Cold Opening for Next Aquaman movie

While recording a Fire and Water Podcast with Rob Kelly, he mentioned the Human Flying Fish, and I suggested a potential opening for the second movie...

Fellow Aqua Mega-Fan @realtegan and I just came up with the PERFECT cold open for AQUAMAN 2, and (no joke) it features this guy. @creepypuppet

— The Aquaman Shrine (@aquamanshrine) January 3, 2019

Movie Review - Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis

Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis

Ok, I confess. Despite being quite a LEGO fan, and a big fan of DC Comics, I kind of don't like the DC LEGO movies and games much.

I got turned off from the games early when I bought one that refused to play on my computer without completely resetting EVERYTHING on the computer (every screen resolution setting, every color setting, every keyboard setting). In short, it was poorly made and I never was able to get it to run, so I swore I'd never buy another LEGO game again. I still haven't.

That said, I enjoyed the original LEGO movie, but haven't sought out any LEGO movies since. I haven't seen the Batman LEGO or anything else. This is literally the second LEGO movie I've seen.

So, naturally, I was a little bit nervous about this.

I was right to worry. I cringed pretty much constantly through the entire first half of the movie. I mean, the jokes were BAD. The water divination scenes had me in physical pain. The whole initial fight with Lobo made me want to throw things at the television. The only comfort was that all the heroes were being treated poorly throughout, so while Aquaman was getting pounded (literally) by bad puns and worse, at least the others didn't look all that much more competent.

Halfway through the movie the redemption arc started, and while it wasn't worth enduring some of the previous indignities, it was enough to save the movie for me. Yeah, Aquaman is a silly character if you aren't looking at every aspect of his world, but he is powerful.

What I found more interesting is that this movie was not focused on Aquaman. It was a split narrative between Aquaman's arc and Jessica Cruz. She, arguably, got the better of the deal, since she started out as a new-ish hero with massive uncertainties while Aquaman was supposedly an established king and hero. Cruz got a lot of screen time with some great examinations of her as a hero. It's a pity her entire back-story couldn't be told, because it's frankly the single most interesting back-story of a Green Lantern I've ever read (short version: Cruz witnessed friends being murdered, became a recluse due to severe anxiety, was sought out by the Earth-3 Power Ring, eventually earned an actual GL ring, then shared the GL duties of Earth's sector with Simon Baz).

Another notable character in the movie was Lobo, the Main Man himself. His arc tied into all the others in a cutesy way that I felt worked pretty well. I loved hearing his theme song. Except for the initial fight with Aquaman, I liked his appearances.

Then, of course, we have Mera. She was lovely in this, and showed again just how kick-butt Aquaman's queen truly is. I would lay my bets on her to win any fight against any of the characters introduced in the movie, and was only disappointed that she didn't get a chance to kick a certain someone's Puddle Prince butt.

So, overall, I give this a four out of five starfish rating. Not perfect, but pretty fun as long as you aren't going in expecting high art.

Movie News

Nicole Kidman on being an Atlantean queen.

New Justice League Trailer

Aquaman Casting Call

Aquaman casting calls and auditions says:

The DC Comics feature film “Aquaman” will begin shooting on May 22, 2017 and casting is underway for new lead and supporting roles. Shooting will take place in Queensland, Australia. All actors, extras, stand-ins, and photo-doubles must have legal eligibility to work in the entertainment industry in Australia. Film crew members can submit resumes to the production office email address below.

“Aquaman” will center on Aquaman as a reluctant ruler of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis who is caught between land dwellers that are always polluting the globe and his own people who are ready to invade the surface. Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Jason Momoa will play Aquaman. Also starring is Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Hollywood Film Awards winner Amber Heard as Mera, two-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Patrick Wilson as Orm/Ocean Master, New Zealand Film and TV Awards winner Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta.

Two-time Hollywood Film Awards winner James Wan will direct “Aquaman” from a screenplay written by Will Beall
based on a treatment by Wan and DC Entertainment President Geoff Johns. Albert Cho is 1st AD. Producers are Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, Peter Safran, Deborah Snyder, and Zack Snyder. Rob Cowan will serve as executive producer.

“Aquaman” is scheduled to hit theaters on October 5, 2018.

There is also a one-line summary of the movie: "Aquaman is the King of the Seven Seas. This reluctant ruler of Atlantis, caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, is committed to protecting the entire globe."

Aquaman Pro-Tip: If You Drop Your Trident, Just Use Wonder Woman's Sword...

Rumors and stuff

In a nearly unreadable article featuring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, Mackie says he's looking forward to Aquaman. He also suggests Aquaman and Falcon have a crossover:

He talks to fish. And being a superhero that in the comic book talks to birds, I'm interested to know how they’re going to make him. ... Falcon and Aquaman? He’s on his dolphin. I’m on my bird. I'm holding onto the back of the dolphin – 'SLOW DOWN!'

Much of the article is tongue-in-cheek, and I linked to the second page, so be warned.

Willem Dafoe is rumored to be in the next Justice League movie as an Atlantean. Hm.

DC Comics honors Darwyn Cooke.

Hollywood Reporter says there will be a Mera Bombshells bust. Pity I won't be able to afford it.

James Wan says Aquaman is going to be awesome

In an interview with MTV, Wan said

“A big part of it was me telling them what potential I saw in this character,” Wan told MTV News while promoting The Conjuring 2 at CinemaCon on April 14. “As we all know, Aquaman is somewhat the butt of the joke in the superhero world. There’s something cool about that. I love the idea of being the underdog, coming in with a take on this underdog character and completely blow people’s expectations away. Like, ’Oh, you thought he was going to be a wimpy character? No no no.’ It’s going to be so cool.”

Check out this link for a video of Momoa at work, as well.

Aquaman Movie not in Troubled Waters

The rumor mill has gone nuts over director Seth Grahame-Smith leaving The Flash movie, saying that Aquaman's James Wan is the next to go. Check out these articles for the rumors...

• IGN
• Flickreel
• Comic Book Resources
• CinemaBlend
• Bleeding Cool
• WhatCulture
• SlashFilm

Well... Wan clearly didn't want to keep people in suspense... so he posted an image to show he's still on the ship.

Aquaman is slated to hit theaters July 27, 2018

Momoa looks... odd?

Aquaman Action Figure from Batman vs Superman...

Batman vs Superman - Aquaman Action Figure

Check out this unboxing video of the Aquaman action figure from Batman vs Superman:

More on Justice League: Mortal

The Justice League Movie that Never Was. Santiago Cabrera was set to play Aquaman, but it didn't get to happen. It was reportedly about to start filming when the whole thing just got shut down. But now we've seen the concept art for the Aquaman costume and had a complete overview of the script.

EXT. OCEAN -- NIGHT

THE massive WHITE MOON, sitting on top of the Atlantic.

SFWOOSH! SUPERMAN blasts out of the water. With AQUAMAN 
riding the backs of a PAIR OF BOTTLENOSED DOLPHINS -- 
harnessed like race horses -- right behind him.

INT. WONDER WOMAN'S CONSERVATORY -- NIGHT

UNDERWATER. AQUAMAN examines J'ONN. Finding nothing. 
He climbs out of the pool, and is instantly DRY.
AQUAMAN
Preposterous. A sea creature spitting 
fire?

SUPERMAN
Not fire. A substance, a fluid...

AQUAMAN
And it what...? Put itself in a jar? 
Just waiting to attack? It's 
ridiculous. This whole thing...!

WONDER WOMAN
Arthur. Please. No one is accusing 
your subjects. We thought you might 
shed some light.
AQUAMAN nods, pacified by the Princess. Nods to J'onn.
AQUAMAN
I'm sorry. Being Up-world makes me 
edgy.
THE FLASH materializes, vibrating right through the door. 
Already talking.
THE FLASH
So I was thinking, if I'm right and we 
are dealing with a nanotech attack, 
how did...?
He stops. Notices AQUAMAN. Impressed all over again.
THE FLASH
Hey. Wow. Aquaman... You're Aquaman...

SUPERMAN
Flash. Please. Not "Aquaman". It's 
King Arthur among us.

THE FLASH
Sorry. Your highness. I'm Flash.
FLASH holds out his hand and AQUAMAN takes it, looking to 
SUPERMAN: "See?" He's dismissive.
THE FLASH
(helpful)
You can call me The Scarlet Speedster. 
Some do...
OFF AQUAMAN's sigh...

Aquaman Concept Art

From Justice League: Mortal

Momoa talks Aquaman

Comic Book Resources has a bit on Jason Momoa which talks a bit about what he thinks about playing the character.

...he did comment on how portraying Aquaman on the big screen makes him feel. "It's an absolute dream come true, and I'm really happy that it's out now. I'm not good at keeping secrets at all and I had to keep that secret for a very long time," Momoa said. "It's an honor. I don't have too many things [I've worked on] my children can see -- my son's obsessed with Batman and my daughter's obsessed with Wonder Woman. I never thought in a million years I'd be playing Aquaman." He said the next seven or eight years are going to be amazing but lamented the fact that he'll basically only be eating chicken breast for the next several years in order to keep up with Aquaman's royal physique.

I'm also amused that he said his favorite DC villains include Black Manta.

Cleaning out the Links

It's been awhile since I did a proper linkdump, and some of these links are fairly old and you've no doubt already read all about them. Still, it can be good sometimes to be reminded, so here's a nice linkdump for you...

Superhero Profiles: starting with Aquaman. If you like it, check out his shop, lots of Aquaman fun there.

Many versions of Mera.

Peter David on Writing Aquaman. Originally published September 21, 2001, in Comics Buyer's Guide #1453.

Dan Jurgens on Aquaman and the Others.

A review of Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.

The urge to smack Dave for this Sheldon strip is mildly overwhelming.

Bleeding Cool made a prediction back in February about another Aquaman spinoff... let's see if it happens?

DC provides Aquaman coloring pages for younger Aqua-fans. I like that there are really four different versions of Aquaman in the one file. Wow.

Momoa on his new role

Honestly? I'm a bit turned off by Momoa's attitude, but if that's what he feels like he has to do to get into the role, that's what he's got to do. It does seem to me that the perception of Aquaman is going to change once this version is on the screen. Let's hope it's for the better.

What do I think?

One thing people kept asking me at Emerald City Comicon, when they figured out I am an Aquaman fan, is what I think of Jason Momoa playing Aquaman. I answered as honestly as possible every time.

In short, I haven't seen Momoa in action. I do not watch Game of Thrones, but I'm well aware of the character because I've read the books. I don't mind the change in look... Aquaman has been re-created multiple times, even in my lifetime. The blond hair, while it has been used as a plot point, is not central to the character. The only reason that color was chosen was because it stands out well from water-based backgrounds (which is why orange was picked as well).

What I care about is a good story. I want to see a plot that rocks the house. I want to see a performance from the actor that's believable and works. I am willing to see what this different take on Aquaman is... but how much I like it will NOT depend on how close it is to the "original" stories, such as they are. It will depend on whether or not they capture the essential scope of the character: his ability to live and thrive underwater, giving him a realm far greater than any of us land dwellers can hope to see.

As a fan, my inclination is to be inclusive rather than exclusive. I don't believe in cutting off good creative works because of some misguided loyalty to another work. I am a Star Trek and a Star Wars fan. I love Doctor Who, Sherlock, The Flash, Gotham, Arrow, and a good dozen other tv franchises. I enjoy good, fun works. My universe can hold a lot of different versions of Aquaman. In fact, one of my favorite things about collecting sketches was seeing the utterly different takes each artist had on Aquaman. Each artist brought their own baggage and their own style to Aquaman, making each sketch a precious look into another universe. In the "official" DCU, I love Elseworld and Multiverse versions of Aquaman.

So, I have no real opinion on Momoa's Aquaman yet. I'll see it when it happens, and maybe I'll have a different view then. Maybe it won't be my cuppa. Maybe I'll love it to pieces. Hard to say, since it isn't really out there yet. The single image we've seen is promising... it promises something completely new and different with callback's to Peter David's run. I'm certainly eager to see what it is.

More on Justice League: Throne of Atlantis

Newsarama has some casting news on Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. Matt Lanter will be voicing Aquaman, and Sumalee Montano will be the voice of Mera.

DC Solicits for October

I've posted the Aquaman-related DC Solicits for October over on the FAQ, so go take a look if you are interested. Keep in mind that solicits often contain spoilers for upcoming books.

Newsarama has an article about Aquaman toys from the Justice League: Throne of Atlantis animated movie that will be coming out. Check it out for more information, and scroll down to look at the action figures.

Aqualinks for a Thursday evening

Earth 2 Aqualad fan art and action figure. Very neat stuff...

Tony Isabella looks at July 1963: Aquaman #11.

Todd Klien reviews Aquaman #31. Still recommended.

Aquafamily.

Momoa speaks on Aquaman rumors.