Aquaman has been one of the most successful superhero films in recent history, but does it take things too far? Aquaman: King of Atlantis was released on December 14th and is still making waves across the country.
Aquaman: King of Atlantis is an explosive finale to the Aquaman movie. The film was released on December 21st, 2018 and stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman.
Aquaman: King of Atlantis has been a fascinating journey. The animated trilogy got off to a good start, making headlines with its unique take on Aquaman (created with the aid of James Wan, the current live-action filmmaker of the Aquaman flicks). It thrust Arthur Curry into the heart of a new sort of cosmos, one in which Atlantis not only mocked him but actively despised his status as King. We’ve watched Arthur battle against this concept of complete acceptance not just from the people, but also from himself, throughout the three episodes of this cartoon trilogy.
The first episode of this limited trilogy was a thrilling and entertaining introduction to King of Atlantis, but the second episode was much less so. It was a good continuation of what had gone before, but it didn’t do a good job of setting the scene for what may happen in the third episode. Thankfully, the ship has righted itself for the last chapter, as Aquaman: King of Atlantis – Chapter Three: Tidal Shift is a satisfying finish to the trilogy that also allows room for additional adventures.
(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation)
(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation)Tidal Shift begins up immediately after the events of “Primordeus,” finally giving us the whole squad of Aquaman, Mera, and Vulko that the trilogy had been missing until to this point. Aquaman realizes that the two crystals he got in the previous two episodes truly distort the fabric of space and time, and that combining them in a weird suit in the Atlantean vaults may be used to destroy the Earth. After that, ancient foes resurface for a final battle that puts the trilogy to a close.
The fulfillment of the promise of the trilogy’s first installment, “Dead Sea,” is a big part of what makes Tidal Shift succeed. The hilarious conversation between Aquaman (Cooper Andrews), Mera (Gillian Jacobs), and Vulko (Thomas Lennon) is back, and it’s still the finest part of the trilogy. It’s much more obvious in the third one, as they finally share the screen for a full plot. As a consequence, fresh insights into each of their characters emerge, as well as some of the most heartfelt laughter. This isn’t the only manner in which the trilogy has evolved.
While the flexible character design offered some entertaining action scenes in the earlier two installments, “Tidal Shift” seems like the first time the full potential of King of Atlantis’ action comedy has been realized. The third installment eventually incorporates Atlantis into the full scope of its conflict (which takes up a significant portion of the film’s run length), resulting in significantly more innovative set pieces overall. You’d think it’d be difficult to beat Aquaman’s battle with a living island, but the third episode goes all out with some of its scenarios.
(Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation)
The humor is constantly there, just as it was in the first episode. Rather from detracting from the seriousness of the action, the humour serves to highlight some of the most significant moments. For the last installment, the wilder viewpoints, looser character designs and responses, and punchy and humorous banter all return, bringing the overall experience to a satisfying conclusion. It closes with a sense of possibility that not only seems like the cartoon trilogy was blazing on all cylinders for the climax, but also leaves some suspense in the event that further installments are released in the future.
It’s a delightful universe to swim about in for three new installments, and the trilogy as a whole is absolutely worth checking out for anybody who is even somewhat interested in Arthur Curry. It’s the type of transformation that works so perfectly for the character that it’s a mystery why we’ve never seen it before. If you’re expecting for a pleasant trilogy when you start with the first episode, you’ll be happy to hear that the last episode makes it all worthwhile.
4.5 out of 5 stars
On October 28th, HBO Max will premiere Aquaman: King of Atlantis – Chapter Three: Tidal Shift, which will also show on Cartoon Network’s ACME Night block.
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