Jason Momoa dives deep into the waters for one last time to save Atlantis from an ancient threat in James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, marking the end of the pre-James Gunn phase of DCEU. Despite its turbulent journey to the big screen — production was halted several times by leadership changes, delays and reshoots — this sequel to the 2018 fantasy adventure Aquaman is a visually stunning, action-packed adventure.

In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Momoa is back as the iconic Arthur Curry, the half-human half-Atlantean king of the seas, and is thrust into an epic battle with the formidable Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).

Black Manta has been working himself up to exact revenge for the death of his father Jesse Kane, the leader of the pirates whom Arthur had killed in the first film. Determined to succeed this time, Black Manta harnesses the legendary Black Trident’s might to unleash an ancient and sinister power.

With this heightened threat, Aquaman seeks the help of his incarcerated brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), the deposed ruler of Atlantis. Putting aside their long-standing differences, the brothers join hands to rescue Aquaman’s family from Black Manta’s captivity and prevent the catastrophic devastation of their kingdom and the rest of the world.

At its core, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is about brotherhood, betrayal and redemption, with Arthur and his half-brother Orm reminding us of the complex Thor-Loki relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (in one scene Arthur even calls Orm ‘Loki’).

Patrick Wilson adds gravitas to his portrayal of Orm, elevating him beyond the typical villain archetype. Whether as a result of the focus on Arthur and Orm or her controversial lawsuit against ex-husband Johnny Depp, Amber Heard has very little to do as Aquaman’s wife Mera.

The screenplay — a collaboration between David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, James Wan, Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett — weaves elements of horror into the adventure by introducing monstrous creatures that have a spine-chilling effect. But the story rushes through some important plot points at times, and the final showdown, while visually impressive, doesn’t quite reach the climax that you were expecting. While Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is indeed a spectacle along the lines of The Lord of the Rings, James Wan’s storytelling doesn’t leave you with the same satisfaction.