On 20 December, Scope Cinemas held the red carpet premiere of Aquaman, hosted by Skylight Entertainment at the Scope Cinema multiplex at Colombo City Centre. Skylight Entertainment – the official distributor of Warner Brothers in Sri Lanka – made the film available for Lankan audiences one day before the official US release. Along with TNL Radio – the official media partner in Sri Lanka for Aquaman – many of Colombo’s elite and a number of special invitees were in attendance. On the movie itself It appears to be the general consensus that, much like Wonder Woman, this new adventure marks a move in the right direction for the Justice League/DC Extended Universe. James Wan’s geeky epic is clearly a labour of love as Aquaman, despite its oh-so-many shortcomings, is undeniably an epic popcorn flick, exuding the director’s joy in having had a hand in creating something so ridiculous and fun. There’s no shortness of cringe-worthy dialog, which are delivered with such straight-faced solemnity that it adds to the overall zany quality of the whole movie. There was an obvious commitment to the material by its actors, so much so that most of the ludicrousness is largely forgiven – even Amber Heard’s absolutely terrible wig. The story is bulky and the pacing is erratic, but one simply does not have the heart to bash something that oozes glorious geek energy, despite the overwhelmingly cluttered premise bursting at the seams with irrelevancy. And the experience Regardless of how the eventual Hollywood blockbuster will be received by Lankan movie fans, something must be said with regard to the cinematic experience – the Dolby Atmos Screen Cinema at the Colombo City Centre is a real treat for movie enthusiasts around the island. The varying food and beverage brands available at the CCC are great, but one thing that is really deserving of note is that Scope Cinemas are truly raising the bar with their attention to detail. Right down to the convenient and most comfortable seating arrangement, Scope is fast-tracking the future of Sri Lanka’s cinema sphere. Whether you’re a Marvel or DC fan, the cinematic experience is good enough that you’re most likely going to enjoy Aquaman. It’s certainly worth your time to witness Arthur Curry i.e. Aquaman’s quest to unite our two worlds, as he embarks on a treacherous journey over land and sea to prove his strength and courage, and to wield the lost trident of Atlan and claim his rightful position as the true king of Atlantis. We spoke with some of the guests in attendance regarding their experience and thoughts on the movie:   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17045"] “The film was terribly fun and a level up above all other DCEU films, and balances humour and action with a meaningful storyline, despite the excessive runtime. It was a good call that the film screened in 2D, as 3D would have resulted in the audience walking out with a headache because James Wan’s camerawork is no joke.” Akash Sk, a home-grown film maker in his own right, responsible for “The Summoning” and the eve- popular “Eidetic”   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17047"] “I loved the film. Personally, I felt that the film was a very accurate adaptation that stayed true to the comics, which is important, and they’ve achieved that.” Oshitha Narangoda, popular cosplayer and dedicated fan   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17046"] “Finally! Something to challenge Marvel dominance. Aquaman might not have met the perfect execution. However, it is certain that DC is trying to refine their grumpy-gloomy cinematic universe.” Chiranthaka Palugaswewa   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17049"] “I’ve been going to Scope for as long as I can remember to catch all of my favourite movies, and the new screen at CCC provides an amazing cinematic experience – thanks to its Dolby Atmos sounds system.” Tharusha Gayashan   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17051"] “Scope Cinemas certainly stays ahead of the game by catering a very unique experience to geek fans and movie lovers alike with the way they showcase their movies. As for the movie, Aquaman is two thumbs up, the best of the DCEU, even surpassing Wonder Woman by leagues. James Wan certainly made a masterpiece, which is memorable with the unique character Jason Momoa brings into Aquaman. I hope to see the DCEU keep at this pace, and someday be as grand as the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this rate.” Ushan Gunasekera, outspoken geek enthusiast   [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="17048"] “I felt the movie was rather different compared to other DC movies; in a good way. It was more colourful and vibrant, and it was serious as much as it was funny. It was actually my first time at the Dolby Atmos; loved the surround sounds – a huge upgrade in my opinion. Although it did feel a bit compact, it was great.” Shenic Tissera Photos Pradeep Dambarage   by Dimithri Wijesinghe