The Parkz Update: The Aquaman Exhibition: inside Movie World's latest blockbuster attraction
Warner Bros. Movie World have unveiled The Aquaman Exhibition, a new walkthrough attraction featuring props, costumes and sets from the new Aquaman film.
Image: Parkz. The Aquaman Exhibition is now open at Warner Bros. Movie World.
Update By Richard Wilson
13 December 2018
After many years focusing on physical rides, Warner Bros. Movie World have taken a step back to their former years, where movie making and the magic of film was at the forefront of the theme park. While no one could possibly begrudge Movie World for introducing no shortage of world-class rides from Wild West Falls to DC Rivals HyperCoaster and everything in between, there's no question that the park has at times drifted from its name and once ubiquitous Hollywood on the Gold Coast tagline.
Aquaman Exhibition takes Warner Bros. Movie World back to a golden age of sorts, where attractions take guests beyond merely loosely themed experiences, into the films that are at the core of these famous characters and brands.
Repurposing the long-dormant Show Stage behind Doomsday Destroyer and Super-Villains Unleashed, The Aquaman Exhibition is a bold and superbly executed look into the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe canon. While the theatre remains largely in tact (signaling that it could return to use as a second show venue in the distant future), the exhibition makes tremendous use of the space – in particular the generous ceiling height – to maximise the impact of giant sets and props through intricate backdrops, atmospheric lighting and the film's soundtrack to fill the huge space.
Aquaman The Exhibition is a new attraction featuring sets from the recent Aquaman film, which was produced at the adjacent Village Roadshow Studios.
The attraction is located in the Show Stage with its entrance in the Wild West section of the park, just around the corner from Doomsday Destroyer.
It's been a while since the Warner Bros. logo appeared on an attraction at the namesake park.
The first section of The Aquaman Exhibition is devoted to props from the underwater civilisation of Atlantis.
Very quickly the Atlantis statues turn gargantuan.
The waist-high chain railing gives an idea of scale. These statues are enormous.
What follows is a collection of props and costumes from the Aquaman filming, which was based on the Gold Coast in 2017.
With the film not released in Australia until Boxing Day, many of the sets act as something of a teaser, such as this Russian submarine littered with hundreds of bullet shells.
A wall of assorted tridents, guns and other weapons from the film.
Perhaps the best thing about The Aquaman Exhibition is just how close you can get to the sets.
There's also plenty of vantage points, so you can surround props like these Russian torpedoes.
There's endless detail in some of the items.
Walls are adorned in blueprints and other information about the production.
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of The Aquaman Exhibition is being able to enter, walk around and touch Black Manta's Attack Submarine,.
TV screens show relevant clips from the forthcoming film.
The fishing boat features an epic backdrop spanning the entire wall of the Show Stage that was hand-painted.
Some of the props feature detailed descriptions which offer great insight into the filmmaking process.
Costumes are a big part of The Aquaman Exhibition.
There's no glass cases and plenty of vantage points to get up close with the costumes.
Simple signage tells you which actor wore which costume, though a little bit more information such as how they were made or which scenes they were in would be interesting to see, along with stills or videos of the actors wearing them.
The costume worn by Amber Heard who plays Mera, set against shipwreck props.
The exhibition is a rare look behind the scenes, something which is great to see making a return to Warner Bros. Movie World after many years.
The finale of The Aquaman Exhibition is Jason Momoa's iconic Aquaman costume.
The hero costumes – Aquaman and Mera – have been placed in situ for dramatic effect.
The exit features a Green Room experience which yet again features Warner Bros. branding.
Guests can purchase Aquaman themed photos.
The Aquaman Exhibition is now open at Warner Bros. Movie World. It is soon to be joined by the relaunched Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster: Next Generation as part of a summer of new attractions across Village Roadshow's theme parks, including Sky Flyer at Sea World and Shaun the Sheep at Paradise Country.
Update By Richard Wilson
13 December 2018