Aquaman has always been the butt of the comic book world, where he is portrayed as a one-dimensional, blond-haired caucasian man who swims with nattering dolphins.

Thanks to Australian director James Wan (his breakout was Saw in 2004), who has built a magical undersea world full of colour and fantastical creatures, Aquaman in the latest DC Comic film franchise, is anything but.

Raven-haired, muscle bound and rippling with tattoos, Jason Momoa’s Hawaiian-German ancestry and sheer hulking bulk, combine to portray an Aquaman for the 21st century.

He’s a reluctant hero, the son of a lighthouse keeper and Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), who washes ashore during a storm and stays long enough to bear a child, Arthur Curry.

When the unforgiving Atlanteans send soldiers to force Queen Atlanna’s return to their undersea kingdom, she makes the difficult choice to leave in order to protect her son and his father.

For her perceived treachery, the Atlanteans sacrifice her to the Kingdom of the Trench: The deepest, darkest part of the ocean inhabited by evil, gnashing creatures.

Arthur grows up as a human, even though he possesses incredible powers that include commanding aquarium fish, superhuman strength and swimming skills to rival Michael Phelps.

Arthur is taught to fight like an Atlantean in secret by royal diplomat Vulko (an always excellent Willem Dafoe), who along with fire-haired Princess Mera (Amber Heard), begs Arthur to return to Atlanta to claim his place as rightful heir of the undersea realm.

Arthur’s younger brother King Orm (a picture-perfect Patrick Wilson) is plotting war with the world above the surface and uses treachery to unite the kingdoms below the sea under his misguided trident.

And so Aquaman becomes as much about fulfilling one’s destiny as it is a quest for the throne.

It’s a rollicking journey below the sea, where Atlanteans ride sharks armoured with laser beams and rival clans sit atop giant, colourful seahorses.

The undersea world is wondrous and brilliantly realised, and it’s such a delight to think, even fleetingly, that perhaps all this really is just below the surface.

The costumes worn by the Atlanteans are extraordinary: They glisten and gleam like fish skittering in the shallows; the crowns bear the mythology of the ocean and its creatures; and the armour is magnificent and impeccably detailed.

The music is also incredibly well done.

A powerful piano chime that tinkles like a deep-sea sonar is brilliantly realised as terrifying creatures swarm and plunge into the depths of The Trench.

This moment was spine-tingling, jangly and just so fantastic.

Hat-tip to composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, who also did The Crown, Wonder Woman and Hacksaw Ridge, but that amazing Trench Sequence was written by composer Joseph Bishara (Insidious and more).

I just can’t help feeling that the production crew must have had so much fun creating and bringing these worlds, ideas and colourful characters to life.

It shows on screen.

Momoa is unable to bring the playful persona of Taika Waititi’s hero in Thor:Ragnarok to the screen, but he does try hard to keep things light, self-effacing and funny.

Blood-thirsty foe The Manta almost seems an unnecessary addition but he is menacingly portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

This movie was made at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and many local haunts are used in the filming, including Southport, Main Beach, Currumbin and North Straddie.

It’s also the best DC Comics movie in yonks (other than Wonder Woman which was an average movie imho but great for women and female representation in film).

Princess Mera continues in this vein as a butt-kicking female character who delivers a powerful monologue about duty and obligation that makes her so much more than a woman fleeing a pending betrothal.

Aquaman is pure, underwater fun and I enjoyed it much more than I expected.