Black Adam – Review
While Marvel has had tremendous success with their movies, DC seems to have had a harder time. The Man of Steel was the beginning of the DCEU, but they have had a few stumbles since then. How does Black Adam fit into this?
The DC movies had been going in a certain direction and then the executives got nervous and began to second guess. Did they need to start over? Did they need to forget about a shared universe? Black Adam is in many ways, an attempt to regain the original vision for the DCEU.
I am fully aware that Black Adam has not received great reviews from the critics. It definitely was not the deepest story and the Rock is not known for being the most talented actor in Hollywood. But it was a comic book story and the Rock is passionate about these characters.
In case you are unfamiliar with Black Adam, he was originally a villain of the original Captain Marvel (Shazam). He was (in the comics) and ancient Egyptian that received the Shazam powers thousands of years before Billy Batson.
In the comics, he eventually shifted from being a pure villain to being an anti-hero. He also got connected to the Justice Society (a team that pre-dates the Justice League).
In the movie, Black Adam returns in the modern era in the fictional country Kahndaq. This country is run by the international criminal organization Intergang who is looking for an ancient mystical artifact.
Black Adam’s return is noticed by Amanda Waller (head of the Suicide Squad) and she calls in the Justice Society to capture him.
The Justice Society was one of my favourite parts of the movie and it was worth it just for them. Hawkman and Doctor Fate were extremely well done. I really hope that they return. I actually enjoyed the Justice Society in this movie more than I enjoyed the Justice League movie. I would be happy with a Justice Society movie, as well as a solo Hawkman and/or Doctor Fate movie.
I feel as if Black Adam succeeds nicely in what it was trying to do, and that is get the DCEU back on track. While not the most profound movie ever, it was what superhero movies are supposed be like. I definitely think it was better than many of the recent Marvel movies.
Sure there are some plot holes and Black Adam does not have the most engaging personality. But it was really fun and the fight scenes were well done. More than that, it provided a much needed anchor for the DCEU.
If Black Adam is the sign for the future of the DCEU, then I am excited to see what the future holds. We are left with lots to look forward to, including an interaction with Superman, and more logically, with Shazam.
