Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom Review: 3 Ups & 7 Downs

2. There Are A Few Fun Action Beats

Now, it would be disingenuous to suggest that none of the action here is worth watching, because James Wan's sheer kinetic skill as a filmmaker does occasionally shine through during the set-pieces.

Sure, there's nothing that gets even close to the barmy grandeur of the first film's wild climax, but there are a few inspired moments during the numerous underwater battles - especially during a mid-film clash set in a lush underwater hideout for Atlantis' most dangerous criminals.

The brief moments of excitement might make Aquaman 2 a decent showpiece for your 4K TV in the future, yet it's worth reiterating that so much of the digital carnage here also feels "video game-y" in the worst way possible.

And even at its best, the action can't hold a candle to the original - it's occasionally mildly diverting, but lacking all the creativity of what came before.