Looks like I’m just going to have to watch Aquaman in theaters and form my opinion that way. There’s one final trailer for Aquaman, and I just don’t know how to feel about this movie. The trailer seems cool…

…but then it goes and does things I don’t like. For example, it establishes the trident as a McGuffin in the trailer! There’s nothing inherently wrong with McGuffins, but I feel they’re kind of weak. And to establish it in the trailer seems tacky. For another example, the trailer also hits the viewer with a ton of awkward exposition. Like describing the antagonist in full as “your half-brother King Orm” or whatever they said. That name doesn’t mean anything to anybody, not even Aquaman fans. There’s no need to spell it out so much in the trailer. They don’t name Black Manta. There’s no need to name Orm.

Finally, the new trailer, especially, showcases a ton of CGI battle footage. It looks cool, and being filled with undersea monsters is unique, but movies that rely on nothing but overwhelming CGI battle footage don’t fair too well.

Still, I like the idea of a badass Aquaman movie. And I still like Jason Momoa in the lead role. And I’ve heard great things about director James Wan. And Black Manta looks cool. So I’m perched precariously over the prospect of this Aquaman films…

It doesn’t help that it’s coming out the same weekend as Mary Poppins Returns and Bumblebee. This is probably why Marvel doesn’t release movies the week of Christmas.

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