Aquaman is too much. There's heavy exposition, corny dialogue, flat characters, tropes, convoluted MacGuffins, superficial motivations, mediocre humor, a derivative plot, predictability, weak tension, inconsistencies, and repetition. The script is overstuffed with formulaic threads and patchy lore, leaving the emotions underdeveloped and melodramatic. Its acting has casual charisma and physicality (from Momoa), but weak vulnerability, range, chemistry, and believability. There are attempts at setup/payoff, conflict, environmentalism, and levity, yet none of this holds the story together. Simply put, Aquaman is difficult to connect with because it's unfocused, forced, stodgy, and cliche.
Aquaman embraces campy tones and overwhelming spectacle. The kinetic imagery uses angles, lighting, motion, focus, color, and framing. Its gonzo production design adds enthusiastic world-building but gets overly busy. The sound employs smash cuts, voiceovers, sci-fi, combat, distortions, muffling, and emphasis. Its cast has fame yet some supporters don't fit. The CGI is extensive, but glossy and suffocating. Its music is erratic, generic, and blunt. The editing offers passing cuts, montages, cross cuts, and action, yet also choppy pacing, a tiring runtime, dragging momentum, and bloated set pieces. Overall, Aquaman can be fun, but it's too messy to be entirely enjoyed.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 5/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 5/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 6.4/10
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