Except one thing actually loopy occurs, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would be the remaining movie within the DC Prolonged Universe that started 10 years in the past with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. It was a universe dominated by Snyder’s choices, which resulted in some memorable highs and embarrassing lows. And whereas Misplaced Kingdom utterly ignores that it’s a part of that universe in each method, leaving all open questions on its inhabitants untouched, it’s truly a hopeful, becoming ending for that universe, particularly since a new one is on the way.
Early on in Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom, Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) explains his perception that the underwater kingdoms of Atlantis ought to reveal themselves to the floor world in an effort to mix assets and save the planet. In any case, everybody lives on the identical planet, and local weather change and air pollution that’s impacting the floor is impacting the seas too. His council initially rejects this, however after he defeats the traditional, evil, frozen king whose plan was to own a human to get him to heat the planet up sufficient to free him, the tides change.
Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom then ends with the historic DCEU information of Atlantis revealing itself to the world. As Atlantian ships come up within the waters close to downtown Manhattan, we see Arthur give a rousing speech on Ellis Island about how, collectively, the floor and seas may also help save the planet. He then ends it by boldly proclaiming, “I’m Aquaman!” earlier than returning to the ocean.
On this second, no, we don’t understand how badly the Flash screwed up the multiverses, who’s nonetheless a member of the Justice League, or the whereabouts of Jared Leto’s Joker. This second rises above all that. It leaves the DCEU in a spot the place the world goes to be saved. Atlantian know-how, combined with human know-how, will have the ability to reverse local weather change and make it so your entire planet can preserve dwelling on for all these characters and others. It’s a hopeful ending. A becoming ending. And one that claims, “Hey James Gunn. This world is protected now if you wish to begin a brand new one.”
Plus, that the movie ends with Arthur screaming “I’m Aquaman” as one of many final traces within the DCEU is a pleasant parallel to the start of one other cinematic universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Don’t overlook, that started when Tony Stark declared “I’m Iron Man,” a press release that modified the world for the higher. Right here, Arthur equally embraces his true id and does the identical.
Nerds like us who comply with each little element of the plots of cinematic universes resembling these won’t be notably happy by how the DCEU ended. We imagine, nonetheless, that Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom did pretty much as good a job as one can think about in closing this chapter in a constructive, significant method, whereas additionally not worrying in regards to the little particulars. Depart these to your creativeness. This world is ok.
Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom is now in theaters.
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