10 Ways Aquaman Is Better Than Black Panther

3. The Action (And How It's Filmed)

James Wan may be primarily a horror movie director, but when you see Aquaman's action, you'll believe he's been directing action his entire career. Ambitious underwater gladiatorial battles feel tense and real, even though they were filmed surrounded by blue screen. Sequences on land are just as impressive, using heavy doses of practical effects and incredible camera work to give these scenes a Pirates of the Caribbean/Indiana Jones feel.

Ryan Coogler is certainly no slouch in the directing department either as he delivered some of his flair with the South Korea portion of Black Panther. The well-utilized single-take style club fight, followed by the car chase with T'Challa leapfrogging between enemy cars. Yet, beyond this part, BP lacks any impressive action. The 1v1 battles for the throne are far too choppy, utilizing that MCU 'cut every time a character makes contact' style. It gets distracting and removes the flow of the scene. And then there's the previously discussed final fight, (likely not even Coogler's work), which was poorly choreographed and lacked everything that makes that kind of finale effective.

Aquaman's action was varied and never dragged on for too long. Marvel could learn a thing or two from Wan on this one.