Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Review: DC Extended Universe Era Ends On A Flat Note

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (PG13)

Starring Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren, Amber Heard

Directed by James Wan

The bumpy Zack Snyder-initiated DC Extended Universe finally reaches its home stretch but the concluding chapter is nowhere as exciting as the real-life behind-the-scenes fuss (reshoots, regime changes, and that courtroom drama involving Heard, whose Mera has a longer screen time than the trailer led us to believe). The sequel to 2018’s US$1 billion-grossing Aquaman, again helmed by Wan, sees the title superhero/surfer dude (Momoa) teaming up with Orm (Wilson), estranged half-brother and one-time claimant to the throne of Atlantis, to stop a global catastrophe, caused by a vengeful Black Manta (Abdul-Mateen) wielding an ancient WMD. The story gets by on Momoa and Wilson’s frenemy banter, but for the most part, it feels more like a contractual obligation rushing to catch the last train home. The build-up to the last act, a Lord of the Rings sequence set in an underwater Mordor (theme park potential!), is laboured and scattershot (I smell studio meddling here). Not a bad movie but not a disaster, either, just middle of the road, lacking punch. Come to think of it, I like The Flash more — that would’ve been a better choice to close out the DCEU era. (2.5/5 stars) out in cinemas

Photos: Warner Bros Discovery

Rebel Moon: Part One — A Child of Fire (NC16)

Starring Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Charlie Hunnam, Doona Bae, Staz Nair

Directed by Zack Snyder

Snyder really dropped the ball on his latest, a Seven Samurai in Space tale — to be followed by Part Two: The Scargiver in April — starring Boutella as a loner with a mysterious past rounding up a motley crew of fighters to defend her adopted hometown against intergalactic Nazis (led by Skrein, sinking in his teeth into the part as if he were an SS officer in a former life). Is it Snyder or Netflix’s decision not to release his director’s cut first? Instead, we’re saddled with this truncated, almost bloodless, inert version. No wonder everyone is pissed off by it. (1.5/5 stars) on Netflix

Note: The director's cut of A Child of Fire and The Scargiver are slated to come out in late 2024.

Photo: Netflix

Pendatang (Not Rated)

Starring Fredy Chan, Grace Ng, Qaidah Marha

Directed by Ng Ken Kin

Malaysia’s first crowdfunded movie is a Cantonese-language dystopian thriller which imagines the country legalising racial segregation. (The title means ‘immigrant’ in Malay and is used as a derogatory term against foreigners by the Malay majority.) Amid the tumultuous political transition, a Chinese family faces a dilemma when they discover a Malay girl hiding in their home: turn her in to the trigger-happy militia or shelter her and risk being punished? The social commentary is a bit rough around the edges but it’ll get people talking: if this really happens, what trickle-down effects would it have on its neighbour down south? (3/5 stars) on YouTube

Photo: Kuman Pictures

Flying Tigers (PG)

Starring Richie Koh

Directed by Gilbert Chan

All by accounts, Captain Ho Weng Toh is a total badass. The Ipoh-born aviator fought alongside the Flying Tigers squadron against the Japanese during WWII and later became a pioneer pilot of what later became Singapore Airlines. That said, this three-minute short doesn’t do a good job honouring Captain Ho’s towering achievements. Outside of extolling the potential of local virtual productions, I really hope this leads to something more epic, perhaps something along the lines of Masters of the Air — just don’t leave us hanging, man. Either that, or name a street, a dish or an orchid after Captain Ho. On mewatch and YouTube

Bottoms (M18)

Starring Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz

Directed by Emma Seligman

Bottoms isn’t just another teen movie — well, it is but it isn’t at the same time. This  Elizabeth Banks-produced, gender-flipped Superbad stars The Bear’s Edebiri and The Idol’s Sennott as queer high-school pals — or as the principal calls them “ugly, ­­untalented gays” —  who start a self-defence club. The motive behind setting up the faction  is less than noble, though: it’s all but a pretext for hooking up with the cheerleaders. Edebiri and Sennot make an incredible duo; their scenes are hysterically funny but also weirdly poignant and heartfelt. The final showdown will definitely elicit a “Did that just happen?” response. (3.5/5 stars) on Prime Video