Aquaman (BD)

I came across the movie after I accidentally discovered the theme song, All I need by Skylar Grey, which BTW to me is probably going to be a classic song. Also reading the title I was sort of reminded of the director. I eventually decided to watch it after seeing several MVs of the song (most of course are clips & renderings of the movie). And I got to say I'm not disappointed, as my first DCEU movie. (I usually watch exclusively Marvel ones as they have just dominated at least in my circle for too long) So first of all, at least compared to Marvel & other superhero movies I watched. This IS very DIFFERENT. Compared to others it is a lot lighter and NOT that serious. In some ways, you can say that many other sci-fis are like nerds, (but are more like great teachers), as they talk about a lot of very crazy stuff with great amount of details and scientific reasoning, etc. Instead, this movie put a great emphasis on emotions, especially 'like father like son', both the lighthouse keeper & Arther himself had a very great relationship with their girls, Queen Atlenna and Princess Mera respectably. And yes, certain dialogues and scenes are so unserious that it almost seem parody-like. Such as when Mera murmured 'if you're the real king then we're really doomed', referring to how silly Arthur can be from time to time. And when the Queen woke up in the morning she interacted with that golden puppy. But my life experience tells me that those imperfections of a characters make them charismatic. Don't you see, (via YouTube pranks or others), that sometimes being a little 'silly' and 'annoying' makes some of the best couples. Especially when the guy acts a little 'silly' annoying his girlfriend or wife. And I know this statement is politically controversial itself, but we do see now, a lot of economic & political leaders gained popularity by NOT showing a bright, flawless (but distant side, that's why they win over those classic 'elite' challengers). So my advice is that if you want to enjoy this movie (or any movie in general), try to put aside expectations via genres. For this one, try to see it with a little taste of soap opera, urban drama, etc. As I think that the relationship parts of it is truly a crown jewel of this movie and is the key of understanding and enjoying it. To respond to some critics, it seems that a lot of those who're critical are critical about certain actors. For example I think a lot of people are annoyed by Nicole Kidman's appearance, which tbh I have no idea y. I personally think she did a great job. Also for those who says too much CGIs, too much special effects, well, I don't know why but I happen to be not so sensitive to that. And as someone who's 'progressive' on technology adaptation, I personally recognizes and approve of using technology to make acting & producing easier, like in this case, filming a world 'underwater' without actors actually going anyway near, or even putting filming devices under actual water. However my two pieces is that some would appreciate more if the actors and producers actually do a lot more jobs themselves? To feel more 'real' to some sharper eyes, and probably are more acceptable. But for me, I'd just enjoy what technology can bring us. So overall I really enjoyed this movie. I like how it portrays a superhero film in a very unique way. I'd still argue that this is something worth a watch!

I didn't like Man of Steel because that wasn't Superman; at the end of the movie, it was painful to watch Kal-El wriggle out of an awkward conversation with the "excuse" that he could (finally!!) hear people "calling for help!" I didn't like the (yet another) reiteration of Batman that's part of the current DCEU because all of it went way too grimdark, just like Man of Steel. Now, Wonder Woman was AWESOME, unabashedly flat-out awesome, with a genuinely GOOD portrayal of sheltered Princess Diana suddenly confronted with the modern world (well, The Great War) ...but Gal Gadot did an awesome job blending innocence and growing up on myths & legends with the harder, harsher realities of what the world had become in the absence of the Amazons. (It was grimdark in some ways, but it was set during a genuine brutal war.) Aquaman...is what Wonder Woman was, but on the flip side of the coin...all while managing to retain high levels of awesome. Unlike Diana, who had to learn she was a hero/demigoddess, had to learn how to use her powers, Arthur KNOWS the modern world. More than that, he's already a hero in our world. He knows what it's like, he knows where he fits in. But now he suddenly has to save the world he thought had rejected and banished him on pain of execution? Unlike Wonder Woman, Aquaman lost his innocence about the uncaring world long ago. It's affected him. But just like her, he has to broaden his point of view to accept that there is far more to his role in life than he thought. And this film does it with humor, style, and one of the most awesome rooftop/city street DUAL fight sequences I've ever had the pleasure to watch. (From the choreography to the timing to the cinematography, it was all exceptionally well-done.) ...The only question I have regarding the plot is (and trying not to spoiler anything), how did they get out of the place where they found that bottle? Did they find some barely functional equipment that could give them a ride? How much did poor Arthur have to sweat to get it functional? (I mean, I've heard of "succeeding by the sweat of your brow" before, but that was an awesome subtle pun! Also, yeah, I'm late to the party, but it's been a rough couple of years.) I really don't have much interest in seeing Superman or Batman (though Cavill is great as the Witcher; like Ryan Reynolds & Deadpool, Geralt of Rivia seems to be *the* character for him). But I will happily see a second Aquaman movie, same as I'll go see the Wonder Woman 1984 movie...if the damned virus will let us. (Speaking of which, STAY AT HOME WHEN THERE'S A PANDEMIC GOING ON, FOLKS! (Amazon is perfect for crises like this--I'll probably buy that one, too, if & when they release it straight to digital!)) Anyway, TL;DR, totally worth the $$ to buy and watch this. Humor, action, tragedy, romance, awesomeness, a satisfying ending, yet with lots of room for more stories to come!

This is a great movie...

I was able to view this when it came out, but either upgrades messed with my tv or the movie is too old. I can't watch it now. Other movies I've rented that are my favorites, and older movies (Older tv shows too), sometimes I can't see the shows. The show/movie only shows the 'rainbow wheel' - - - - - - after 15 mins, I leave. Movie itself is tops/ bestest!!

Here’s how the Dolby Atmos audio performance compares between the physical 4K discs for Aquaman (4K Ultra HD) (the first movie) and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom (the sequel): Dolby Atmos on Both 4K Discs Both films include Dolby Atmos tracks on their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases. The format on both discs is Dolby TrueHD with Atmos metadata, which means lossless multi-channel audio optimized for Atmos systems. (2018) The Atmos mix is widely praised for being very dynamic, immersive, and bass-heavy, with extensive use of overhead and surround channels—especially in underwater scenes and action sequences. Bitrate info for the 2018 Atmos track shows a high-quality TrueHD stream typical of UHD discs (around ~4000 kbps for the Atmos/TrueHD core on many releases), which is robust audio data for a lossless immersive mix. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) Early reviews and disc specs suggest the sequel’s Atmos mix is similarly active and engaging, with strong positional sound, overhead use, and precise effects placement. While less widely reviewed than the original (since it’s more recent), available commentary indicates similar mix philosophy and quality—engagement of height channels, adequate bass, and dynamic placement of sound effects. Is There a Real Audio Quality Difference? Format and codec: Both use the same Atmos via Dolby TrueHD standard on 4K Blu-ray, so on a technical level the capability for high-quality audio is the same on each disc. Mix differences are content-dependent: Any differences you hear are not because of 4K vs 4K disc limitations, but rather because of how the soundtrack was mixed for each movie—different action pacing, effects design, music score emphasis, and creative choices from the sound team. That’s typical; a sequel often has a different sound design emphasis even if the mastering format is identical. No inherent Atmos “quality upgrade” from the first to the second just by being on 4K—both have similarly capable Atmos tracks. If one has a richer, more immersive mix, it’s because of creative choices, not because the 4K technology itself is different. (This is consistent with how Dolby TrueHD/Atmos on UHD discs generally work: the medium can carry high-quality audio, but the mix itself determines the listening experience.) Tip for Best Results Ensure your player and AVR are set to output Dolby Atmos bitstream and not a downmixed format. On many 4K discs (especially WB releases), the default audio may be DTS-HD or another track—you have to select the Atmos track manually in the disc audio menu. Bottom line: If you’re comparing the two discs’ audio quality solely on Dolby Atmos performance, both are excellent and use the same high-quality Atmos format. Any real audible difference is due to the artistic mix of each movie’s soundtrack rather than a technical superiority of one 4K disc over the other. Audio Equipment Used: 4K DISC SOURCE Panasonic DP-UB420 4K UHD Blu-ray Player • Outputs lossless Dolby TrueHD + Atmos • Excellent disc transport and bitstream output • No Dolby Vision (not audio-relevant) AV PROCESSING / DECODING • Denon AVR-X4500H • Dolby Atmos (up to 7.2.4) • Dolby TrueHD decoding • Bass management, Audyssey room correction • Pre-outs feeding external amplification ⸻ POWER AMPLIFICATION • Emotiva power amplifier • ~145 watts per channel @ 8 ohms • Driving your front soundstage • Monolith M7100X (7-channel power amp) • Driving remaining bed-layer and height speakers • High current, clean power for dynamic Atmos tracks SPEAKER SYSTEM (7.2.4) Front Soundstage • ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 – Front Left / Right • ELAC Debut 2.0 C6.2 – Center Surrounds • Monolith T5 towers – Side surrounds • KEF Q150 – Rear surrounds Height / Atmos • ELAC Debut 2.0 A4.2 – Front height / Atmos • ELAC Debut IC-DT61-W – Rear height / Atmos (ceiling) LOW-FREQUENCY EFFECTS (LFE) • 2 × REL T/1003 10” subwoofers • Dual-sub configuration • Excellent transient response and mid-bass slam • Ideal for Aquaman’s deep, sustained LFE content Note: listened at reference level 0.0dB, manually set crossovers from 40hz to 80hz per THX recommendation.

Excellent movie

I'd even go 3.5 stars. I'll keep this medium-shortish. Some vague criticisms: The writing was not airtight, and it had some overconfident moments (plenty of cliche superhero shtick and a few eyeroll moments). The character dialogue and chemistry was frequently lukewarm, and sometimes the acting was a little. It really failed to make me care very much about any of the characters. ...I don't think any of these things really comes as a surprise, so the film pretty much delivers as advertised and expected on those things. Why I still liked it: Very visually pleasing. It just looked great, and some of the fantasy concepts were executed really well. The whole thing was just a marvel to watch. The action/fighting scenes were absorbing and wow. It's liberally sprinkled with fun/funny moments that were mostly pretty good and mostly not annoying in the middle of something that should be serious or tense...mostly. Momoa carries the film and keeps the energy where it should be for a film like this. He really adds a new element to the role that makes it new and interesting enough, and he really makes Aquaman his. He does this while still giving us a recognizable Aquaman. Good work, bro. So...Watch this for fun and for a visual thrill, not for depth, airtightness, subtleties, and resonating artform (which have been pulled off in some superhero films, just not really this one). Among the present string of DC universe movies, I'd rank it ahead of all of them but Wonder Woman. Pretty good.

James Wan’s “Aquaman” is the sixth film in the DC Extended Universe film franchise, taking place after the events of Zack Snyder’s “Justice League.” Though Aquaman (Jason Momoa) first appeared in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” this is the second film in which he plays a key role and it tells both his origin and works to restore the character to more of his comic book persona. Atlantis previously appeared in “Justice League,” but this film spends a greater amount of time focusing on its history and culture, with warring kingdoms and political intrigue reminiscent of the fantasy elements from Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor.” The films plot alternates between flashbacks and events set in the present day. The flashbacks explain that Arthur Curry’s mother, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) was arranged to be married to the King. She fled to the surface world, where she met lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry (Temuera Morrison). They fell in love and had Arthur. Atlantean forces came looking for Atlanna and, to keep Thomas and Arthur safe, she returned. Later, the King’s vizier Nuidis Vulko (Willem Dafoe) trained young Arthur to use his powers. The events in the present focus on Patrick Wilson, the younger half-brother of Arthur Curry, who seeks to take control of the Atlantean kingdoms in order to wage war on the surface world. Arthur, only recently having decided to become a hero after the events of “Justice League,” is reluctant to get involved, but a combination of Mera (Amber Heard)’s persuasion and Orm’s attacks on the surface world demonstrate to him that he must take his place as Ocean Master. In one of his earlier heroic actions, Aquaman let a pirate die and the pirate’s son David Kane (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) swore revenge, eventually becoming Black Manta. In order to demonstrate his claim, Arthur must seek the Trident of Atlan, a mystical weapon much like Excalibur, which will allow him to unite the kingdoms. Though this film is the third appearance of Momoa’s Aquaman, it’s a relatively self-contained story much like Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman.” Like that earlier film, the story forgoes much of the earlier color palette of the Snyder-directed DCEU films to embrace bold colors and stylized worlds. The two suggest a needed redirect for DC films in order to make this a viable franchise with films that can stand on their own. Bonus features on the Blu-ray include insight into Momoa becoming Aquaman, developing the supporting heroes and villains, and several on world-building focusing on everything from designing Atlantis to Atlantean fighting techniques to the undersea creatures and technology in the film.