailable. They begin by framing the film as the definitive, underwhelming end of the DCEU, a universe they believe has been creatively dead since around 2017. The hosts criticize the film's core characterization, arguing that Jason Momoa's Aquaman feels more like the actor himself than the comic book character, while Patrick Wilson's Orm is closer to the traditional, regal Aquaman. They note the plot forces a climate change metaphor and possesses Black Manta with an ancient evil, undermining his personal revenge motivation. Technical flaws are highlighted, including choppy slow-motion effects, rushed pacing, and disjointed editing that made the two-hour runtime feel overly long. The hosts discuss Amber Heard's role as Mera, concluding she wasn't cut out but simply had nothing substantive to do. They analyze the film's attempts at humor, which largely fall flat, and the forgettable action sequences. The conversation covers the mid-credit scene featuring a roach, the film's place in the failed 'Hamadaverse,' and hopes for James Gunn's upcoming DCU reboot. They compare the experience unfavorably to other superhero films, including Zack Snyder's Justice League, and express relief that this era of DC films is over.

As heard by us

A skeptical, funny review of Aquaman's underwater logic and Orm's rushed move toward trust.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom gets a skeptical, lightly comic once-over from David C. Robertson and Effie Oppelders, who start with the movie's underwater logic and gradually move toward its family drama.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a DC movie review that lingers on Atlantean gills, underwater diets, and Orm's too-fast turn toward growth?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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