Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

As a new mega-budget action-adventure flick from one of the very best filmmakers working today, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom rules. James Wan proved once again why he's one of the best directors we've got by giving the DC movieverse a much more awesome swan song than we could have expected, and it's a better one than the franchise probably deserved.

Momoa is the best reason to see the movie. He's as alpha-cool, even jerk-ish, as a "maverick" action star can be while also making you believe his character is fundamentally decent and knows when he's gone too far and sincerely feels bad about it. Still, this is a fun ride. Like its hero, it succeeds in spite of itself.

There is no doubt about it: this is a terrible sequel, again directed by James Wan, reportedly the final film in the DC Extended Universe. The Aquaman franchise is just flatlining, floating through the dreary depths like the kind of discarded plastic bag which is going to choke the last remaining vaquita porpoise.