Originally debuting in The Marvel Family #1 in 1945, Black Adam has gone from villain to corrupted anti-hero. While he first appeared in Fawcett comics as Captain Marvel/Shazam’s rival, DC resurrected the character in the early 1970s. In the early 2000s, New Line Cinema began developing a Shazam movie with Peter Segal slated to direct in 2006. The studio approached Dwayne Johnson to star, but he was also interested in playing Black Adam around 2007. Production stalled until 2014 when Warner Bros resurrected the project as part of their new shared DC universe. After the success of Shazam! in 2019, New Line Cinema prioritized Black Adam, with Jaume Collet-Serra as director. Principal photography began in April 2021 and wrapped in August, with a surprise cameo filmed in September 2022. After extensive post-production work, Black Adam premiered in Mexico City in October 2022 before reaching the US later that month.
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Synopsis
In 2600 BCE, the tyrannical king of Kahndaq had forged a powerful item called the Crown of Sabbac. Cut to the present day, where archaeologist Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) searches for the crown to keep it hidden. Unfortunately, the Intergang crime syndicate, who’ve taken control of Kahndaq, ambush Adrianna and her colleagues searching for the artifact. During the attack, Adrianna recites a chant that awakens Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson), Kahndaq’s champion, who slaughters the Intergang troops. His presence catches the attention of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who dispatches the JSA (Justice Society of America) to intercept. Consisting of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), they confront Adam. However, they soon discover that Adrianna’s cousin Ishmael (Marwan Kenzari) is Intergang’s leader and wants the crown’s power. Our heroes must put aside their differences to stop Ishmael from obtaining the powers of Sabbac.
Review
Black Adam is a bit of a mess, but it’s an entertaining mess, largely thanks to its lead actors. Dwayne Johnson carries this movie, delivering a commanding and charismatic performance that makes the viewing experience more enjoyable. The film’s best moments are when Johnson uses his godlike powers to wipe out mercenaries in surprisingly gruesome ways. For a PG-13-rated movie, the filmmakers pushed how far they could go with the violence while barely avoiding an R-rating. The supporting cast also does a good job, with Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge almost stealing the show from Johnson. When the JSA shows up, the action ramps up as they battle with Teth-Adam across the city streets. It is also entertaining to watch them argue about how the JSA doesn’t kill while Adam has no qualms. Plus, at just slightly over two hours, it gets the job done relatively quickly.
Unfortunately, for all its spectacle and action, the movie’s story is weak, and the villain is unremarkable. The film doesn’t do much to introduce audiences to characters like Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher. There is so much exposition dumped on you that it’s hard to track just what is happening. Unless you’re a DC expert, you will feel lost on who these characters are and what their backstories are. The movie tries to throw in a few twists into the story, but many of them are easily predictable. In terms of its place in the DCEU, the film introduces a lot that later movies can expand upon. While the story isn’t all that original or compelling, the action and performances make it worth a watch. Overall, Black Adam may not be the most excellent superhero movie, but it provides some decent entertainment.
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