|
 Forget
the words "Justice League." The New 52-inspired JLA is on deck, but only so that
their miserable failure against Ocean Master and his hordes will allow the
under-appreciated Dweller of the Depths, the once and future King of Atlantis,
Arthur Curry, to swim in, save the day, and maybe, just maybe earn a little
respect from the Robot Chicken crowd. Throne of Atlantis is Aquaman's movie
(rightfully so!) and it pulls out all the stops. Insurmountable odds? Selfless
heroes? Powerful villains? A diabolical scheme that threatens the world? Legions
of masked henchmen? High stakes? Large-scale war? It's got it all... except
everything that counts. The animation is hurried and underwhelming, the
voice-work spotty, the Justice League's involvement rather dull, Curry's rise to
power one 70-minute cliché, the action stocky and unexciting, the script middle
of the road, and the dialogue dangerously hit or miss. I could go on -- there's
more -- but Throne of Atlantis is best summarized with a single, beautifully
succinct syllable: meh. This is not the Aquaman showcase diehards have been so
patiently waiting for, nor the movie destined to silence the skeptics, defuse
prevailing shoulder shrugs and eye rolls, or bring any new fans to the Atlantean
fold.
Darkness, mystery, legend. These are the whispers that echo through time
regarding Atlantis. A kingdom long since forgotten to surface dwellers, it is
here that a hidden empire, ruled by Queen Atlanna (Sirena Irwin), teeters on the
brink of war. When a military submarine traversing this remote domain is
attacked, Cyborg (Sean Patrick Thomas) plunges to the murky depths to
investigate the wreckage. What he encounters is a threat powerful enough to
rally together the rest of the members of the newly formed Justice League:
Superman (Jerry O'Connell), Batman (Jason O'Mara), Wonder Woman (Rosario
Dawson), Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), The Flash (Christopher Gorham) and
Shazam (Sean Astin). Meanwhile, thousands of feet above the ocean floor wanders
a lone drifter named Arthur Curry (Matt Lanter), a man with strange powers who
may be the last chance to bridge the ancient Atlantean world and our own.
Fighting alongside the JLA and fellow aquatic hero Mera (Sumalee Montano),
Arthur must face his half-brother, Ocean Master (Sam Witwer), the villainous
Black Manta (Henry Lennix), and an army of Atlantean soldiers who believe
they've no choice but to attack the surface world.
Like the divisive "New 52" DC Comics title-wide reboot, the most recent DCU
animated original movies --
Justice League: War,
Son of Batman,
Batman: Assault
on Arkham, and now Throne of Atlantis -- are struggling to connect. (More and
more with each passing movie it seems.) Blame the comic stories upon which
they're based; you certainly wouldn't be the first. Blame the changing of the
voice-actor guard; Conroy out, O'Mara in. Blame DC's less than exacting approach
to shared-universe animated movies. Blame whatever and whomever you'd like.
There's a bigger problem coursing through Warner Animation's veins, though. A
cancer that's growing. For all the effort that's been invested into creating
new, more relevant versions of iconic characters, these "fresh" iterations of
Superman, Batman and company tend to be unlikable, too simplistic, and quite
flat for what should be dynamic, imagination-defying demigods. (At least as
they've been represented in the DCU animated movies thus far.)
Throne of Atlantis finally introduces Aquaman into the JLA mix, but does so
haphazardly, woodenly and without much in the way of a hook. (Pun intended.)
We've seen this tale many, many times before. And seen many, many superior takes
on the same material. The conflicts, the betrayals, the unlikely hero's
reluctance and eventual acceptance of his destiny. It's all so familiar, and not
just from decades past. Justice League: War covered much of the same ground with
multiple characters. Throne of Atlantis trains its focus on Arthur Curry,
rehashes the formula, and heads to lunch early. That's a wrap! It's strange too.
Pay close attention to producer James Tucker, director Ethan Spaulding, writer
Heath Corson and other decision-makers in the pipeline when watching the disc's
special features. They get it. They get Aquaman. The allure of Ocean Master and
Black Manta. The things that should and could make Throne of Atlantis
exceptional. So why is the final product so removed from their passion and grasp
on the characters and story? A failure of execution, yes, but not a simple
failure of execution.
The Dark Knight Returns, Parts 1 and 2 demonstrated how
talented Tucker and his directors, writers and animators are. But it also
offered nearly everything Throne of Atlantis doesn't have the luxury of counting
among its assets. Well over two hours of screen-time, a more captivating source
comic, stronger animation, a more striking visual style, on and on and on. A
smaller, more affordable voice cast. Above all, a budget suited to its ambition.
The inevitable misperception here will be that the Throne of Atlantis team is
content with mediocrity, when, really, the likelihood is that the movie didn't
have the development timetable or schedule necessary to tighten, polish and
fine-tune the writing and animation. Its script is more akin to a rough draft
than a sharp screenplay, with plot holes, dead-on-arrival jokes and
wince-inducing dialogue squeaking through far too often. (The opening submarine
attack is on e of many groan-worthy scenes.) Its runtime leaves almost no room
for complex character arcs, compelling relationships, or exchanges that aren't
waterlogged with thick, wet exposition. The movie's budget appears to have been
stretched to the point of snapping, with the animation leading the charge one
minute and lagging behind the next. And the climactic super-powered showdowns
are anything but. Aquaman and the Justice League's run-ins with Ocean Masters'
minions aren't creative, gripping or thrilling, and the ultimate lead-up to war,
the battle with Black Manta, and the final clash between Atlantis and the JLA
amounts to all sound, no fury. Worse, its utterly and terribly predictable. Is
there a riveting movie lurking in Atlantis' depths? Absolutely. This one,
unfortunately, only skims the surface.
I've found that no reviews draw more hate than a comic-book movie review, so
feel free to rally or dismiss as you see fit. In the world of comic-book films
and even in the realm of DCU animated original movies, Throne of Atlantis lacks
staying power, lasting personality, killer showdowns, memorable set pieces,
clever dialogue, and jaw-dropping animation. Aquaman fans will reap the biggest
rewards (obviously), yet still be disappointed that their beloved undersea
Atlantean isn't likely to win over any new fans with a weak showing like this.
Aquaman detractors will continue to, er, detract, and those on the fence will be
left right where they were found, wondering what all the aqua-fuss is about. For
too long, Aquaman has been the butt of the JLA joke, but there's a reason
Atlantis' king has so many followers. I only wish Throne of Atlantis
demonstrated what some of us have long known about the Justice League's most
ridiculed member: he's not to be trifled with. |
