With the conclusion of the first film, Aquaman, it appeared that everything would be right between the undersea and surface. But not being able to show their appearance to the worlds above, Atlantis found things becoming difficult. Now having a new King, who shared his time between domains, both realms suffered.
After Arthur Curry / Aquaman (Jason Momoa), half-Atlantean/half-human, defeated his brother, his life changed after marrying Mera (Amber Heard), the Queen of Atlantis and daughter of King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren), the king of Xebel. He became the ruler of Atlantis, called the Ocean Master, and now he has become a father. This life is not what it has all cracked up to be. Everytime Arthur makes a decision the council rejects it. Trying to keep peace on the surface with the kingdoms under the sea is becoming more and more difficult. On the other hand, Arthur does enjoy his time with his new son and discovering the meaning of being a dad. But he finds himself more on the surface, to protect his new son, and taking advice from his father, Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison), the lighthouse keeper.
Out searching in the North Atlantic Ocean for the truth and a way to defeat Aquaman, David Kane / Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a ruthless pirate and mercenary, is still looking for his revenge for Arthur killing his father. He now comes across a power that can help him get what he desires, to defeat Aquaman. What David has discovered is something that he may not have control over, and it wants to also take control over the land and sea. Here is where Black Manta acquires the Atlantean armored suit and the Black Trident to yield against the entire undersea world. With the help from, Dr. Stephen Shin (Randall Park), a marine biologist in search of Atlantis, and Stingray (Jani Zhao), captain of Black Manta’s crew, Manta begins his quest to destroy everything in their path.  
When things start to go wrong with the people of the surface and all of the undersea people of Atlantis become threatened, Arthur seeks help from an unlikely foe, his Atlantean half-brother and former Ocean Master, Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson), who was imprisoned for his crimes against Atlantis. Needing more help from his mother and former Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), she gathers a few warriors to take on the challenge, King Nereus Kingfish (Martin Short), the ruler of the pirate haven called the Sunken Citadel, and The Brine King (John Rhys-Davies). Aquaman, using his powers to swim with supersonic speeds and the ability to command aquatic life he must take this new team of heroes against a powerful unknown force that could destroy the entire planet.
Director and writer James Wan puts together a marvelous journey through the Oceans of the deep and to uncover that there are more worlds to discover. It is evident that Wan planned to use Kane as the main villain of this escapade, by establishing his back story and encounters with Aquaman, in the previous installment. He establishes a great storyline that does have a familiar feel but is able to make it work. James develops the characters to help them take this concept and turn it into a masterpiece. The performance by the cast was exceptional and brought the narrative to life. James also did a fantastic job putting together a spectacular special effects package that presents realistic images to the big screen and blends the tale perfectly. 
Moving along like the previous Detective Comic (DC) films, this one puts together the conflict between the Black Manta and Aquaman. When these two collide the sparks start to fly and establish a fun time for all. With help from his brother Orm, Arthur is able to discover how to defeat the evils of the deep and intrigue the viewers to want more.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the brilliant storyline, breathtaking special effects and the magnificent performance.
Stars 4 out of 5
Additional Film Information
Cast: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Jani Zhao, John Rhys-Davies, and Martin Short.
Directed and written by: James Wan
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some language.
Running Time: 2 hour and 4 minutes
Release Date: December 22, 2023
Distributed By: Warner Bros.
Release In: Standard, 3D, IMAX, and Dolby Digital.
