Aquaman IMAX review: Should you watch Aquaman in 3D or not? Is Aquaman better in 3D?

Jason Momoa’s solo DC outing has finally splashed onto the big screen. Or, more accurately, it has swept onto the big screen in a tidal wave of dazzling action scenes, beautiful visuals and an exhilarating mix of epic myth and legend with modern Marvel-esque wit. Building on the success of the Wonder Woman solo movie, this reinforces hope that the DCEU has found its footing and can start to deliver a major rivalry to the MCU domination of comicbook blockbusters. But is it worth seeing in 3D or not?

After such high hopes, the advent of 3D has met with mixed success. All too often the glasses dull the colour tones on screen, while ill-judged use of the technique in action scenes can simply result in confusing visuals and even a sense of mild nausea.

Aquaman does none of that. This is a film which absolutely should be seen in 3D.

This is because at no point is 3D necessary to sell a scene. Nothing jabs out at the audiences and the gimmick isn’t used to distract from inherent flaws. Director James Wan expertly uses the extra dimension purely to add even more gorgeous texture and richness to an already ravishing spectacle.

Some critics have sniffed at a perceived over-indulgence in presenting such an array of underwater kingdoms, costumes, creatures and weaponry. I completely disagree. Aquaman is a treasure trove of visual treats that create an utterly self-contained universe which has no need of Justice League links to justify its big screen bow.

Equally impressively, unlike too many recent examples (the opening scenes of Fantastic Beasts 2 or, worst of all, much of Venom) the highly complex battle scenes are clearly and clevery filmed so you can always see exactly what is going on. This also reinforces the time taken earlier to establish different kingdsoms and visual cues.

The first sight of Atlantis, like some sci-fi far-future wonderland, is breath-taking. The other kingdoms are also clearly defined, as is the almost-horror landscape of the Trench. Aquaman and Mera’s desperate plunge to the dark depths of an ocean surging with nightmarish monsters almost looks like a grand oil painting come to life and then the Jurassic wonderland of the hidden Inner Sea widens our eyes yet again with another new vista.

This is a film which really is worth seeing on the biggest screen possible for the visuals alone, but the pumped up actions scenes also benefit from the exhilarating sensation of being swept directly into this ridiculous, epic and ridiculously epic romp. 

The film rest firmly on Momoa’s broad shoulders. It’s hard to tell if he is really acting or simply dialling up his already considerable charm and charisma to eleven. Either way, he carries the film and it happily takes its cues from his magnetic personality.

Amber Heard is strong and clearly defined as a damsel that needs no help dealing wiith any distress. Mera’s own powers are staggering and she is given plenty of opportunities to display her fighting skills. Even Nicole Kidman kicks some ass while Patrick Wilson’s Orm is one of the finer blockbuster villains for a very long time.

Black Manta, for me, is the weak link. He is clearly established as a brutally murderous pirate and a lame attempt to work in some pseudo race-related issue around his grandfather in World War 2 is insulting to the audience and the often overlooked service of black soldiers. His whole reason for hating Aquaman is unconvincingly forced into the opening scenes and at no point did I ever find any interest in his storyline. The fact that he is clearly mainly there to set up the sequel was distracting and unbalanced the main through plotline.

His mid credit scene hammers that point home so i hope DC find a more interstingly angle for him in the films to come.

This quibble aside, Aquaman is a comicbook adaptation that is joyously unashamed of its roots and revels in the chance to create a splash on its own terms and really is worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. 

All hail the new king. 

AQUAMAN IS OUT NOW IN REGULAR CINEMAS, SUPERSCREEN AND IMAX PRESENTATIONS