Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 84
from 8 reviewers
Review Date:
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom offers stunning 4K visuals and solid audio but falls short in plot and humor, making it more suitable for a fun rental than a blind buy.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 98
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom shines in 4K UHD with dazzling colors and stunning detail from its 8K source. The Dolby Vision HDR enhances vibrant underwater scenes, deep blacks, and crisp textures, though minor black crush and CGI artifacts occasionally appear. A demo-worthy visual feast.
Audio: 90
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's Dolby Atmos track immerses viewers with detailed height channels for underwater scenes and atmospheric effects, offering impressively clear dialogue and active surround channels, though it occasionally feels front-heavy and slightly lacks the LFE punch of its predecessor.
Extra: 63
The bonus features for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" provide a highly informative and engaging dive into the film’s expansive production, covering everything from behind-the-scenes insights with director James Wan to detailed explorations of character development, set designs, and key sequences, though some fans might miss the lack of a bundled Blu-ray disc.
Movie: 54
"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" offers a CGI-laden spectacle with moments of fun and relentless chaos, yet fails to surpass its predecessor due to an over-complicated plot, disjointed pacing, and a patchwork script. The 4K UHD Blu-ray excels technically, featuring a top-quality transfer and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
Video: 98
The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is a visual showcase, capturing the film's rich, vibrant color palette with exceptional fidelity. Drawn from an 8K source and rendered from a 4K Digital Intermediate, the imagery displayed on this disc is notably sharp, boasting an impressive level of detail. Displayed in a full-screen 1.78:1 aspect ratio throughout, the disc leverages HDR10 and Dolby Vision technologies to deliver deep, inky blacks and stunning bright highlights without crushing detail in the darker scenes. The underwater sequences particularly shine, displaying bioluminescent hues in the Atlantean settings with dazzling brilliance that truly shows off the power of HDR.
The attention to detail in this transfer is superb. From the minute textures on costumes and underwater constructs to the finely rendered close-ups of both characters and CGI creatures, every element is captured with clarity. The levels of sharpness and definition provided by the HEVC/H.265 encode are remarkable, even amidst rapid action sequences and complex CGI set pieces. However, there are some minor issues like black crush and occasional ringing around characters during underwater shots. Despite these slight drawbacks, the overall video quality remains a stellar demonstration of what 4K UHD technology can achieve.
Color reproduction is consistent and impactful without appearing over-saturated. Aquaman's gold armor, green pants, and other bioluminescent elements in particular stand out with vivid hues that are both vibrant and true to the film’s artistic vision. The Dolby Vision pass enhances this further by delivering intense specular highlights and well-balanced contrast, making each frame pop. Flesh tones maintain a natural appearance, although some intentional artistic choices give them a slightly baked look to match the film's comic book aesthetic. Overall, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" on 4K UHD Blu-ray provides a sumptuous visual experience that is both immersive and engaging, ideal for showcasing high-end home theater setups.
Audio: 90
The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is a tour-de-force, leveraging the full capabilities of modern home theater systems. Utilizing a robust Dolby Atmos track, the mix is designed to immerse viewers in an elaborate and finely tuned soundscape. The underwater dialogue remains strikingly crisp, and the surround channels are frequently active, particularly during the film's dynamic action sequences. The height channels are prominently featured in weather-related scenes and underwater events, sweeping listeners into the aquatic atmosphere of Arthur Curry’s world. From the delicate low-frequency drop around the 15-minute mark to the consistent LFE presence throughout the film, the audio mix is adept at maintaining a notable sonic depth, ensuring an engaging auditory experience.
While it excels with spatial effects like flowing water and ice crackling, it does occasionally lean towards a front-heavy presentation, which may feel less immersive in certain high-action sequences. Despite this, the use of overheads and rears is commendable; elements such as water bubbles and characters’ movements frequently engage every channel with precise overhead support. The bass is powerful but slightly moderated compared to its predecessor; however, it remains more than sufficient to showcase your system's capabilities. Notable scenes, such as a storm at the film's opening and Dr. Shin's fall into an ice crevice, highlight the track's dynamic range and depth, making it a compelling auditory spectacle.
The dialogue is consistently clear and distinguishable, even amidst the most chaotic scenes. The inclusion of multiple soundtrack options in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French, Spanish) alongside subtitles broadens accessibility. While the near-reference 7.1 lossless audio track will satisfy many listeners, some might find the hemispherical sound field lacking during key segments. Nevertheless, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” delivers an impressive audio experience that complements its fantastical visuals and is sure to captivate the audience.
Extra: 63
The Extras section of the "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" 4K UHD Blu-ray disc offers a comprehensive and engaging collection of special features that delve into the making of the film. These featurettes explore various aspects of production through behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, and detailed discussions on the film’s sequences, characters, and visual effects. Noteworthy highlights include insights into the challenges of topping the first film, creating fantastical new environments both above and below the sea, and enhancing Black Manta's role as a super-villain. Overall, the extras provide valuable context and enrich the viewing experience for fans.
Extras included in this disc:
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Finding the Lost Kingdom: Go behind the scenes as director James Wan reveals how he and the cast and crew pulled off their biggest endeavor yet, an epic sequel to the largest grossing film in the history of DC.
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Aquaman: Worlds Above and Below: When the filmmakers set out to create a sequel that eclipsed the original in scale and scope, they knew they would have to send Arthur and the rest of the cast to all kinds of new wild and wonderful worlds both above and below the sea.
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It's a Manta World: Black Manta is more powerful than ever now that he has discovered the Lost Kingdom of Necrus and taken possession of the Black Trident. From inspiration to execution, filmmakers reveal how they leveled Black Manta up to the realm of supervillains.
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Necrus, The Lost Black City: Ages ago the great battle for the earth took place here, in this legendary lost Atlantean city. Discover how the filmmakers created the Black City from its surface city concept and its inhabitants: Undead Necrusians (Zombies), to its execution.
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Escape from the Deserter World: From idea to execution, explore how the filmmakers created this barren desert landscape and the Deserter Prison, how its creatures and inhabitants were brought to life, and how they planned and executed the daring Orm breakout sequence.
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Brawling at Kingfish's Lair: The Citadel is the last frontier of the ocean, a deep trench filled with sunken old ships, stacked high like a rusty city. From concept to completion, discover Kingfish's Lair, a bar within, where the worst of the worst hang out.
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Oh TOPO!: The Tactical Observation and Pursuit Operative Octopus is a living legend and all-time fan favorite. Director James Wan and the filmmakers discuss the decision behind bringing TOPO back to the sequel and its promotion to Arthur's on-screen sidekick.
Movie: 54
"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is a film that encapsulates both the highs and lows of its predecessor, delivering a mixed bag of extravagant visuals, familiar plot beats, and uneven script execution. Directed by James Wan, the sequel attempts to expand on the original's formula by amplifying the bombastic set pieces and extending the realm of Atlantis. Jason Momoa returns as the titular hero, but his performance leans more heavily into comedic bravado, often reminiscent of his outlandish antics in "Fast X."
The narrative centers on Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who returns with a vengeance wielding the powerful Black Trident—a weapon imbued with ancient malevolence. To thwart this new threat, Aquaman forms a reluctant alliance with his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), whose character arc introduces an engaging dynamic to the otherwise straightforward plot. While the villain's quest for retribution adds stakes, it unfortunately lacks depth, and Manta's transformation into a more formidable adversary feels underdeveloped. The film’s OTT absurdity, however, does occasionally work to its advantage, especially when it embraces its comic book roots without apology.
Despite its ambition, "Aquaman 2" suffers from a lack of tonal consistency and an overabundance of CGI-laden battles that blur into sensory overload. Amber Heard's Mera is notably sidelined, appearing for less than ten minutes, which affects the film’s emotional balance. Randall Park reprises his role as Dr. Shin, adding little more than standard comic relief. However, notable highlights include visually stunning underwater environments and a series of adventurous set pieces that inject some much-needed excitement.
Clocking in at just over two hours, the film tends to drag in places, bogged down by redundant exposition and extraneous subplots. The script, penned by four writers including James Wan and Jason Momoa, vacillates between moments of genuine amusement and wearying predictability. While "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" delivers on spectacle and family themes, it ultimately falls short of revitalizing a floundering franchise.
Total: 84
James Wan's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom serves as a direct follow-up to the wildly popular first film, yet it struggles to capture the same sense of humor and swashbuckling adventure that made its predecessor a success. Starring Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the film leans heavily into technical prowess but falters in narrative coherence. The 4K UHD Blu-ray release from Warner Bros. features remarkable Dolby Vision HDR video quality and a decent Dolby Atmos soundtrack, although the latter could have benefitted from greater attention to detail. Despite its overall bombast and occasional moments of comic relief, the movie doesn't elevate the DCEU as hoped.
Technically, the 4K disc shines with its immersive visuals rendered in a 1.85:1 HEVC aspect ratio. The audio options include English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), as well as French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks, ensuring a robust soundstage for those equipped with suitable home theater setups. Subtitles in English SDH, French, and Spanish are also included. While the supplementary content is adequate, it isn't groundbreaking enough to entice collectors or newcomers to make an outright purchase without prior familiarity with the film.
Is Aquaman 2 a good movie? Nah, but it’s not a horrible movie either. It’s a decent attempt at a comic book movie that is still light years better than pretty much anything that Marvel has put out in the last four years, despite being literally the last hurrah for the DCEU. As a huge DC fan, I was disappointed with how much worse it was than the first film but also surprised that it wasn’t worse than it is. The DCEU had its good points and will be missed, but Aquaman 2 sadly doesn’t live up to how much fun I had back in 2018 when its predecessor came out. The 4K UHD, which still doesn’t contain the Blu-ray—come on WB, combo packs are highly desired for new releases—is a good-looking film with a solid enough audio mix but is a bit rocky and slightly problematic on the film front. Worth a fun rental for comic book fans at the very least.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
The overall image is quite superb with fantastic details, but the over abundance of CGI sort of makes the green screen and CGI bodies (many of the action shots are nearly fully CGI characters) all the...
Audio: 80
• Escape from the Deserter World - From idea to execution, explore how the filmmakers created this barren desert landscape and the Deserter Prison, how its creatures and inhabitants were brought to life,...
Extras: 60
Sure, that got overused a lot on the CW DC shows, but it works here, as Black Manta shows his cleverness an utilization of Atlantis technology to make himself more powerful and threatening this go around....
Movie: 60
Heck, even Amber Heard is basically muzzled for the entire movie except for maybe 10 minutes of screen time (she literally gets blasted by Manta and goes into a coma for half the movie, as the studio execs...
Total: 70
The 4K UHD (which sadly still doesn’t contain the Blu-ray, cummon WB, combo packs are highly desired for new releases) is a good looking film with a solid enough audio mix, but is a bit rocky and slightly...
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 100
So as not to belabor the point, if you loved how the original Aquaman looked on UHD you'll potentially find even more to enjoy here; it really is a great-looking disc, one that clearly takes advantage...
Audio: 0
Most other moments aren't subtle, at least in comparison, with the wide majority of Lost Kingdom sporting an largely active sound field (including the height channels, which are obviously used most often...
Extras: 100
Escape from the Deserter World (8:05) - Another like-minded featurette about the location -- or in this case, sequence -- featured in the film, a handful of familiar faces share about its creation and...
Movie: 50
Where Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom actually improves upon its predecessor is that it actually gets a bit more entertaining as it goes on; specifically almost anything that happens after the rescue of Aquaman's...
Total: 60
Five years later the glow has obviously worn off a bit, but what hurts Lost Kingdom as a whole is its inability to switch up the formula: highlights aside, much of what I didn't like about the original...
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt BrightonRead review here
Video: 100
The bioluminescent shown in the Atlantean culture really takes advantage of the HDR, offering up deep, dark blacks while showcasing the digital effects....
Audio: 100
But, as is the case with the video, this is a film that’s made for reference-quality technical levels and it excels on the audio front....
Extras: 70
Go behind the scenes as director James Wan reveals how he and the cast and crew pulled off their biggest endeavor yet, an epic sequel to the largest grossing film in the history of DC. Aquaman: Worlds...
Movie: 0
And while it’s true that all the elements are there, they just didn’t seem to work well and play nicely with one another....
Total: 70
The 4K disc offers reference-quality audio and video, so it’s one for your home theater as well....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 100
While not persistently colorful, the saturation and vividness do make a tremendous impact....
Audio: 100
On its own though, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is aural spectacle anyway, and bickering about a few decibels of LFE punch seems minor....
Extras: 40
...
Movie: 40
As the “kind of/sort of but not really official but it is end to the DC universe” movie, it’s a rightful send-off of jumbled drama and sci-fi fantasy that never seems to decide between the genres, and...
Total: 70
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s noise factor is endless, and aside from a few moments of comic glee, it’s just a lot of technical fluff....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 100
Even the many CGI and fast action sequences maintain distinct clarity with well-defined lines in the fantastical creatures and the individual pieces of debris dashing across the screen....
Audio: 80
The issue is that this is more of a front-heavy presentation that doesn't fully complement the visuals or ever really take full advantage of the audio system, almost as if holding back during the most...
Extras: 40
It's a Manta World (HD, 10 min) focuses on the David Kane/Black Manta character and his role in the sequel with interviews of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and others Escape from the Deserter World (HD, 8 min)...
Movie: 40
Thankfully, Wan and cinematographer Don Burgess interrupt the monotony with stunning, spectacularly surreal visuals of the underwater civilizations and some admittedly rousing action sequences that pose...
Total: 80
Ignoring the legal dramas of one of its cast members, James Wan's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a direct follow-up that sadly pales in comparison to its predecessor, lacking the same humor and sense...
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 100
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was captured in 8K resolution on Panavision Millenium DXL2 IMAX cameras and completed as a 4K digital intermediate in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio for IMAX engagements and 2.39:1...
Audio: 100
Chapter two is the place to go if you want to give your visitors a taste of what your Dolby Atmos-equipped home theater is capable of....
Extras: 60
Escape from the Deserter World (1080p; 8:05): A look at the sequence where Orm is freed from prison....
Movie: 70
The weaknesses, though, are in the villain, Black Manta, who never seems all that threatening, despite the apparent threat to all forms of life on the planet, and the fact that the movie doesn’t bring...
Total: 80
The DCEU comes to an end with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a fun, entertaining yet rather forgettable two hours that will show off the capabilities of your home theater....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 100
Whether it be the finest minutia in physical features, or, visible textures seen in the underwater sequences, on the surfaces of instrument panels, caverns, or the wide-angle shots of the island/jungle,...
Audio: 76
Having said that, I do feel that the quality of the audio mix is the thing that I look forward to most....
Extras: 80
Aquaman: Worlds Above and Below • When the filmmakers set out to create a sequel that eclipsed the original in scale and scope, they knew they would have to send Arthur and the rest of the cast to all...
Movie: 50
Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all....
Total: 77
It comes to Blu-ray from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital release featuring excellent Ultra HD video quality, a fan friendly supplemental package and, decent lossless sound,...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 100
Detail is tack sharp and no softness is in any shot!Depth: Foregrounds and backgrounds, indoors and outdoors, Aquaman and his world travels look incredible....
Audio: 100
Low-Frequency Extension: Music, oceans, ice, desert sandscapes and explosions are just a few things that bring bass to the mix....
Extras: 60
The Lost Black City (4K, 5:51)Escape from The Deserter World (4K, 8:05)Brawling at Kingfish’s Lair (4K, 4:07)Oh, Topo! (4K, 2:12)Features run the gamut of making of, development, story ideas, the lost...
Movie: 70
So, go into with lowered expectations and an open mind for simple and silly, and you just might have a great time with it....
Total: 70
It’s colorful and immersive and of course, this 4K UHD Blu-ray is the very best way to go about seeing it....
Director: James Wan
Actors: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
PlotIn the vast and treacherous underwater world of the seven seas, Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, has taken on his role as the king of Atlantis and the protector of the deep. As tensions between the surface world and the undersea kingdom escalate, Arthur faces challenges to his leadership from both realms. His quest for peace is further complicated by ancient laws and the emergence of a formidable new adversary who seeks to claim the throne for himself, threatening to unleash chaos on both the underwater and surface worlds.
Arthur is forced to confront unresolved issues from his past, including his complicated relationship with his half-brother Orm, who is imprisoned for his previous attempts to wage war against the surface. Meanwhile, a new discovery leads Arthur and his allies on a dangerous journey into uncharted territories in search of the "Lost Kingdom," a mythic place that holds the key to preserving the balance between the surface world and the ocean depths. Along the way, they encounter mysterious creatures and ancient wonders, but they are not the only ones seeking the Lost Kingdom's secrets, setting the stage for a clash that will determine the fate of their world.
Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, James Wan, Jason Momoa
Release Date: 22 Dec 2023
Runtime: 124 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Iceland
Language: English