Movie Review: Black Adam

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie Review in the last run of 2022.

Last time, i reviewed THE Suicide Squad, which is easily one of the best in DCEU film and the best superhero film of 2021, not before i reviewed “Spider-Man No Way Home” that it might mas well said “Hold my beer”. Anyway, it looks like DC films are about to make a comeback to having a new and better films are coming out for--

AZ-06 Ayla: Hey, im sorry to bothering you, but Warner Bros Discovery are in changing direction.

Anthony: Really, how’s that?

AZ-06 Ayla: By halting and cancelling some DCEU films for probably planning for reboots.

Anthony: Oh for F***’s sake...! No wonder why WBD is destroying itself since their cancellation of BatGirl for Nothing...!

AZ-06 Ayla: Yeah, im really sorry, il let you get back to your work... (walks away)

So yeah, we’re expecting Warner Bros Discovery could do something with future projects, but instead, they completely changed or canned the plans in the future, pretty much screwing or and WBD might as destroying itself for their decline. Now before il keep ranting about it, im still having our next movie in today’s review with the one that i was curiously anticipated after the success of Shazam.

“Black Adam” is a 2022 DC superhero film that was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, produced by Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcie and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Yup, The Rock also works as producer), and written by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.

Like any films before the company making into a big franchise, this idea came back in 2000s. Where New Line Cinema were planned to make a movie based on Captain Marv-- Uhh, i mean, Shazam, where they wanna make their taste of their own superhero movie in DC, involving Shazam fighting against Black Adam or other villains, the plan has been pushed over and over before the project (as well as retitle’d to “Shazam” due to legal reason for the name “Captain Marvel”), like Peter Segal as originally the director of this movie and of course, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is openly interested to playing Black Adam, but the downside is that much like his days in WWE, The Rock is too good to be the villain, so they decided to split the project, one for Shazam (but came out first) and the other for Black Adam, as well as using these two projects connected to DCEU and changing film roles from Peter Segal to Jaume Collet-Serra (since this isn’t the first time he directed the movie starring The Rock, they goes to Jungle Cruise in 2021). After the release of Shazam, it was a huge hit that they finally ready to making Black Adam to hopefully to having a second lightning strike at the box-office.

SPOILER ALERT, when it came out two months ago (as im writing this), it didn’t turned out well at the box-office, which despite the box-office is above the film’s budget, it was considered a flop, probably due to, either a poor timing for the upcoming release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” came out a weeks later or even a good’ol they said/they said between critics and viewers (specially with Rottentomatoes.com).

So, with all that said, will Black Adam has another shine as Shazam, or he isn’t as worthy from to going after Justice Society?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie about an anti-hero like Black Adam, its basically like Shazam, but in a polar opposite.

The movie begins from the very past in the year 2600 BC, in a land called Kahndaq, a ruthless and tyrannical king named “Ahk-Ton” created a crown of Sabbac, but he’s looking for Stone of Eternity, so he used villagers to becoming his slaves to finding the stone, but one slave boy found the stone to freedom after his father was stabbed to death, but the boy was captured for execution before he abruptly disappeared to the Council of Wizards that he received to becoming a Champion in attempt to kill the king. Fast Forward to the present time, the land Kahndaq is there, but under oppression by the mercenary organization called “Intergang”, meanwhile, a resistance archaeologist named Adrianna Tomaz and her fellows are searching for the Crown of Sabbac for like any archaeologist, studying the artifacts from the secret message. However, while she got the crown, she was ambushed by Intergang troops to give the crown or death, not before Adrianna does an incantation to call about open the awake of the familiar Champion named “Teth-Adam”, which makes Adam going in slaughterhouse at the troops to save Adrianna and her brother Karim. This got attention from US Government official (and our old friend from two Suicide Squad movies) Amanda Waller, where she call emergency to Justice Society (with Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone and Atom Smasher) to going in Kahndaq based on Adam’s threat. Its up to Teth-Adam to figuring out when he was awaken from centuries from protecting himself from Justice Society and looking after the Crown of Sabbac.

I find the story itself is pretty fascinating that, like i said, its like Shazam but in completely opposite that Teth-Adam is more of an anti-hero that he always posing a threat in his own “justice”, while Justice Society are pretty much the group of heroes to scolding at Adam’s threat for either control his act or banished back where he was belong from centuries ago. Which i find the writing of this movie is rather good for say the least how we maybe rooting for Adam for his choice without going too menacing. Though sometimes, some moments could be questionable with some bad plan to our heroes and one anti-hero, and another example is Doctor Fate’s prediction that it kinda spoiled this movie (or not), which is kinda annoying that we don’t want to know or else, it will ruining the plot, but im not gonna spoil more details. Although, they also trying to add some humor in this movie, well, i find the joke is trying a bit hard Sure, i did had a chuckle to some moments, but some are trying, but felt like unnecessary, but at least they kinda tried that i had some chuckle.

While the writing isn’t as perfect, but at least its nice story for the focus of Black Adam that we like to see.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget costs between $190 – 230 million, the movie’s presence is surprisingly looks pretty good that they brought us, despite that as we all know, its a fest of CG of effects and backgrounds.

For starter, the background settings like Kahndaq, the dark site of Task Force X, Justice Society’s ship, the cave and others are pretty fascinating they created, however, since they filmed in 2021 in pandemic, they had to film in the studio called “Trilith Studios” in Atlanta Georgia, which they said they’re originally filmed in in late 2020, but rescheduled to next year for obvious reason. While Kahndaq looks pretty fascinating for done in CG, but sometimes, while the setting looks good, but its way too beige looking, i know its a fictional country in Middle Eastern, but sometimes beige is too much, im just saying.

For the designs, wow, the superheroes and villains designs are pretty impressive, some of them are created their own or even copying from the comic (either in the classic or in reboot known as “New 52”). For Black Adam (or Teth-Adam), his suit looks pretty impressive, with a darker, dirt texture and the lighting of his icon on his chest (similar to Shazam, but more darker from centuries), which makes him looks perfect to making him an anti-hero, one part that i like the inclusion is a sorta knuckle brass on his left hand, which is a nice extra of his outfit.

As for the other heroes like Justice Society, i find them pretty cool too, from Hawkman (which it was originally gonna have HawkGirl, but replaced by Hawkman) with red and gold outfit with his armor gives him a metal wings (which i like it more than either the comic or cartoons with his angel wings while wearing Hawkman’s outfit), Doctor Fate’s somewhat simile from the comic, with his bright blue and gold outfit, especially with his signature helmet, Atom Smasher looks nice with his nice texture outfit of red and blue outfit (though i notice he has a similar CG eyes from Deadpool) to Cyclone’s colorful green and purple.

Finally, there’s Sabbac who has a badass look, but not gonna spoil what he looks like.

As for the effects, they’re pretty good for the all the smokes, special powers and such others what they give, especially one effect that i like is the illusion ability from Doctor Fate, which is pretty impressive what he pulled, but hate to say for Fate, its not as powerful as Doctor Strange, but that’s a different story.

Finally, as for the actions, it seems that we may have like plenty of actions from Adam slaughtering troops when he was awake to Adam fighting against Justice Society when they scolding him based on his threat. Not to mention, Adam is quite of brutal anti-hero for assault to killing anybody on his way, which apparently, they wanted to be R-Rated much like we saw THE Suicide Squad, but had to toning down to PG-13 film (of course, its one of those much like Venom...!).

Which the filming is obviously in CG, but the actions and the costume/appearance designs are pretty good with similar look from the comic and creative to be nicely fitting.

The Characters

For the movie’s list of characters, you’ll assume that they have a unique personas either different or same from the comic? Well, even though im not gonna compare from the comics (you make your own conclusion), but they’re probably fascinating, even if some gets a bit over-the-top.

Lets start with our titular hero Teth-Adam (played by Dwayne The Rock Johnson), the main anti-hero who’s awake over centuries, he’s born vengeful and rather careless what the people nor even Justice Society based on his killing justice. He’s kinda an over-the-top anti-hero for slaughtering is his answer for fighting against either Intergang troops or even superheroes group. Despite the over-the-top persona, i think i liked this character for his action and of course, memorable performance from The Rock himself, like i said, The Rock as Black Adam is definitely a perfect fit for his role.

Next up is Adrianna Tomaz (played by Sarah Shahi) an archaeologist who’s fascinated of the history both Champion (aka Teth-Adam) and the Crown of Sabbac. She’s almost like Adam’s sidekick, based on her adventure to figuring out the villain’s secret about the crown, along with her responsible of waking Adam up with incantation. I find her ok, she’s obviously brought for the purpose of plot development for villain’s build up, even if she costs a lot of trouble for both getting a crown and awaking Black Adam for probably trying to put down Intergang. Despite this, Sarah did a nice work of her role.

Then we have Carter Hall, aka Hawkman (played by Aldis Hodge), he’s the leader of Justice Society and wields his mace and armour wings based on his origin in Egyptian themed planet. I find him fascinating for his action and his appearance, which like i said before, i like their concept with armours with wings than giving him an angel wings. While he’s fascinating, he’s sorta taking his leadership a bit serious from either Amanda Waller’s (once again, reprised by Viola Davis) order or scolding Adam for his brutality. Despite HawkGirl was cut in the original plan, but i find him fascinating as i said, and Hodge did a good work of his role too.

The second member of JS is Kent Nelson, aka Doctor Fate (played by former James Bond himself, Pierce Brosnan), a sorcery and sorta of a brain of the group based on wearing his signature “Helmet of Fate”. I really like this character based on combination of his appearance, his sorcery power and even Brosnan’s pretty good work of his role, its not hard to see why Doctor Fate is everyone’s underrated superhero in the community. Sure, the prediction plot element kinda ruins the movie, but hey, with all due respect, i like him as an underrated hero.

The third member is Maxine Hunkel, aka Cyclone (played by Quintessa Swindell), the only female member of the group who has the ability to creating tornado thanks to her injection from nanobot for experimental test to creating wind power. I find her ok, which she’s just there as a young sidekick to two main members of JS, despite this, Swindell did a nice work of their role, especially one point that they pulls a dancing technique for Cyclone’s movement. Oh btw, did i forgot to mentioning Swindell is actually a Cisgender? Yeah, back then before starting their acting career, they had a childhood struggle because of their race and gender. Its been one of those days, eh?

Lastly of JS member is Albert (or Al for short) Rothstein, aka Atom Smasher (played by Noah Centineo) a young member of the group with his ability to growing in giant size with strength. As far as i know, he’s there for having a comedic purpose, even though he’s meant for trying, but i find him didn’t work in order to make his own humour in this movie. Not only the character is weak, but Noah’s performance feels like he’s trying, i know he’s young, but it feels like he’s overpaid by his father for trying to make him a big deal as a young actor. Oh yeah, did i also mentioning his father is also a con-artist? Yeah, this is probably why he’s not a pro-actor with overpaid by his con-father since he produced one of the worst movie ever called “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s return”.

Finally, we have Ishmael Gregor (played by Marwan Kenzari), the main villain and the mercenary leader of Intergang who’s said to be the last descendent of Ahk-Ton’s family from many centuries. I find him not bad, though he’s also sorta over-the-top for his threat to looking for the crown or even the hostage, even though he’s only just there to sending his troops for attempt to killing Adam before he’ll fight back, but not gonna spoil for the latter. Despite this, Marwan did a nice work for his role for my giving credit to him.

As for the rest of the characters, there’s not much to say when they shown.

There’s Amon Tomaz (played by young Bodhi Sabongui) is the young skate boarding brother of Adrianna and Karim (played by Mohammed Amer) is Adrianna’s party brother.

The characters are pretty good for showing up for action, but some are felt pretty much forgettable.

And now for my Final Opinion of this movie

Overall, Black Adam is not the worst movie I’ve ever seen what the critics said, cause i find some (like Rottentomatoes) just came off as exaggerated.

I mean, the story is good, the presentation looks impressive, despite the CG, the costumes are nicely work and perfect fitting the acting is also good and the characters are either memorable, another perfect fitting or fascinating.

Sure, the movie has flaws like a near spoiling plot element, the CG is all over due to obvious reason, the humor is trying but bellow average and some characters are forgettable for the aforementioned “Comedic” attempt.

Again, when it comes to reviews, this is one of those movies that im clearly don’t get from many critics despised this movie, like come on, its not THAT bad, and believe me, I’ve seen some of the worsts. I’d say its a recommended movie that you guys can check it out if you want to, even if im disappointed that the movie got flopped at the box-office... Aw well, you can check it out if you’re curious to seeking it.

For may rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.