Seventy-Two Minutes

Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015) 72 mins.

Almost Lovecraftian in its visual homages to eldritch lore.

Throne of Atlantis is a surprising movie. It covers a lot of ground in its 72 minutes. Old Boomer that I am, some of the "New 52" material leaves me forgetting to forget all that I already know about these characters, and try to see them anew, as if I was ten or twelve all over again. Once I remember to unload that continuity baggage, it makes it easier for me to enjoy their latest material.

Easier, but of course I still have some critiques. The dialogue again has a sort of anime-influenced info-dump feel at times. At times the plot is both epic High Opera and just a little too pat (as is the dialogue). The dialogue tries a bit too hard to my ears to be "edgy" and "hip" and "adult" but I guess that makes it the perfect PG-13 movie, huh? Because what is a PG-13 rating if not an advertisement for ten- to twelve-year-olds?

Based on the time limit and the intended audience (fifty-three-year-old twelve-year-olds) I'll give them a bit of a pass on most of my quibbles. I don't know if anybody really learns anything, but Aquaman undergoes a little character arc. Of course, because of the time restriction (80 minutes is the target), Acts Two A and Two B are combined, but then that's just how these things are done. Welcome to the Upside-Down World, and Hey Look Out! both happen at the same time, closely followed by Dirty Deeds Done with Dastardly Delight, coupled with All Is (Seemingly) Lost.

In the end, it's a bit of a fairy tale, a bit of a coming of age movie, a bit of a buddy film and a bit of a love story. The war story provides the backdrop. The action, once it really gets going, is not only just what you'd expect, it has some slightly interesting takes on the usual tropes. I'm really going to have to start a body count for the dead parents in these movies. They're positively Disney-esque in their commitment to the Monomyth.

I've been a bit remiss on this blog so far in not giving any fractional ratings, but this movie really brings out the schoolboy in me. They succeeded in (almost) making Aquaman cool again. For that alone it gets the passing grade, if nothing else. The language and the ultra-violence seemed to serve the plot and the style in the final analysis, jarring as it seems during the early scenes. These ain't Daddy's DC Comics movies, kids. Not anymore.

Can't give it an F (three stars is kind of a failing grade). Can't give it a B (four stars is too strong of a recommendation). Somewhere between B minus and C plus. Better than Not Bad. Right on the edge of Good. Three-and-three-quarters? Somewhere around a 79.

Three Stars Plus: Better Than Not Bad.

 

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