Although the story line may have been lame at first. I thought it definitely had potential. Justin the guy playing Aquaman would have been great if would have been allowed to develop his character more. He had the look and was Gorgeous. They should bring it back. We are living in a day when the world is in love with super hero's. And one saving the marine world, activist all around the world couldn't argue the fact that this show could send out a positive message. With a great cast Ving Rahmes and Lou Diamomd Philips the CW should have never turned it down. Regaurdless of cost. Take Smallville for instance, I'm an avid Smallville watcher and in the begging the show had weak story's and bad acting. Now in there going into there 6th season and has done a 360 in great story lines and improved acting. They should have fought harder for Aqua MAn
44 Reviews
Can you say, "The Man From Atlantis"?
sweetbennyfenton18 June 2007
Okay, I just got through this pilot tonight and keeping a straight face was not an option. Dreadful acting from everyone involved. Every trick in the book thrown at this production out of sheer desperation and every trick done badly. iTunes must be laughing. From the name "Aquaman" to Ving Rhames obviously trying to keep his tongue between his cheeks: Bad, bad and bad. However.....
Having said that, I liked it. It made me snile ( that's a cross between sniggering and smiling ) and I thought the story intriguing. Drawing together multiple myths and creating more questions than it answered, this single ( badly made ) episode had me wanting more. It simply has a very good story, albeit let down by bad production values.
Call it "The Man From Atlantis", lose the breasts and the American sugar coating and I honestly think this series has a chance. Hopefully someone can pick the series up off the floor.
Having said that, I liked it. It made me snile ( that's a cross between sniggering and smiling ) and I thought the story intriguing. Drawing together multiple myths and creating more questions than it answered, this single ( badly made ) episode had me wanting more. It simply has a very good story, albeit let down by bad production values.
Call it "The Man From Atlantis", lose the breasts and the American sugar coating and I honestly think this series has a chance. Hopefully someone can pick the series up off the floor.
Probably the greatest unsung pilot ever
luminous-luciano10 May 2013
This one could not have been better than it was: the rather short but costly to produce pilot episode for a proposed ''Mercy Reef'' series (quickly renamed Aquaman, when it went on sale on iTunes - the title it always should have had) was intriguing, well-done, full of interesting sub-plots involving a wide-array of solid supporting characters. This was truly considerably better than, say - the Smallville pilot? Or that most recent pilot they gave Mr. Moulton's creation, with Adrianne Palicki in the lead role... Yes, the same Adrianne who plays a Siren in this great pilot right here! Yes, folks, believe it: the Aquaman pilot undeniably was better than those two other pilots - one officially a failed one while the other begat a drawn-out series that probably ran for way too long as it was... (Just ask Tom Welling!)
Justin Hartley is Aquaman - much moreso than the cool guy who portrayed the role first and subsequently in various Smallville episodes. It is sad to see so many uninformed individuals nowadays claim that the Justin Hartley Aquaman footage they stumble upon on YouTube, for instance, is ''fake'' and that he only ever was Green Arrow on that other show - well, no, he was not! He was Aquaman first and this show was a GO until the merger that gave birth to the CW network made it impossible (although the real reason was budget concerns for each episode, if it was to continue forth. Yes, the haters will find it impossible to believe it, but this pilot here was indeed one of the most expensive to have ever been produced, ALL-TIME! If it had been as cheap to produce as The Big Bang Theory, Entourage or, indeed, the first five seasons of Smallville, AQUAMAN would have been ongoing - but under the more poetic title of ''Mercy Reef'' most certainly...)
It is ironic to note that Justin was replacing the first choice for the part here -I forget his name, sorry- and that, later on, he also got ditched for the part of Arrow when Smallville ended and Arrow spun-off into his own series - a cheap one to produce, you've guessed it, which is why it is still going as we post this here. Thus, now, neither role is officially ''his'' in many people's minds - as even Aquaman became that guy from American Idol's exclusive part, and it was him (Alan Ritchson - now I remember this one's name - alas) delivering the most profound lines written for the character of Aquaman but also for any super-hero on television - ever (veritable sermons about the significance of being a hero in today's world, what it means to the masses and well-being of the entire planet; Arthur Curry was effectively teaching the wet-behind-the-ears Clark Kent how to act... Super!) and it was all through Alan Ritchson's mouth, not Justin's.
People also marvel at the fact that Ving Rhames refused to be a part of another Mission Impossible fiasco - but accepted the part of Aquaman's mentor in this (at the time, sure-to-be ongoing) series. Why marvel at this when it is obvious that Ving had a better role in this one than he ever would have had playing second fiddle to Cruise? The dynamic between young AQ and McCaffery here was producing excellent dialogue and it would have been far greater than what we had seen going on between Jonathan ''Duke of Hazzard'' Kent and Clark: alas, we will never see the rest of it now.
Lou Diamond Philips' participation was also stunning quite a few - for no reason, too. After all, the Man From Atlantis himself was interested in the part of Aquaman's adoptive father: Patrick Duffy had been quoted saying that he very much loved the whole ''wink- wink'' aspect of the thing, in an interview given to TV Guide. They couldn't work it out contractually, that's all - so Lou stepped in and was immediately seen anchoring a solid supporting cast here that included many recognizable faces, most notably Daniela Wolters (now Deutscher) as Atlanna, Aquaman's mother, and Rick Peters as Agent Brigman - sort of a cross between Fox Mulder and some sort of precursor to... Agent Coulson? (See why I waited so long to review this - hindsight is always 20/20!)
The pilot's storyline itself is much more than the summary blurb says here, too: there is considerably more going on than just a young Florida Keys dude finding out he can breathe underwater! In fact, the story set up here would have made for several seasons of great adventure, as it incorporated elements of mystery, supernatural, mythology and more! Aquaman is, after all, not a mere super-hero but much more than that: through his links to the sea and Atlantis, he immediately becomes a larger-than-life force of nature, modern mythology personified at its best especially in these times of ecological concerns. Most so-called ''fans'' fail to see that - and that is just so sad. Thankfully, the pilot's writing team were not so blind and they cooked up a fascinating plot involving the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, a bit of an X-Files feel to it, mythological creatures waiting in tow (for sure - one shows up here and she was but the first emissary) and then we have a young Arthur Curry discovering his true nature and awesome heritage.
This would have been a great TV series - and we can easily call it the greatest genre TV series that never was, beyond ONE SINGLE EPISODE...
Buy it on iTunes! (I'm sure it's still there!)
And see you when this gets revived as... a major motion picture (but James Cameron needs not bother to volunteer to direct; nor should Marky Mark bother to audition for the part!)
Justin Hartley is Aquaman - much moreso than the cool guy who portrayed the role first and subsequently in various Smallville episodes. It is sad to see so many uninformed individuals nowadays claim that the Justin Hartley Aquaman footage they stumble upon on YouTube, for instance, is ''fake'' and that he only ever was Green Arrow on that other show - well, no, he was not! He was Aquaman first and this show was a GO until the merger that gave birth to the CW network made it impossible (although the real reason was budget concerns for each episode, if it was to continue forth. Yes, the haters will find it impossible to believe it, but this pilot here was indeed one of the most expensive to have ever been produced, ALL-TIME! If it had been as cheap to produce as The Big Bang Theory, Entourage or, indeed, the first five seasons of Smallville, AQUAMAN would have been ongoing - but under the more poetic title of ''Mercy Reef'' most certainly...)
It is ironic to note that Justin was replacing the first choice for the part here -I forget his name, sorry- and that, later on, he also got ditched for the part of Arrow when Smallville ended and Arrow spun-off into his own series - a cheap one to produce, you've guessed it, which is why it is still going as we post this here. Thus, now, neither role is officially ''his'' in many people's minds - as even Aquaman became that guy from American Idol's exclusive part, and it was him (Alan Ritchson - now I remember this one's name - alas) delivering the most profound lines written for the character of Aquaman but also for any super-hero on television - ever (veritable sermons about the significance of being a hero in today's world, what it means to the masses and well-being of the entire planet; Arthur Curry was effectively teaching the wet-behind-the-ears Clark Kent how to act... Super!) and it was all through Alan Ritchson's mouth, not Justin's.
People also marvel at the fact that Ving Rhames refused to be a part of another Mission Impossible fiasco - but accepted the part of Aquaman's mentor in this (at the time, sure-to-be ongoing) series. Why marvel at this when it is obvious that Ving had a better role in this one than he ever would have had playing second fiddle to Cruise? The dynamic between young AQ and McCaffery here was producing excellent dialogue and it would have been far greater than what we had seen going on between Jonathan ''Duke of Hazzard'' Kent and Clark: alas, we will never see the rest of it now.
Lou Diamond Philips' participation was also stunning quite a few - for no reason, too. After all, the Man From Atlantis himself was interested in the part of Aquaman's adoptive father: Patrick Duffy had been quoted saying that he very much loved the whole ''wink- wink'' aspect of the thing, in an interview given to TV Guide. They couldn't work it out contractually, that's all - so Lou stepped in and was immediately seen anchoring a solid supporting cast here that included many recognizable faces, most notably Daniela Wolters (now Deutscher) as Atlanna, Aquaman's mother, and Rick Peters as Agent Brigman - sort of a cross between Fox Mulder and some sort of precursor to... Agent Coulson? (See why I waited so long to review this - hindsight is always 20/20!)
The pilot's storyline itself is much more than the summary blurb says here, too: there is considerably more going on than just a young Florida Keys dude finding out he can breathe underwater! In fact, the story set up here would have made for several seasons of great adventure, as it incorporated elements of mystery, supernatural, mythology and more! Aquaman is, after all, not a mere super-hero but much more than that: through his links to the sea and Atlantis, he immediately becomes a larger-than-life force of nature, modern mythology personified at its best especially in these times of ecological concerns. Most so-called ''fans'' fail to see that - and that is just so sad. Thankfully, the pilot's writing team were not so blind and they cooked up a fascinating plot involving the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, a bit of an X-Files feel to it, mythological creatures waiting in tow (for sure - one shows up here and she was but the first emissary) and then we have a young Arthur Curry discovering his true nature and awesome heritage.
This would have been a great TV series - and we can easily call it the greatest genre TV series that never was, beyond ONE SINGLE EPISODE...
Buy it on iTunes! (I'm sure it's still there!)
And see you when this gets revived as... a major motion picture (but James Cameron needs not bother to volunteer to direct; nor should Marky Mark bother to audition for the part!)
fun
nakazato-113 September 2006
It's a fun action show, probably would have become a cross between Smallville, X-files and Baywatch. One of the problems with WB and UPN merging is that they are two totally different networks with a different feel for their audiences -- so I almost never watched UPN as they didn't know how to do action+fantasy+personal relationships made so popular with Buffy, Angel, Smallville and Supernatural. CW canceled the show, Aquaman aka Mercy Reef, WB had greenlighted. Luckily you can see the Aquaman pilot on iTunes and judge for yourself their decision to kill the show before it aired.
The fantasy bits are Bermuda triangle, Atlantis and a guy who swims fast and sense that he may be able to communicate with underwater denizens. Oh, yeah and the secret navy group investigating strange phenomena. You've got potential complicated relationships -- a young cutie guy who hits on all the bikini babes he can, finds out he's a lost prince, becomes an unselfish do-gooder when he'd rather party while still wanting to solve the disappearance of his mother. Add in a stepfather with Lou Diamonds Philip in the role--played nicey nice a lot like Mr. Kent in Smallville. A girl next door type as his best friend, a woman naval pilot with a chip on her shoulder, and a big tough black guy who gives him a Shakespeare play as training for his destiny (Aquaman is Mr. Action, mind you, not a reader so he is not as appreciative of the gift as he really just wants to learn to kickass). And a really wicked mermaid--I mean siren. Add bikinis and shirtless hunks for eye candy. Only thing missing from the formula is a wicked manipulator like Dan in One Tree Hill but that would have come later. And a close male friend who is either another hunk, a techy geek or a funny sidekick. Script needs a little more work, though, as occasionally the lines sounded a little comic- booky. CW canceled Aquaman in favor of Runaway and Hidden Palms (they both sound more suitable for the over 40 crowd who watch CBS) which I think they will probably regret. It's a pity the new execs at CW don't understand that Aquaman appeals to WB fans aged 30 and under. It's a pity more episodes weren't made -- could've started a new trend -- a canceled show never airs but becomes a hit while viewed on itunes and then becomes a major motion picture. After all superheroes seem to do better at the box office than the small screen. Oh well. Have a good time watching the pilot as sadly that is likely to be all we will see of Aquaman.
The fantasy bits are Bermuda triangle, Atlantis and a guy who swims fast and sense that he may be able to communicate with underwater denizens. Oh, yeah and the secret navy group investigating strange phenomena. You've got potential complicated relationships -- a young cutie guy who hits on all the bikini babes he can, finds out he's a lost prince, becomes an unselfish do-gooder when he'd rather party while still wanting to solve the disappearance of his mother. Add in a stepfather with Lou Diamonds Philip in the role--played nicey nice a lot like Mr. Kent in Smallville. A girl next door type as his best friend, a woman naval pilot with a chip on her shoulder, and a big tough black guy who gives him a Shakespeare play as training for his destiny (Aquaman is Mr. Action, mind you, not a reader so he is not as appreciative of the gift as he really just wants to learn to kickass). And a really wicked mermaid--I mean siren. Add bikinis and shirtless hunks for eye candy. Only thing missing from the formula is a wicked manipulator like Dan in One Tree Hill but that would have come later. And a close male friend who is either another hunk, a techy geek or a funny sidekick. Script needs a little more work, though, as occasionally the lines sounded a little comic- booky. CW canceled Aquaman in favor of Runaway and Hidden Palms (they both sound more suitable for the over 40 crowd who watch CBS) which I think they will probably regret. It's a pity the new execs at CW don't understand that Aquaman appeals to WB fans aged 30 and under. It's a pity more episodes weren't made -- could've started a new trend -- a canceled show never airs but becomes a hit while viewed on itunes and then becomes a major motion picture. After all superheroes seem to do better at the box office than the small screen. Oh well. Have a good time watching the pilot as sadly that is likely to be all we will see of Aquaman.
Bring it BACK
crash-199816 November 2006
I think that the CW needs to bring it back or another network should pick it up. How would everyone like to go about getting Mercy Reef back on the air. E-Mail The CW or what. They have supernatural, gilmore girls, they need more action/adventure on. Supernatural is good, but for the die hard comic book fans it is not enough look at all the movie that are based on comic books. How many people grew up reading comics I know I did I guess the people that turned it down has lived a sheltered life or they must be so rich they just don't care about making money. My wife really dosen't read comics that much but she liked it and was asking me when it comes on it is just disappointing that CW wouldn't give it a fair chance NBC came out with heros and it's doing great so come on CW BRING IT BACK you need another good action show on.....
Ummm.... actually pretty good
ckanis30 July 2006
Too bad this didn't get picked up. The plot was pretty interesting, and they set up a lot of potential story lines from the first episode. It didn't seem like they felt at all bound by the Aquaman mythos from the comics, but that's fine with me.
The guy playing Aquaman was so-so, but his gal-pal Eva was smokin' hot. She would have quickly become a real 'it' girl -- hopefully she still will. Heck, even the evil monsters were drop-dead gorgeous.
I wish we could have seen where this show was headed. They put it up on iTunes, though, so maybe if there's enough outcry for it, they'll reconsider.
The guy playing Aquaman was so-so, but his gal-pal Eva was smokin' hot. She would have quickly become a real 'it' girl -- hopefully she still will. Heck, even the evil monsters were drop-dead gorgeous.
I wish we could have seen where this show was headed. They put it up on iTunes, though, so maybe if there's enough outcry for it, they'll reconsider.
The pilot was awesome!
azngal30 July 2006
I do not agree with the other post. The show had a lot of potential, and unfortunately, it was not given the chance. It was after all a pilot, so they were setting up the story lines. Justin Hartley did an excellent job as A.C. His character was rebellious and cocky, but very likable. Ving, Lou, and the rest of the cast did a great job as well. All the actors worked well with one another. I found the story lines to be really interesting, and the special effects were awesome. The ending only left me wanting more, and it left me wondering why the heck CW passed up on it. It's an incredibly stupid decision on their part. They take up another season of 7th Heaven and leave this out? It's still #1 on i-Tunes, and it's been 5 days already. The trailer did really well on you-tube too gaining over 100,000+ views. For the most part, people like it. I would hope by its success on i-Tunes that there's still a chance for this show come mid-season. It's such a shame if this is all we get to see. CW hasn't even come out yet, and already, they made a stupid decision.
Pilot Makes Big Splash But is no Tsunami
vuture2 October 2006
This show is the very sort of program that is needed--desperately. How many shows out there deal with the looming global catastrophe growing from the abuse of the ocean's resources? Human beings are having a devastating effect on life in the sea and few are even paying attention. Along comes a show that hints at the potential to address these vital issues and it never gets holds water. I guess it is like Dr. Chomsky says: television is not about the programs, it's about the advertising. In the television world, what they call "content" is the commercials they want us to watch while the "filler" is just the show that comes in between the ads. Maybe if more viewers understood this and were more discriminating and vocal about their television viewing, Hollywood and advertising sponsors alike would get the message that it is better to have a show that interests a lot of people than try to get advertisers that want or don't want to sponsor a particular show. (Though I can see how a company that sells tuna fish would not be so tempted to sponsor a show with a superhero character that makes fishermen out to be the (ofttime) bad guy.)
I don't know that it was a sponsor that influenced this show to not get picked up but it makes sense that if not enough companies were willing to sponsor this show, its chances of getting on the air would sink straight to the bottom like a lead weight in water.
Aquaman was one of my favorite superheroes in childhood and I would have very much liked to have seen this show become a regular series. I do believe it had good potential to float although the pilot in some ways felt weak to me. The acting was not particularly good and the scripts could have used more polish. I see that often in pilots and then the show gets better as time goes on so that could well have been the case here. Looks like we'll never get the chance to find out. What a shame.
Perhaps if viewers show enough interest, this pilot might be further developed into a TV movie or a mini-series. I would certainly be one of the first in the water to buy it on iTunes.
I rate this 7 out of 10.
Wordcount: 392
I don't know that it was a sponsor that influenced this show to not get picked up but it makes sense that if not enough companies were willing to sponsor this show, its chances of getting on the air would sink straight to the bottom like a lead weight in water.
Aquaman was one of my favorite superheroes in childhood and I would have very much liked to have seen this show become a regular series. I do believe it had good potential to float although the pilot in some ways felt weak to me. The acting was not particularly good and the scripts could have used more polish. I see that often in pilots and then the show gets better as time goes on so that could well have been the case here. Looks like we'll never get the chance to find out. What a shame.
Perhaps if viewers show enough interest, this pilot might be further developed into a TV movie or a mini-series. I would certainly be one of the first in the water to buy it on iTunes.
I rate this 7 out of 10.
Wordcount: 392
a worthy successor to smallville
tattooedtool4 August 2006
Aquaman is obviously not the most recognised or popular superhero around and yet this show managed to give him a fairly cool edge. fans of smallville will love this, as i did, i would even go as far as to say that the pilot is a better show than the pilot for smallville (obviously the creative team have gotten better since the beginning of smallville) anyway, with smallville apparently coming to an end in a season or two i think it would be crazy for some network to leave Aquaman dead in the water (sorry) solid acting from all concerned and very cool FX all contribute to this pilot being an obvious hit, watch it anyway you can.
A show that could go ten rounds but, gets TKO in the eighth
freddybaker5721 August 2006
The first live action version of Aquaman is an interesting idea. The show had the special efx to go the distance. The swimming scenes were above ave. , but as another reviewer mentioned, we really don't need to see Aquaman swim like a real fish!!! Jab to the head! The actors are a good mix of veterans (Lou D. Phillips--Ving Rhymes) and new comers (Amber McDonald, Justin Hartley as Aquaman). At times though the veterans (Ving) just are not performing up to their thespian potential. Perhaps it is the lame lines Ving's character has to recite. He sounds like he is reading lines cut from Rambo X. Left hook to the body! The main things that keeps this pilot from taking a dive in the fourth is the intriguing idea of a super hero that swims and actually cares about the environment. In summary, this show might not go the distance with out some road work (fine tuning), but if given a chance on another network (rematch) it may become the surprise hit of the fall or winter season.
Is this what a comic book show is supposed to be like? Baywatch: the Second Coming?
Surecure29 October 2006
Mercy Reef could be the ultimate example of how to make a really bad pilot. It appears as if the recipe that was used to create this show was:
1) Get a bunch of good looking ex-swimsuit models who can't act: Apart from Ving Rhames, the entire cast combined couldn't deliver lines for a gum commercial. Sure, they all look cute, but their expressionless, bobble-head deliveries look like first year high-school drama.
2) Forget about a plot, just throw lots of poorly thought out action scenes together: The writers seemed to have missed the boat on coming up with a decent enough reason for the audience to stick around. Sure, let's just believe that the sea baddies can tell when Orin is flying above, but can't find him when he's floating outside the door of a wrecked plane. Let's make it so that he'll be out and about in the sea and completely defenseless, but instead they go pick on a jet plane and then be so kind as to leave him alone when he goes to save the mandatory hot female pilot. Okay then...
3) Let's embody every character with every cliché trait you can throw at a wall. Upstanding military man with angst ridden, surfer attitude son who has no sense of responsibility. Lone female pilot (did I mention it's mandatory she be hot?) who is up against the world being given the top assignment. And should we talk about the lovely, bar-tending brunette trying to give the main character a sense of purpose? What is this, Dawson's Creek?
4) And should we throw in some dark-suited government baddies as well? That always goes over like... like... well, something. But I wouldn't leave it in the hands of these writers to think up what?
Seriously, I have to thank the maker for this show being passed over. It is one of the most poorly crafted series I have ever seen. I can't believe that people are actually giving this garbage a rating of 10 out of 10. If this is quality television to some people, then some people need to get out more. This is not Battlestar Galactica level quality. This is not even He-Man quality. This show reads as if it were written over a weekend because the pay looked good, not as if it was a lovingly developed and nurtured work.
Maybe the show's creators should have just used the energy involved in turning this show out to make Smallville a better series. It obviously wasn't a lot of energy, but every little bit thrown back to a half-decent series is energy better spent.
1) Get a bunch of good looking ex-swimsuit models who can't act: Apart from Ving Rhames, the entire cast combined couldn't deliver lines for a gum commercial. Sure, they all look cute, but their expressionless, bobble-head deliveries look like first year high-school drama.
2) Forget about a plot, just throw lots of poorly thought out action scenes together: The writers seemed to have missed the boat on coming up with a decent enough reason for the audience to stick around. Sure, let's just believe that the sea baddies can tell when Orin is flying above, but can't find him when he's floating outside the door of a wrecked plane. Let's make it so that he'll be out and about in the sea and completely defenseless, but instead they go pick on a jet plane and then be so kind as to leave him alone when he goes to save the mandatory hot female pilot. Okay then...
3) Let's embody every character with every cliché trait you can throw at a wall. Upstanding military man with angst ridden, surfer attitude son who has no sense of responsibility. Lone female pilot (did I mention it's mandatory she be hot?) who is up against the world being given the top assignment. And should we talk about the lovely, bar-tending brunette trying to give the main character a sense of purpose? What is this, Dawson's Creek?
4) And should we throw in some dark-suited government baddies as well? That always goes over like... like... well, something. But I wouldn't leave it in the hands of these writers to think up what?
Seriously, I have to thank the maker for this show being passed over. It is one of the most poorly crafted series I have ever seen. I can't believe that people are actually giving this garbage a rating of 10 out of 10. If this is quality television to some people, then some people need to get out more. This is not Battlestar Galactica level quality. This is not even He-Man quality. This show reads as if it were written over a weekend because the pay looked good, not as if it was a lovingly developed and nurtured work.
Maybe the show's creators should have just used the energy involved in turning this show out to make Smallville a better series. It obviously wasn't a lot of energy, but every little bit thrown back to a half-decent series is energy better spent.
Aquaman Rules!
lpk_sunny6 September 2006
I can't believe the show didn't get picked up for the fall schedule. After seeing the pilot on iTunes I was hooked, and wanted more. In fact most people have commented that the CW has made a HUGE mistake by not picking it up (the average itune rating is 4 & half stars out of a possible 5). The casting was excellent (Justing Hartley without a shirt most of the series, what self respecting girl wouldn't watch?) the acting was superb, and the writing was amazing. The show was far better than some of the shows that got picked up, and even better than some returning shows. Who really needed "7th Heaven" for an 11th season when they could of had "Aquaman". The CW is making an incredible mistake and I hope other networks see the response that the pilot episode is getting and they snatch this gem of a show up.
Lots of Promise
mog0257 July 2007
From the pilot, I'm enthused about this new version of Aquaman. I was particularly impressed on how the creators captured Aquaman's (A.C.'s) underwater life.....IMDb lists the pilot under 2006...It's 2007 now...I hope they didn't drop the show; otherwise, the channel's executives have their heads up their asses.
When the grown A.C. first comes into the show, looking like a California beach dude, I was like "Oh No....This is going to be some Dawson's Creek, contrived teenage drama..." But actually, A.C. shows some depth in his character to make it interesting (although all the characters are pretty simple). The writing needs help being predictable, but they've done a good job at leaving the following plot open and mysterious. The acting needs serious work as well although I was glad to see Vin Rahmes and Lou Diamond Phillips bring some seasoned professionalism to the show. The directing also needs to improve...Emotionally it's "tacky." The director takes the viewer from suspenseful scenes to carefree, bubbly scenes immediately afterwards...taking away from the continuity of the plot.
Overall though, I enjoyed it...There's a lot to work with, but I fear if certain aspects (as mentioned above) are not payed attention to the show will end up being mediocre while it could be GREAT. It really does have great potential I think, but I fear if the show continues, it will get stupid with the writing, acting, and directing, and I'll get bored and tune out.
When the grown A.C. first comes into the show, looking like a California beach dude, I was like "Oh No....This is going to be some Dawson's Creek, contrived teenage drama..." But actually, A.C. shows some depth in his character to make it interesting (although all the characters are pretty simple). The writing needs help being predictable, but they've done a good job at leaving the following plot open and mysterious. The acting needs serious work as well although I was glad to see Vin Rahmes and Lou Diamond Phillips bring some seasoned professionalism to the show. The directing also needs to improve...Emotionally it's "tacky." The director takes the viewer from suspenseful scenes to carefree, bubbly scenes immediately afterwards...taking away from the continuity of the plot.
Overall though, I enjoyed it...There's a lot to work with, but I fear if certain aspects (as mentioned above) are not payed attention to the show will end up being mediocre while it could be GREAT. It really does have great potential I think, but I fear if the show continues, it will get stupid with the writing, acting, and directing, and I'll get bored and tune out.
Too generic for my taste
Horst_In_Translation26 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I cannot say I am too mad that this 42-minute television pilot episode had not been continued into a real regular television show. Especially the acting was a weakness. Justin Hartley could not convince me and most of the supporting players weren't much better. Hartley is obviously a casting choice here in terms of where filmmakers cared much more about the physical side of the lead actor than about his range. This is quite a pity as the story of Aquaman could have been much more interesting than in this one here, in which he goes up against an evil siren. The effects are nice and there are some pretty good moments, but as a whole, it's just not enough for the runtime of half a feature film. Not recommended.
Aquaman Pilo
razybwoy5 August 2006
I've just watched the Pilot of Aquaman from Itunes and must say that if WB doesn't pick up on this the guys who in charge cant possibly haven't had the time to watch the PILOT... The cast and the storyline along with the crew of small ville really knows what makes things interesting for the viewers... Usually aqua man is quite lame but they have already managed to make lots of fans who would love to follow the show..I really hope that they'll air the show in September... Nowadays it's possible to make great shows in this category due to experience and technology. They've got something here which would make quite a success SO they shouldn't hesitate.... Hope to see the show aired
The Atlantis myth takes form
adame-dahmani28 July 2006
At last, the right show to revive the Atlantis myth.
I'm pretty interested about myths, more exactly the Bermuda triangle and sea monsters, mermaids... Actually, I've never found any interesting movies and/or TV show related to this topics. I'm well served with the Mercy Reef :P
It's pretty impressive for a pilot. It makes you get inside the whole story in a brilliant way. Actors are really impressive, they're strongly in their character, performing terrifically.The story on itself is well introduced. The decor is quickly planted, giving you time to concentrate on characters' role.
It seems that we're going to witness a kind of modern fairytale, involving an exiled prince from the legendary Atlantis, facing evil of his own people. Unnatural behavior, inhuman powers, morphing, and so on are at the rendezvous, deploying a minimum of creativity and imagination that should keep this show tuned, and satisfy the thirst of modern aquatic stories for more than one.
The FX are an undeniable part of the success, as sea creatures should be a big part of the buzz. We've imagine mermaids, but what'll see is more than a fantasy! It'll haunt your dreams ;)
This nowadays fairytale has began, beware to drown on it ;)
I'm pretty interested about myths, more exactly the Bermuda triangle and sea monsters, mermaids... Actually, I've never found any interesting movies and/or TV show related to this topics. I'm well served with the Mercy Reef :P
It's pretty impressive for a pilot. It makes you get inside the whole story in a brilliant way. Actors are really impressive, they're strongly in their character, performing terrifically.The story on itself is well introduced. The decor is quickly planted, giving you time to concentrate on characters' role.
It seems that we're going to witness a kind of modern fairytale, involving an exiled prince from the legendary Atlantis, facing evil of his own people. Unnatural behavior, inhuman powers, morphing, and so on are at the rendezvous, deploying a minimum of creativity and imagination that should keep this show tuned, and satisfy the thirst of modern aquatic stories for more than one.
The FX are an undeniable part of the success, as sea creatures should be a big part of the buzz. We've imagine mermaids, but what'll see is more than a fantasy! It'll haunt your dreams ;)
This nowadays fairytale has began, beware to drown on it ;)
awesome show...hope it gets on 'the air'
rbozzdblust30 July 2006
I just got this on iTunes and it was really amazing! Being that it is intended to be a television show, it was truly very interesting. I can see this doing well as a weekly series. Of course, only the pilot is available for viewing now...but it does leave you with many unanswered questions, hoping to see the rest of the story play out.
there are many possibilities that the characters and the plot line can follow. production quality on the episode that i watched was very good as well. the cast was very likable and the plot was believable. Aquaman himself, AC, was a very likable hero.
i would absolutely watch this show on TV every week if it were on.
there are many possibilities that the characters and the plot line can follow. production quality on the episode that i watched was very good as well. the cast was very likable and the plot was believable. Aquaman himself, AC, was a very likable hero.
i would absolutely watch this show on TV every week if it were on.
My Review of ''Mercy Reef''
darth_miha8 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Having been a comic book fan for a very long time, I was gradually excited about the new Aquaman (Mercy Reef) series. But.... After seeing the pilot, I wanted to growl up, since this wasn't what I expected. Let me elaborate a bit... Reconceived as an environmentally-minded perpetual screw-up, A.C. is a well-meaning but callow young man who must learn to take responsibility once he is told of his Atlantean heritage. As dramatic as this sounds, that's more of a set-up for where the series might have gone. Throughout most of the pilot, A.C. comes across more like a smirky fratboy on spring break. At times, Hartley has the look and bland charm of Ben Affleck. Perhaps his upcoming turn as Oliver Queen on Smallville will better suit him. What's odd, though, is that A.C. knows he has superhuman abilities underwater and yet never once questions where they came from. It's one thing to know that you were adopted but to understand that you're amphibious should at the very least provoke some introspection. When you can swim fast enough to keep up with a fighter jet racing overhead and become stronger when exposed to water, you're going to respond with shock when told that you might hail from some place other than South Florida?! A.C. even has the audacity at one point to exclaim, "I'm a dive shop owner! I'm not the protector of the Seven Seas!" The boy just ain't right.
Ving Rhames channels Marcellus Wallace in his performance as McCaffrey, bellowing such lines as, "The only way to kill those scaly bitches is to nail them between the eyes!" McCaffrey fulfills the Basil Exposition role necessary for A.C. to find out who he is, even admitting at one point, "You don't think I know how absurd this sounds?" What attracted Rhames to such a thankless part remains a mystery.
Aquaman drowns in poor dialogue. Along with the aforementioned gems, the pilot contains atrocious lines such as, "Maybe someday the fish will have their revenge," the future campaign slogan "This is not a foolish crusade; this is a matter of national security," and McCaffrey's poignant, "Destiny is like a riptide. You never know it's pulling you in until it's too late."
At least the special effects were serviceable, if not superior to some recent feature films (although is it really saying much to proclaim that it looks better than Catwoman?). Had Aquaman been picked up as a series, the combination of its effects budget and on-the-water filming surely would have made it one of the most expensive series on TV. That daunting prospect alone may have been a reason why The CW didn't pick it up.
Ultimately, Gough and Millar had some good ideas for making Aquaman work as a TV show but it was the poor execution of them that made this mediocre pilot flounder.
Ving Rhames channels Marcellus Wallace in his performance as McCaffrey, bellowing such lines as, "The only way to kill those scaly bitches is to nail them between the eyes!" McCaffrey fulfills the Basil Exposition role necessary for A.C. to find out who he is, even admitting at one point, "You don't think I know how absurd this sounds?" What attracted Rhames to such a thankless part remains a mystery.
Aquaman drowns in poor dialogue. Along with the aforementioned gems, the pilot contains atrocious lines such as, "Maybe someday the fish will have their revenge," the future campaign slogan "This is not a foolish crusade; this is a matter of national security," and McCaffrey's poignant, "Destiny is like a riptide. You never know it's pulling you in until it's too late."
At least the special effects were serviceable, if not superior to some recent feature films (although is it really saying much to proclaim that it looks better than Catwoman?). Had Aquaman been picked up as a series, the combination of its effects budget and on-the-water filming surely would have made it one of the most expensive series on TV. That daunting prospect alone may have been a reason why The CW didn't pick it up.
Ultimately, Gough and Millar had some good ideas for making Aquaman work as a TV show but it was the poor execution of them that made this mediocre pilot flounder.
Loved it... can't stand CW for not picking it up!
heyitsad-111 August 2006
This pilot was awesome. I downloaded it from CW. Too bad "jumpthesnark" didn't like it. This pilot reminded me a lot of Smallville's first episode and the excitement it created in me. I am so frustrated that CW isn't picking this up. They are nuts! I know this show would be a hit. If you haven't downloaded it on ITUNES... DO IT! It's really great. For every 1 person that says it's not that great, there's hundreds that have loved it...I thought the plot was very interesting and the characters that were being developed were ones that I wanted to know more about. I didn't get that feeling like I do in other Pilots where I'm like, maybe I need to watch a few more shows to see if I like it. This one I enjoyed so much I thought, I need to tell others about it!!! Anyway, go buy the pilot, it's only a buck ninety nine. It's worth it.
You people are all nuts!!!!
blackrooster19 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Are these comments real? Seriously? Now I know why there are so many crappy movies and TV shows out there. Most of these posters must have been high on something.
I watched this pilot with two other friends and we all agreed that it was horrible. Everything bad that could be put into a pilot was here. Every cliché was in full force.
The writing was horrible. The directing was horrible. The entire story was horrible.
It's not even hard to back up my position. I know nothing about Aquaman, really, so I went into it with an open mind. It didn't matter if anything was changed because I didn't care. Here are some points:
-- The narration in the beginning was silly. Just get into he story already. Let the audience THINK instead of being hand fed everything.
-- Ving Raymes' character was ridiculous. His nickname should have been Exposition. What happened to unearthing backstory through action and bits of dialogue here and there? I guess that isn't needed when a menacing Ving Raymes can say choice bits like "A storm is coming" or whatever the heck he said. All of his dialogue was so on the nose, it isn't funny.
-- A.C. tells his "gal pal" that he can talk to fish. Let me repeat this ... he tells her that HE ... CAN ... TALK ... TO ... FISH. Her reaction? It barely fazed her. She just went along with her day. And then later, he tells her about Atlantis or the sirens, something incredible, and she has the same reaction. Where were these kinds of girls when I was in college? They'll believe anything.
-- A.C. scoffs at the idea of Atlantis and pretty much everything else. This guy can breathe underwater and swim at the speed of a jet and he thinks Atlantis is too fantastic? Compare this to Clark being told that he's an alien ... an ALIEN ... and compare how they each reacted.
-- I don't want to pick on the FX, because I'm sure they weren't finished. But the flapping his body thing looked stupid. Yeah, I get it, he's swimming like a fish, but it looked dumb at that speed. Does Clark flap his arms like a bird when he flies?
-- The one cool thing was when they killed the girl. But, oh not, wait ... she survived. So not only is our show terrible, we have no guts to do something out of the ordinary. Like I said, cliché.
That's just a few things off the top of my head. There was nothing redeeming about this pilot, and it would have been an embarrassment to CW. I give them a lot of credit for having the guts not to put it on the air despite being created by the creators of Smallville.
I am amazed by how bad this was. Don't writers know anything about quality anymore? This is stuff that I learned to avoid in my first creative writing class. I can't believe that someone high up in the production didn't say "You know, this is real crap." They should be embarrassed to be a part of it, I'm sad to say.
And don't come back and say "Yeah, but it was a pilot." If anything, a pilot should stand out. Check out the pilots for Angel, Firefly, Lost, and Rescue Me, just to name a few. Those all set up stories that would be fleshed out later, and they were all good. I can understand being easy on a pilot, but not when it is this bad.
But please don't avoid downloading the pilot. Get some friends together, order pizza, have some drinks, and try to count how many times they repeat plot points that have already been stated. Or how many times A.C.'s hair comes out perfectly mussed up after being in the water.
I watched this pilot with two other friends and we all agreed that it was horrible. Everything bad that could be put into a pilot was here. Every cliché was in full force.
The writing was horrible. The directing was horrible. The entire story was horrible.
It's not even hard to back up my position. I know nothing about Aquaman, really, so I went into it with an open mind. It didn't matter if anything was changed because I didn't care. Here are some points:
-- The narration in the beginning was silly. Just get into he story already. Let the audience THINK instead of being hand fed everything.
-- Ving Raymes' character was ridiculous. His nickname should have been Exposition. What happened to unearthing backstory through action and bits of dialogue here and there? I guess that isn't needed when a menacing Ving Raymes can say choice bits like "A storm is coming" or whatever the heck he said. All of his dialogue was so on the nose, it isn't funny.
-- A.C. tells his "gal pal" that he can talk to fish. Let me repeat this ... he tells her that HE ... CAN ... TALK ... TO ... FISH. Her reaction? It barely fazed her. She just went along with her day. And then later, he tells her about Atlantis or the sirens, something incredible, and she has the same reaction. Where were these kinds of girls when I was in college? They'll believe anything.
-- A.C. scoffs at the idea of Atlantis and pretty much everything else. This guy can breathe underwater and swim at the speed of a jet and he thinks Atlantis is too fantastic? Compare this to Clark being told that he's an alien ... an ALIEN ... and compare how they each reacted.
-- I don't want to pick on the FX, because I'm sure they weren't finished. But the flapping his body thing looked stupid. Yeah, I get it, he's swimming like a fish, but it looked dumb at that speed. Does Clark flap his arms like a bird when he flies?
-- The one cool thing was when they killed the girl. But, oh not, wait ... she survived. So not only is our show terrible, we have no guts to do something out of the ordinary. Like I said, cliché.
That's just a few things off the top of my head. There was nothing redeeming about this pilot, and it would have been an embarrassment to CW. I give them a lot of credit for having the guts not to put it on the air despite being created by the creators of Smallville.
I am amazed by how bad this was. Don't writers know anything about quality anymore? This is stuff that I learned to avoid in my first creative writing class. I can't believe that someone high up in the production didn't say "You know, this is real crap." They should be embarrassed to be a part of it, I'm sad to say.
And don't come back and say "Yeah, but it was a pilot." If anything, a pilot should stand out. Check out the pilots for Angel, Firefly, Lost, and Rescue Me, just to name a few. Those all set up stories that would be fleshed out later, and they were all good. I can understand being easy on a pilot, but not when it is this bad.
But please don't avoid downloading the pilot. Get some friends together, order pizza, have some drinks, and try to count how many times they repeat plot points that have already been stated. Or how many times A.C.'s hair comes out perfectly mussed up after being in the water.
Can't wait for it to be picked up!!!!!!!!!!
Finfan911327 July 2006
This show is amazing I cannot wait for it to be picked all the acting is great except for maybe Ving Rhames' character the special effects were veryimpressive for a pilot and the show did a great job of introducing the characters. Justin Hartley is an extremely talented actor and the supporting characters are great. It brings Aquaman into a totally new light and it will bring him from one of the lamer heroes to one of the most popular ones. I pray it becomes a midseason replacement on the CW or even a bigger network(Fox?!?!?!)Gough and Millar were ripped off when this show wasn't picked up I mean this is a high quality show it pains me to think it might not get picked. MERCY REEF IS ON ITUNES FOR 1.99 BUY IT MAYBE IT WILL BE PICKED UP
AWESOME!! - "FISHTASTIC" from start to "Fin"-ish
roxygr122326 July 2006
OK, I recently got the pilot off from itunes and all i have to say is if the CW does not pick it up, then they do not deserve to be a network because this show is absolutely amazing.
I love superhero things, and Aquaman has always been like the lamest superhero, but this show brings a whole other side of Aquaman to the surface (no pun intended). Mercy Reef is so great because it provides us with a history of Aquaman and starts out by showing his past and talks a lot about his mother and father and how he is connected to Atlantis. They also tie in a lot about missing people in the Bermuda Triangle and how these people return. The battling of the sea creature named Nadia is also a cool plus. Finally Aquaman has some sort of past and coolness brought to him The story line is very interesting as there is so much involved, but not so much that the viewer has a tough time following along. The acting is great, no one i can say did a poor job. Even the effects were great, especially for a pilot. If this show is picked up, or should I say when this show is picked up, it will be an instant success because audiences love superheros and this show brings Aquaman to the level of any other great superhero rather than just being the loser one that talks to fish.
Ten stars for Aquaman and I know I am joining the many already fans of this show!!
I love superhero things, and Aquaman has always been like the lamest superhero, but this show brings a whole other side of Aquaman to the surface (no pun intended). Mercy Reef is so great because it provides us with a history of Aquaman and starts out by showing his past and talks a lot about his mother and father and how he is connected to Atlantis. They also tie in a lot about missing people in the Bermuda Triangle and how these people return. The battling of the sea creature named Nadia is also a cool plus. Finally Aquaman has some sort of past and coolness brought to him The story line is very interesting as there is so much involved, but not so much that the viewer has a tough time following along. The acting is great, no one i can say did a poor job. Even the effects were great, especially for a pilot. If this show is picked up, or should I say when this show is picked up, it will be an instant success because audiences love superheros and this show brings Aquaman to the level of any other great superhero rather than just being the loser one that talks to fish.
Ten stars for Aquaman and I know I am joining the many already fans of this show!!
It was amazing...
bluengreenswmer946 January 2007
I just downloaded the Aquaman pilot from iTunes and I cannot believe that it never got picked up for the CW fall schedule. This show easily beats One Tree Hill, Supernatural, and 7th Heaven. The acting was superb, the plot was amazing, and it got me hooked. By the end I was furious that there were no more episodes to watch, because it is just that compelling. There's so much that could be explored in later episodes... the actual extent of his powers, if he is able to find his mom, is Lt. Torres from Atlantis, and how A.C. is able to save both the world and the sea. I hope that Miles Millar and Al Gough keep pushing for this show to air. Maybe the CW will pick it up next season, or mid season next year if enough of a following develops. I've read nothing but good things about this show; everyone that's seen it seems to love it and I think that should send a message to the network to pick it up.
Aquaman, not as good as everyone makes out!
Skellator20 March 2007
Aquaman a.k.a. Mercy Reef sucks! Don't know where where these good reviews are coming from, mass hysteria maybe? Acting isn't bad, Ving Rhames is the stand out but the lines the writers have them saying are dreadful, and the exposition is simply pathetic. The scene introducing the obvious love interest, Lt. Torres, made me laugh it was so bad. "These orders come from way above my head" (what, to do a flyover?) "This is not the LPGA Torres, you tee off with the men!" Glad it wasn't picked up for a series, from the same folk that brought you Smallville but nowhere near as good.
Watch it if you want to see how not to make a TV show.
Watch it if you want to see how not to make a TV show.
Sick has the potential to be as good as Smallville, if ever aired....
Muia17-112 October 2006
this show was blurry to watch on the comp, but has a lot of potential if ever aired, i don't get why they spend time to make it and then tease people like this. HOW bout play it on TV and give it a shot before u take it off. The show will be much better in the later episodes when the characters history and importance is gone more in depth. Like said before this show has the potential to be as good as smallville if not better. How can the Execs at CW not run a show that the audience has never seen yet. Justin Hartley plays a good AC, he has a nice attractive co star Eva and Ving Rhames does a good job as a wise mentor for Ac. Whois judging it a bunch of middle aged people who the show isn't targeted for.
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