BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One/Part Two

Senior Batman vs eternally young Superman

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One/Part Two (/Video/2012 - 2013). Director: Jay Oliva.

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, this two-part animated feature looks at the dark side and older years of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Batman has not appeared in Gotham city for a decade, but the threat of a homicidal gang that calls itself the Mutants, and whose activities are becoming more and more violent, bring him out of retirement. Eventually this brings him into conflict with the Gotham police department, which gets a new female commissioner in part two, and then with Superman in the final sequences. Taking care of the Mutants with blunt brutality, something the police were not able to do, makes the now-senior Batman a hero in the eyes of some Gothamites, and a fascist in others, such as the Joker's nutty psychiatrist, who thinks Batman is the real sociopath and is responsible for villains like the Joker. This is all played out before a backdrop of social and political commentary. A new, very young female Robin named Carrie at first seems like a frivolous character, as she comes out of nowhere and seems to have had absolutely no training, but she grows on you after awhile. There's more than one suggestion that the Joker in this might be gay -- his final confrontation with Batman is in a Tunnel of Love! -- as well as other sexually ambiguous characters, but whether this is to give them added color or is mere LGBT exploitation is debatable. [One villainess has a butch haircut and swastikas painted on her naked, substantial breasts!] Peter Weller makes a fine Batman, with David Selby also notable as Commissioner Gordon, and other voice roles are well cast.The animation is fluid and Oliva's direction is fast-paced and cinematic. This is not your father's Batman.

Verdict: Sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes childish, but it holds the attention. ***.

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS GODZILLA VS KONG. Written by Brian Buccellato. Art by Christian Duce and Tom Derenik. DC Comics/Legendary Comics. 2024. Originally published over seven issues. 

In a story that is apparently outside of normal DCU continuity, Superman is planning to propose to Lois Lane when trouble erupts in the shape of old foe and King Kong variation Titano. But that's only the beginning. Lex Luthor and his Injustice Society manage to invade Superman's Fortress of Solitude, and somehow wind up bringing Godzilla and other monstrosities -- a gargantuan spider, a winged Bat-creature, a mammoth-type beast with enormous tusks -- into the DCU via a "Dreamstone" manipulated by Toyman. Superman has little problem with Titano, but Godzilla is another matter, and a blast of his nuclear breath puts Superman in a kind of coma where his fellow Leaguers aren't even certain if he's still alive. Green Arrow winds up on Skull Island where he not only encounters King Kong (much, much larger than in the original movie) but the League of Assassins, who are up to no good. Under the seas another huge creature -- and Godzilla -- threatens Atlantis, so Aquaman unleases a many-tentacled Kraken to beat them off. Gorilla Grodd uses his mind-control powers to turn both Kong and Supergirl against our heroes temporarily, and also snuffs Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Luthor puts his mind inside a gigantic robot, MechaGodzilla, while Batman counters with his own gargantuan Bat-robot! Superman eventually recovers and joins the fray, he and his colleagues taking after monsters, Luthor, and assorted super-villains alike. 

Now if this isn't the ultimate fan boy's collection -- not only super-heroes but giant monsters, plus Lex Luthor and his huge collection of super-villains -- I don't know what is. The story is well-told, juggling all of these different characters and pop culture references together in swift and exciting fashion, while the art is at least serviceable and often quite striking. There was a sequel which will soon be out in a hardcover collection as well.  

Verdict: The ultimate pop culture experience. ***1/2. 

 

SUPERMAN (2025)

Superman (David Corenswet) goes into action

SUPERMAN (2025). Director: James Gunn.

David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman and Nicholas Hoult (of The Menu) as Lex Luthor give fine performances in this new Superman movie that trades on some nostalgic references while trying to stay somewhat contemporary in its approach. Kyrpto, the super-dog, more an artifact of silver age comics, shows up, and we've got Steve Lombard and Cat Grant -- both of whom work for the Daily Planet -- from the seventies. Superman's robots occupy the Fortress of Solitude. Instead of a phantom zone there is a prison that exists in a pocket universe and in which Superman is temporarily imprisoned. 

Hoult as Lex Luthor

In addition to bad guy Luthor, there is a clone called Ultra-Man, and a mammoth, if silly-looking monster that attacks Metropolis. As well there are appearances from members of the "Justice Gang," including Metamorpho, Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific, and Hawkgirl. Oddly, Ma and Pa Kent are pretty much portrayed as hillbillies! Superman is entertaining enough, Conrenswet makes a swell, good-looking Man of Steel, but while this by no means a bad movie, it's still lacking something. 

Verdict: Okay only. **3/4. 

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

Jason Momoa as Aquaman

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM (2023). Director: James Wan. 

In this sequel to Aquaman, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) has to team up with his brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), getting him out of a horrible prison, when the threat of Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) again rears its head. Manta -- who blames Aquaman for his father's death and basically wants to hold everyone responsible -- finds an ancient trident and enters into an unholy alliance with a demonic figure, Cartex, from a lost kingdom called Necrus. Manta has also discovered an ancient fuel which long-ago Atlanteans realized was too dangerous, and now it is threatening the entire world, creating mutations such as giant bugs and man-eating plants, due to radiation. With the help of a nerdy scientist, Dr. Shin (Randall Park), the two brothers attempt to stop Manta before he can destroy Earth, both the surface world and the world beneath the waves.  

Black Manta

Atlantis has not yet revealed itself to the surface world at the beginning of the film, and most of the Atlantean council want to eradicate it, just as Orm does. Aquaman, of course, mightily objects to this. He does have other allies, however, including his mother, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), wife Mera (Amber Heard), and his father Tom (Temuera Morrison), as well as some strange undersea creatures, many of which hang out in a sunken citadel full of odd talking fish-people. Then there's Topo, the cephalopod, a genetically-engineered octopus or squid who showed up now and then in the old Aquaman comics stories. There's also an adorable little baby boy, child of Arthur and Mera, who is kidnapped by Black Manta (who actually killed him in the comics, but not in the film). 

Brothers bond: Wilson and Momoa

One problem with the film -- for me at least -- is that in this Aquaman follows in the footsteps of Marvel's Thor and has been turned into a dopey comic figure. While the FX and photography are all first-rate, and the film is undeniably colorful, others have noted that it seems like a hodge podge of old ideas and different movies, turning into a mere empty spectacle that is good to look at, modestly entertaining, and ultimately forgettable. Hopefully I'm not giving too much away when I reveal that the two brothers are reunited and Atlantis reveals itself to the world at large in the finale. One hopes this doesn't mean there will be a third Aquaman movie.

Verdict: Okay if you're in a silly mood. **1/4. 

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS

SUPER-ACTION: THE COPPER AGE OF DC COMICS. William Schoell. BearManor Media; 2024. 

Here is my latest installment in the history of super-hero comic books, this one focusing on DC Comics in the 80's and 90's, the so-called "copper" age. You can read about the rise of the maxi-series, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, in which DC streamlined its universe and eliminated all of its parallel worlds (for a time at least). Then there's writer-artist John Byrne's big reboot of Superman (which did not last as long as intended, at least not with Byrne at the helm). George Perez' new take on Wonder Woman, in which the lady was turned from a joke into the star of a must-read series. In other developments Batman's partner Dick Grayson grew up, changed his name to Nightwing, and became leader of The New Teen Titans, a series so popular it rivaled Marvel's X-Men for a time. Batman got two new boy partners, Jason Todd and Tim Drake, one of whom is murdered by the Joker in the excellent (if wildly-contrived) "A Death in the Family." Flash. Green Lantern. Suicide Squad. Power of the Atom. More maxi-series than you can shake a stick at: Cosmic Odyssey, Legends, Armageddon 2001, Millennium. Read how DC Comics faced the challenge of Marvel and held its own!

Available on Amazon!

SLUGFEST

SLUGFEST: Inside the Epic 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC. Reed Tucker. Da Capo Press; 2017.

DC Comics, which came out with such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, found itself with real competition from upstart publisher Marvel, whose comics were considered crude in comparison. (In the early days of comics there were many other publishers but most of them eventually fell by the wayside.) But Stan Lee, who was the face of Marvel for decades, took "perfect" super-heroes and made them more flawed and human, igniting the interest of older readers in super-hero comic books and leading to such books as Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, and Uncanny X-Men. Marvel eventually overtook DC in sales, and this interesting, well-written tome looks at the two major comics publishers over the decades and the various ways the companies and their staff battled it out for ascendency, both on the printed page and now in the movie theater. Although many writers and artists have worked for both companies and even jump back and forth between them -- and DC eventually adopted the Marvel style of storytelling --  there are some comics fans who insist on only reading the work from one company, which I've always thought was ridiculous. While Tucker does on occasion overstate things, the book does a good job of showing all the changes in these two companies and indeed in the industry itself. Although the quote doesn't appear in this book, Stan Lee once claimed, accurately, that the main difference between both firms was the age of its readers, although that would change. 

Verdict: A surprisingly good read that actually builds up some suspense. ***. 

BATMAN: HUSH

BATMAN: HUSH (2019). Director: Justin Copeland. 

Batman/Bruce Wayne (Jason O'Mara) finds himself with an unknown and deadly adversary in the form of "Hush," who not only tries to kill him but attacks his associates, killing a very dear friend of Bruce Wayne's, Thomas Elliot (Maury Sterling). Batman wonders if any of a number of villains -- Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Riddler, Bane -- could be the face behind the mask of Hush. Lady Shiva is an early casualty. Others in the cast include Amanda Waller of Suicide Squad, young Damian Wayne, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman (Jennifer Morrison), and Poison Ivy (Peyton List), who hypnotizes Superman by kissing him with her special lipstick and orders him to attack the Bat and the Cat, leading to some perilous moments. 

In the original comic book stories this film is based on (which were probably better) there was some initial suggestion that Jason Todd, the Robin who was murdered by the Joker, had come back to life, a notion that years later proved to be true. Damian Wayne did not appear in the original stories because he didn't exist. In addition, the ending of the story and the ultimate identity of Hush has been changed. In the movie Batman reveals his true identity to Selina Kyle/Catwoman. There are some colorful and exciting sequences, especially when Superman takes after the Caped Crusader.

Verdict: Entertaining if not outstanding animated feature. **1/2.  

JUSTICE SOCIETY WORLD WAR II

JUSTICE SOCIETY WORLD WAR II (2021). Director: Jeff Wamester. 

The Flash/Barry Allen (Matt Bomer) inadvertently jumps back in time to WW2 and discovers he is on a different earth where the Justice Society (as opposed to the Justice League) are fighting with the Allies against the Nazis. Barry meets the original Flash, Jay Garrick, as well as Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Hourman, Dr. Fate and Hawkman, who is killed. Reporter Clark Kent exists on this earth but at first he selfishly tries to stay out of the conflict. 

The Justice Society

The Justice Society tries to enlist the aid of Aquaman (Liam Mcintyre), King of the Seven Seas, but his mind has been taken over by a sinister Advisor (Geoffrey Arend) and he is now allied with the Axis. Meanwhile military man Steve Trevor keeps asking Wonder Woman to marry him at inappropriate moments (sort of what happened in the original WW comic books). This colorful animated feature gets better as it goes along and is especially exciting when the members of the JSA have to battle some slithering and absolutely humongous sea creatures summoned by Aquaman. The voice characterizations are all well-done, with particularly notable work from Geoffrey Arend. 

Verdict: Fun DCU cartoon feature for kids of all ages. ***.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR (2020). Directors: Matt Peters; Christina Sotta.

In this animated feature Superman decides that instead of waiting for major villain, Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips, to attack, the Justice League should take the battle to him. Unfortunately, Darkseid is prepared, and two years later we see the results: a decimated Earth where a handful of heroes and others are all that stand between Darkseid and his ultimate conquest. The main character in this movie seems to be second banana John Constantine, who has mystical powers and has been drinking heavily since he ran off and left Zatanna to die (although his alleged act of cowardice is later explained). Batman has become one of Darkseid's acolytes, but his son Damian Wayne (Stuart Allan) fights the good fight, along with the Demon, Lois Lane, Lex Luther, Harley Quinn (why must this awful character appear in so many comics and movies?), Swamp Thing, the Titans and the Suicide Squad. (In a ridiculous moment it is revealed that bisexual Constantine is the ex not of Harley, as some suspected, but King Shark, which would sort of make Constantine a bestialist!)

Damian Wayne and resistance members

Raven of the Titans, turned into a teenager in this film so that she can bond with Damian Wayne, has been suppressing the essence of her evil father, Trigon, but he escapes to take over the body of Superman, leading into a battle between Trigon and Darkseid, which is perhaps not as exciting as expected. There are evil versions of other heroes, manipulated by Darkseid, and Apokolips War emerges as a kind of sequel to Flashpoint. The whole thing is fairly colorful but these things tend to work better on the comic page. Fun for devotees, however.

Verdict: Fairly exciting super-hero animated feature. **3/4. 

BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN PARTS ONE AND TWO

BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN Parts One and Two (2021). Director: Chris Palmer. 

A killer named "Holiday" is committing murders of gangsters, each crime occurring on a holiday. District attorney Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel) is determined to bring mob boss Carmine Falcone to justice, leaving his lonely wife Gilda to fend for herself, while Bruce Wayne (Jensen Ackles) is embarrassed by the man's former connection to Wayne's late father. As Batman and Commissioner Gordon (Billy Burke of Along Came a Spider) try to determine the identity of Holiday and prevent more killings, Batman and Catwoman (Naya Rivera) pursue a relationship. Catwoman saves Bruce from the sinister manipulations of Poison Ivy while the Joker is up to his usual tricks and the Scarecrow breaks out of Arkham Asylum. Batman zeroes in on Vincent Falcone's mistreated son, Alberto, as Holiday but the truth may be much more complicated. 

Based on a graphic novel, Batman: The Long Halloween is a pretty classy animated feature, boasting excellent drawings and superior direction. True, the stuff with the mobsters is full of the usual cliches (and phony sentimentality), but the story is suspenseful and quite entertaining despite it being nearly three hours long. This is another cartoon that is better than a lot of theatrical movies.  

Verdict: One of the better DC animated pictures. ***. 

INJUSTICE

Superman kills the Joker

INJUSTICE (2021). Director: Matt Peters.

Superman (Justin Hartley) discovers that his wife Lois (Laura Bailey) is pregnant on the same day that she -- along with Jimmy Olsen and millions of others in Metropolis -- is murdered by the Joker. Understandably furious at the Joker, to put it mildly, as well as angry that Batman has never arrived at a final solution for the Joker, Superman punches his fist through the villain's chest and ends his menace forever. This completely understandable act of revenge -- or justice -- on the part of Superman, while perhaps out of character, leads into a conflict between him and other members of the Justice League.

The Man of Steel on the offensive

Superman decides that the super-heroes of the world should use their abilities to shut down oppressive governments and terrorists without mercy. Wonder Woman agrees with him, as does 13-year-old Damian Wayne (Zach Callison), Batman's edgy son. But even Wonder Woman is appalled when the Man of Steel literally murders some teenage geeks who think the Joker is "cool." Batman, Green Arrow, and other heroes then stand against Superman and the battle is on. 

Wonder Woman and the Justice League

Injustice is based on a DC graphic novel but many of its ideas are taken from the excellent Marvel Comics mini-series Squadron Supreme (whose characters were actually variations of the DC heroes), which dealt with similar issues of responsibility and the corruption of power. Other characters in the movie include Dick Grayson (who is killed and becomes "Deadwing)," Cyborg, Green Lantern, Flash, and the villains Ra's Al Ghul, Mirror Master, Amazo, and Harley Quinn, an idiotic character who nearly ruins the movie. The Atom and Green Arrow are also killed. While there are some exciting sequences in the movie, you might get the feeling that you've seen it all before, although much of it is fun.

Verdict: A lack of originality doesn't help but it's great to see the Joker finally get his! **3/4.

SHAZAM

Zachary Levi as Captain Marvel/Shazam

SHAZAM (2019). Director: David F. Sandberg. 

Young trouble maker Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has been searching for his birth mother ever since she lost him at a fairground years before. Now age 14. he is in foster care. Running from a couple of bullies, he winds up in a cavern off of the subway, and encounters an elderly wizard (originally called Shazam), who tells him he is pure of heart and can attain great power by saying the magic word, "Shazam." When he does so Billy transforms into a grown man (Zachary Levi) who still has the mind of a boy. His foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), councils him and helps him catalog his super-powers, but he is appalled that Billy seems more interested in getting attention and autographs than anything else. Then Billy has to face a real challenge in the form of Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong), who grew up bitter and warped due to the bullying of both his father (John Glover) and brother and being told by Shazam that "you will never be worthy." Now Sivana has great powers himself and Billy -- who is not certain what to call himself as a hero -- may find himself in for the fight of his young life.

Levi with Grace Caroline Currey

Shazam is based on the golden age character of Captain Marvel, who was published by Fawcett comics. DC and Fawcett were entangled in a lawsuit over the alleged similarity between Cap and Superman for many years until Fawcett went out of business and DC bought the rights to the character. Meanwhile Marvel Comics created their own Captain Marvel (apparently the name had fallen into the public domain for a spell), an alien actually named Mar-Vell. (Captain Marvel is now a female who had a long history at Marvel comics, originally being known as Ms. Marvel). Although DC still uses the name Captain Marvel in its comic books, the name is never used in this movie, probably because at the time Marvel was developing its own Captain Marvel movie. Although he never refers to himself that way, our hero is apparently named Shazam, and the old wizard is just the Old Wizard.

Mark Strong and John Glover with demons

Shazam, which is rated PG-13, has a light tone throughout the movie, but one sequence is completely at odds with the rest. Dr. Sivana uses demonic creatures to slaughter not only his father and brother, but every terrified and innocent person in the board room. One man has his head bitten off and his body thrown out of the skyscraper (the brother is also thrown through a window). This sequence would be perfectly okay in a horror/monster movie, but it's out of sync and disturbing in a near-comedy like this. It also makes such a sentimental sequence as Billy being reunited (in a very disappointing way) with his mother seem a touch hypocritical. However, both Levi, Angel, Grazer and others give good performances -- Faithe Herman is adorable as little Darla -- although Mark Strong, while competent and not campy, is a little disappointing as the head villain. As the old wizard, Djimon Hounsou comes off more like a witch doctor from the South Bronx than any kind of magical sorcerer. At the end Billy's foster siblings all temporarily transform into adult heroes in similar costumes. The FX throughout are very good and a scene when Shazam causes a bus accident but manages to save everyone afterward is well-done. 

Verdict: Okay DC super-hero movie with some out-of-sync sequences. Stick with The Adventures of Captain Marvel serial. **1/2. 

SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY

The members of the Suicide Squad

SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY (2018 animated feature). Director: Sam Liu. 

Task Force X is a division of the Suicide Squad, a group of super-powered convicts who agree to work for one Amanda Waller in exchange for considerations. To keep the members from simply running off, Waller has bombs implanted in the members' necks that will literally blow their heads off if they try anything un-kosher. The normally obese Waller, now skinny due to cancer, wants the team to get a certain mystical object that will give the possessor a sort of "get out of Hell" free card, supposedly affecting their after-lives. But there are others who want this object, including the immortal Vandal Savage (who was once a caveman), the Banshee, and Professor Zoom, AKA the Reverse-Flash.

Once a caveman: Vandal Savage

The members of the Task Force include the psychotic Harlequin (who has for inexplicable reasons become prominent in the DC Comics universe), Killer Frost, the lovable Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Copperhead, and the less-malevolent-than-the-others Ben Turner, AKA the Bronze Tiger. Other characters include Vandal's daughter Scandal Savage, and her female lover, Knockout, not to mention a male stripper who turns out to have once been the magical Dr. Fate. 

male stripper attempts to channel Dr. Fate

Just as many comic books today are definitely not for children, the same goes for comic book movies. Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay is full of often gruesome and sadistic violence, especially during the prologue when Waller sets the fifth-string villains Punch and Jewelee against gang leader Tobias Whale on a speeding train. Then there is the sexual content, although none of it could be described as pornographic. What really makes the movie cook is the fluid animation, many exciting sequences, and the suspense over which group or person will wind up winning the prize -- or losing their lives. The actors who do the voices for this feature include Christian Slater (Deadshot), Vanessa Williams (Amanda Waller), and C. Thomas Howell (Zoom).

Verdict: Not your grandpop's super-villains. ***. 

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY

John Rockwell as Superboy

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY (1961 TV pilot). Director: George Blair. 

In Smallville, Clark Kent goes to school with friends Lana Lang (Bunny Henning) and Jimmy Drake (Jimmy Bates). Jimmy is embarrassed to tell the class that his father, Mr. Drake (Ross Elliott), is only the doorman at the local bijou. No one is aware that the mild-mannered Clark, who keeps disappearing, is secretly the dynamic Superboy. For a movie premiere in Smallville (one of the cast members comes from there), some real diamonds worth $200,000 are exhibited in front of the theater, and stolen. Superboy asks for Mr. Drake's help in capturing the criminals and getting the jewels back, and his son develops an even greater appreciation of his dad. 

John Rockwell and Ross Elliott

Produced, I believe, by the same people who did George Reeves' The Adventures of Superman, this series -- had it gone beyond the pilot episode -- is similarly earthbound, with few of the elements that made the Superboy comic book run for so many years. Instead we have a human interest story with some mild special effects and a heart-warming quality that is typical of fifties television. John Rockwell is handsome and reasonably impressive as Superboy, and seems uncomfortable playing his alter ego. Bunny Henning doesn't really have much of a chance to get across the somewhat obnoxious qualities of Lana Lang. Bates is fine as young Jimmy and Ross Elliott, forgoing his hairpiece, also makes an impression as his likable and admirable father. George Blair also directed Exposed. Decades later, when FX capabilities had greatly improved, Superboy finally became a series. 

Verdict: Probably would have made a pleasant if unmemorable series. **1/2. 

AQUAMAN

Jason Momoa and Amber Heard

AQUAMAN (2018). Director: James Wan. 

Arthur Curry (James Momoa) is the son of a human father (Temeura Morrison) and an Atlantean mother (Nicole Kidman). Having heard that his mother was executed because of her relationship with his father, Arthur wants little to do with Atlantis. But when his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), also known as the Ocean Master, declares war on the surface world, Princess Mera (Amber Heard) importunes Arthur to fight to take the throne away from Orm. In the meantime Arthur, aka Aquaman, also has his hands full with a pirate who calls himself Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).

the city of Atlantis

Aquaman is based on a DC Comics character who has been around for decades. In the comic stories Orm was not a full-blooded Atlantean, but also a hybrid like Arthur -- they had the same father, not the same mother. The film uses the edgier, long-haired, full-bearded version of Aquaman, although I believe the character in the comics has gone back to his original appearance. (For more on Aquaman see The Silver Age of Comics and The Bronze Age of Comics Volume One.) Another change from comic to film is that Mera was not Atlantean but came from another dimension, although her ability to control water has not been altered. 

Patrick Wilson

There are a lot of things one could quibble about with Aquaman -- do we really need to see him sniffing his armpits when Mera suggests he smells bad? --  but the first thing one must say about it is that it is very visually compelling thanks to cinematographer Don Burgess and a host of special effects people. Atlantis is a striking kaleidoscope of color and energy. The fight sequences aboard a submarine in the prologue, a battle between Aquaman and Black Manta in Italy, and a struggle against nasty fanged and clawed monsters who emerge from an undersea trench to attack a boat, are all exciting and well-handled. The search for a trident that will help Aquaman in his battle against Orm takes place, oddly, not in the ocean, but in the Sahara, and his quest eventually takes him to an inner-earth prehistoric world that is borrowed from Edgar Rice Burrouighs' concept for Pellucidar. There are other interesting visual tidbits in the movie, such as Atlanteans who ride on trained sharks, and an octopus that uses its tentacles to beat on several drums at once. Charming!

Black Manta 

Jason Momoa makes an effective enough hero, although the guy should really work on his diction. Amber Heard is very pretty and competent as Mera. Dolph Lundgren and Willem Dafoe score as Atlanteans, Morrison makes a convincing Tom Curry, and Mateen and Michael Beach are fine as Manta and his father. (Manta blames Aquaman for his father's death in the prologue and will seek further revenge in the sequel.) But the show stopper in this is Patrick Wilson as Orm, who offers a fascinating portrait of a man who has understandable feelings of  jealousy and resentment, and the strength to carry out his negative schemes. Wilson makes more of an impression than the gargantuan sea serpent Karathan that shows up in all its glory at the climax. 

NOTE; Yes, I know this is not exactly a "B" movie, having cost about a zillion dollars to make, but this blog will also look at genre films of all kinds, decades, and budgets. 

Verdict: No masterpiece by any means, but good to look at, very colorful, and more entertaining than a lot of DC's movies. ***.