10 Reasons Aquaman 2's Reviews Are So Negative
Reviews for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are in, and critical consensus has not been kind to director James Wan's follow up to the seafaring DC hero's adventures. The first Aquaman wasn't exactly a critical triumph, but is one of the better-regarded DCEU films, having its place as a cheesy sci-fi romp with excellent action setpieces and first-class art direction. However, it seems as though Wan wasn't able to extend the goodwill earned by Aquaman's first outing, failing to impress critics.
The Film's Editing Is Choppy
''Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom' is a hacked up mess, and that’s not just the editing, but boy is it also the editing.' - William Bibbiani, The Wrap.com
Black Manta holding the Black Trident next to Jason Momoa grimacing in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
There's a case to be made that the best movie editing isn't noticed by the audience, but bad editing will be. Regardless of the validity of that maxim, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's editing is certainly noticeable, with many reviewers citing choppy transitions and jarringly sliced-up action sequences that don't hold up to the noticeable extended takes of the first film's fight scenes. It seems as though Wan's team of editors struggled to convey the relatively simple story appropriately.
Atlan's Trident and the Karathen in Aquaman 2018
Aquaman 2 Feels Unimportant
'[Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom] is neither an enjoyable stand-alone film or a useful part of a broader universe.' - Johnny Oleksinski, NY Post
Split Images from Shazam! Fury of the God, Aquaman, and The Flash
As the last film of the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom had the opportunity to send off the cinematic universe with a bang. However, it's clear that the film is a victim of circumstance, Aquaman being an obviously strange choice to act as the DCEU's swansong. Reviewers have sensed that the film feels almost self-aware of this fact, realizing its unimportance as the last gasp of a dying franchise without doing enough to be worth viewership in its own right.
arthur & orm face each other with glowing light in aquaman 2
Aquaman 2 Relies On Crude Humor
'Rife with lazy one-liners that wouldn’t pass muster in a sitcom’s writers’ room.' - Alonso Duralde, The FIlm Verdict
Aquaman's Baby Arthur Curry Jr in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Among the DCEU's Justice League lineup, Jason Momoa's Aquaman was always one of the more humorous heroes, embodying the energy of a superpowered bro always ready for a snarky witticism. However, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom seems to have pushed the franchise's comedy to its limit, with even lazier one-liners for Momoa to spout alongside childish visual gags. One particular bit of toilet humor slammed by critics involves Aquaman's infant son urinating in his royal dad's face during a diaper change, a low-brow joke that the film finds entertaining enough to use twice.
Amber Heard's Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
