The DCEU certainly had their fair share of trouble along the way. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues to make an expansive cinematic library of Marvel's superhero adventures available to moviegoers everywhere, the DCEU will bring its own set of costumed heroes and superhumans. trying to catch up with the realm. The studio, which is owned by Warner Bros. Pictures, is struggling to find a winning formula for transforming his DC comic of the superhero into a cinematic endeavor that moviegoers will enjoy. This was evident in 2016's Batman v Superman:

Dawn of Justice, his troubled take on Suicide Squad in 2016, and his disappointing spilled choice in his Justice League presentation in 2017. Well known. This further extended to other ventures such as 2020's Birds of Prey and 1984's Wonder Woman, which faced very different opinions from critics and moviegoers, causing future projects to be postponed, shuffled and shelved. Even faced with the DCEU shock. Totally (currently unreleased Batgirl movie). That said, the DCEU is starting to find its groove, especially after the release of Wonder Woman 2017, Aquaman 2018 and Shazam 2019. We found these feature films to have their own majesty and charm that worked in both the storytelling of the film and the entertainment of the audience.Now, following Suicide Squad's more affordable 2021 release, Warner Bros. Studios and director Jaume Collet Serra are gearing up for the next DCEU installment with the release of Black Adam.

THE STORY

In the middle eastern country known as Kahndaq, the villainous crime syndicate called Intergang has claimed the land for their own, putting the locals under their control as they harvest their natural resources, including Eternium. Young boy named Amon (Bodhi Sabongui) wants to push back against the invaders of his homeland by causing trouble, while his mother, Adrianna (Sarah Shahl), is an archaeologist is in search of the fabled Crown of Sabbac, a magical object that's capable of bringing the wearer tremendous power. While searching for the crown in a nearby crypt, Adrianna also uncovers an ancient tomb, and when threatened with encroaching Intergang enforcers, she manages to free Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson), a being from the ancient world that has been imbued with incredible superpowers, from his slumberous prison. Returning to Kahndaq, Amon tries to encourage Teth-Adam to become a hero for the people, with the recently awakened man's god-like strength and Shazam magic easily defeating aggressors. Investigating this strange arrival is the Justice Society, with superhero veterans Kent Nelson / Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan) and Carter Hall / Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) leading the charge as well as recruit newcomers Maxine Hunkel / Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) and Albert “Al” Rothstein / Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) are tasked with deciding just how dangerous Teth-Adam truly is. Unbeknownst to all factions, another faction seeks the crown of Sabacc and seeks to control ancient power and nightmarish consequences.

Pro’s and Con’s of the Movie

It's very easy to point out that the differences between the MCU and DCEU have been. It's basically night and day type of experience, with one studio finding its rhythm (albeit formulaic in some regards) yet proving to be effective, while the other struggles to find its stride. Yes, I'll admit that I did like Man of Steel (probably one of the select few who did) as well as Wonder Woman (love actress Gal Gadot as Diana Prince) and Aquaman (the sheer epic scope of the feature is amazing), but the DCEU has been problematic with their other release (i.e. Batman v Superman:

Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman 1984, and Justice League). Those features, while promising with plenty of superhero nuances and inherit hype from its pre-release marketing, didn't exactly match up to what many (including myself) expected, which is reflected upon the feedback from moviegoers and the “behind the scenes” shake up of the franchise, leaving the continuation of the DCEU in a somewhat ambiguous limbo state, which is in contrast to the how the MCU is presenting its feature films. Yet, some of their recent endeavors have barked a bit up fruit than others, including the much more favorable representation of the Suicide Squad in the 2021 film as well as the vastly superior director's cut of Justice League in 2021's Zack Snyder's Justice League. Ultimately, it's hard to tell what direction Warner Bros. Studios plans for the DCEU. Especially since the company is merged with Discovery. Let's hope for the best results!

Of course, we're back with Black Adam, the 2022 superhero movie and the 10th installment in the DCEU series (11th if you include Zack Snyder's Justice League). Given the variety of concepts that the DCEU has been trying to find its own so-called "cinematic groove" lately, when Black Adam was first announced, especially the title with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who played his role I was a little curious when I was asked. of the main character. Of course, Johnson has been involved in various action and comedy ventures, but not in the superhero genre. I love him in every Fast and Furious movie he's been in) so I was a little curious to see how the wrestler-turned-actor Johnson would handle the role of the lead superhero character Black. like Adam. I haven't heard much about the film since. I've heard of it, but know nothing about the cast, plot, director, etc. Except it will be a hugely hyped blockbuster feature for the DCEU. It came in the form of a trailer for the Black Adam movie.For that alone, the movie looked pretty good and Johnson seemed to fit the character of such a stoic and outspoken antihero. I was curious, so I went on the first day of opening on October 21, 2022. And what did I think of it? Well, I have to say I was pretty disappointed with this movie. Despite the non-stop action and a bit of fun with the title fitting Johnsons as his character very well, Black Adam still feels like a dated, generic superhero origin movie, and its There is little substance to sustaining such a popular character. There are some redeeming qualities, but they just aren't enough and make the whole effort mediocre. "Black Adam" is directed by Jaume Collet Serra, known for "Nonstop," "The Shallows," and "Jungle Cruise." Given his familiarity with the suspenseful thrills and action sequences of these films, Colette Serra seems like the right choice to direct the action-packed superhero flick it promises. . So, for that effort alone, I applaud Colette Serra's direction in incorporating various action scenes from throughout the feature film into the film. , the movie (as a whole) delivers on the high-octane action scenes shown in the trailer. In that regard, I think Colette Serra makes the action very frenetic and interesting. There is violence in the film (Black Adam is rated PG-13), and there are few moments where you can see Teth-Adam dealing with bad guys with a near-deadly combat finishing move. Basically, Collet-Sera knows what moviegoers want to see and delivers it on film. The action scenes are his one of the best Black Adam has to offer. It's not overwhelming or incredibly great, but it's very interesting to see what Black Adam relies on so much.

There are a few storytelling beats and elements that do technically work in Black Adams's narrative, with Collet-Sera staging them for some poignant mean Of course, I do like the whole “hero awakening in modern day” of which the movie that heavy uses when Teth-Adams awakes in present day Kahndaq and seeing him interact with modern technology and objects. Of course, this particular usage has been many times before, but the execution of it all is amusing to watch in the film as a fun gag of sorts. Of course, I do like the more fantastical fantasy elements of superhero features, with Black Adam heavily steeped in that notion, with plenty of mystical vistas, powerful beings, and the usage of magic. I've always gravitated towards movies like that and, while not super exciting as other endeavors, I still appreciate the movie embracing that fantasy superhero element. As for the emotional part, I did like how Collet-Sera stages a few one of them as well as few poignant means, including why the JS (or any other superhero for that matter) haven't stepped in to stop the Intergang organization from oppressing the people of Kahndaq, but only came to the war-torn country to stop Teth-Adam. It may be a small plot to discuss and explore, but I like it and it raises interesting questions about the nature of superheroes and what they think are worth getting involved with.

In the presentation category, Black Adam meets the industry standards demanded by modern superhero blockbusters. It retains the tradition and spirit of comic book movies while not pushing the boundaries of modern comic book movies. Of course, it's kind of interesting to see that most (if not all) of the film takes place in a Middle Eastern country (Kahn Duk) rather than the typical "big city" of the United States. While we tackled the subject matter, I liked that Black Adam had some prominent key characters played by Middle Eastern talents. , with the ruined cityscape where many of the film's battles took place, and it's fun to watch all the action scenes. It also includes some great locations that use (again) the fantasy elements of the film to help build the ancient powers at work from the old world. The film isn't perfect, but credit must be given to the film's "behind the scenes" crew, including Tom Meyer (production design), Larry Dias (set decor), and Kurt and Bart (costume design). , and the entire art direction department. Additionally, Lawrence Sher's camerawork has some good moments that help build the dramatic cinematics throughout the film. later). Finally, the soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe is actually pretty good. Loaded with plenty of stomping bombast and some quiet, sing-along suites that help build more dramatic and uplifting moments, there's a lot to like - a pretty solid score from Balfe.

Unfortunately, Black Adam isn't quite the hype everyone hoped for, and there's a huge and glaring problem area that prevents the feature from standing proudly. What we are talking about is the actual story of the story. what did i mean? Well, for better or worse, the story told in the film's script, written by Adam Stykiel, Rory Haynes, and Sohrab Nosilvani, feels pretty predictable and almost formulaic. The story is half-baked, too overwhelming, and the film lacks proper narrative structure. Everything about this movie feels a little unfinished, from the creation of the world, the characters (and their development), the action, the graphics, to the nuances of the superheroes, but it's done right during the making of the movie. The subplots were fragmented, plot holes galore, what was presented became irrelevant to the plot (forever), and the characters were simply poorly written. , looks like a secular superhero blockbuster that only has a story shell to push Johnson into a well-known antihero character.

Additionally, the film makes heavy use of classic exhibition sequences to give us (the viewers) a quick understanding of what is happening in the world of the film. Still, using such long exposition moments can be exhausting, especially in the opening part of the film where Black Adam does this. Getting to "potatoes" was extremely tiring and tiring. What was presented felt rather cheap at times. I'm not saying every line of dialogue was bad or terrible, but there were more than I expected. This actually hints at some of the film's more comedic and dramatic scenes, with some of the jokes and gags (dialogue-driven) being off-kilter, less funny (at all), and more "heavy" (monologues/ Character) There are also moments) It feels clunky and wooden.

Another big issue is how films are recycled (both in the superhero movie category and in their own aesthetics). As? From a superhero movie standpoint, Black Adams feels very dated, with plenty of familiar beats in the origin story of classic comic book characters. Yes, I think superhero movies are still "all the rage" and origin feature films are still fairly common, making heavy use of these plot points as a way and means of introducing a particular super. Apart from that, Black Adam presents familiar beats but doesn't really mix more modern styles, or (for that matter) anything really creative. For what it is, the movie feels quite dated, especially since superhero movies have evolved into the "Golden Age", but it was made before and with better storytelling platforms. Although there is a formula for it, it incorporates a bit more sophisticated flair in its creation (story, characters, drama, etc.). Black Adam felt like it was made in the mid-2000s... It goes back to a time when superhero movies were trying to grab attention, even before Iron Man and The Dark Knight came out in 2008. I know that we (as viewers) are a little spoiled with comic book superhero movies, but Black Adam really stands out in this modern cinematic landscape compared to other releases. I'm tall and I'm not proud of myself.

As for his own aesthetic, Black Adam feels recycled in many of the various fight sequences, and Colette Serra tweaks the paralysis effect in some story beats. As? Well, it was pretty cool seeing Teth-Adam fight (and easily defeat) his unnamed hordes of Intergang Enforcers for the first time. Movement…. This is a bit drab and numbing to watch. The same can be said for Justice Society's involvement in the film, as it appears in the film with the intention of stopping Teth-Adam. It was cool at first, but after watching it over and over again, it became tiring and numbing. and Colette Serra's ignorance of how to make an impactful and entertaining superhero box office hit. I must point out that there are Yes, this particular technique is nothing new or revolutionary, as it has been used many times for dramatic effect in movies, but Black Adam uses it so often that almost every scene This also brings in the cinematography of Lawrence Sher playing a bit of Black Adam and Zack Snyder's 300 mantra...and connects nicely with it. Is not. That also doesn't negate the film's CGI visual effects shots. This is combined with some glaring quirks of poor green screen effects ranging from good to mediocre, and computer-generated constructs whose integrated presentation is a bit crude.

Of course, directors have to walk a fine line with superhero movies... Giving too little results in less excitement, while giving too much results in pure action without substance. Unfortunately, Black Adam leans towards the latter, and while the bloated action is cool and visually interesting, it doesn't really challenge the status quo for superhero movies and blockbusters. The feature is most noticeable in the third act, when the battle reaches its climax, and there's just too much CGI to feel like a video game cutscene. Some elements definitely work in this particular part of the film, but it still feels very hollow and doesn't quite have the same kind of impact it was intended to have. The end result is a lack of heart and emotion that makes Black Adam's ending feel redundant and far less interesting than other DCEU efforts (like 2016's Suicide Squad). Adam's cast is a mix of good and bad, with some recognizable acting talent associated with this superhero blockbuster, but most of the characters themselves are a cinematic portrayal of an immature figure. seems a bit corny or just plain wrong. Universal. Perhaps the strongest (literally) and most memorable character in the big picture is the main character, who leads Black His Adam as headliner. Yes, I'm talking about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the lead role of Teth-Adam's antihero. Known for roles in Moana, Central Intelligence, and Jungle Cruise, Johnson has certainly been in the film industry for quite some time. and has always made a name for himself as a "larger than life" actor. Various action characters and/or comedy movies. You can call it "typecasting", but Johnson is always up to the task and good at delivering his lines....even if some are silly. So it's no surprise that Johnson would be a perfect match for a superhero as powerful as Tess Adam. As mentioned earlier, Johnson has wanted to be on the project for quite some time, so it's easy to see that he's enjoying his time on the film. Physically…. He looks like Johnson's massive physique, which definitely helps make the character intimidating with his various superhero powers.He loves playing Adam and is fun to watch.

Of course, character restrictions are very noticeable. Especially considering he's very stoic and stone-faced about many of the situations and characters he interacts with. So Teth-Adam's "human" part could have been handled better, and Johnson, who's always good at delivering big, brazen moments, looks a little weaker than intended. Regardless, what is shown works, and it's easy to see Johnson enjoying such a superhero role. There's no denying that he's Black Adam's main attraction, and he sums up the role perfectly. Let's hope he returns for future DCEU projects. I'd love to see him compete with Cavill's Superman, Gadot's Wonder Woman, Levi's Shazam, and more.

With the exception of Johnson, the rest of Black Adam's superhero characters make up members of the Justice Society. This is a mix of good and mediocre, especially since (as noted above) the movie introduces these characters fairly quickly with little to no backstory. Something to say. Perhaps the most memorable (of the group) is the character of Kent Nelson/Dr. Fate, a superhero who wields magic and mystical powers from a magical helmet and glimpses into the future, is played by actor Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye and his The Thomas Crown Affair). Visually, Dr. Destiny like his hero is super attractive with some incredible mystical powers. Plus, it's fun to see how Brosnan jumps into the superhero forays and easily outclasses all the acting talent involved in the picture, including Johnson. It was a pleasure to watch him play an actor. Apart from that, the character of Dr. Fate Doctor Stephen Strange/Doctor of the MCU Eerily similar to her Strange, with a cryptic backstory to mystical art, use of fractal imagery to harness her powers, doppelganger to create multiple copies Her spells include glimpses of future events. Comparing the two, they're very similar, and Dr. Fate, as featured in this movie, doesn't have a backstory to carry the character enough, which is very disappointing. Damn, I want a Dr. We've seen (and still want) the Fate movies where Brosnan is back to play the character.

According to Dr. Brosnan.Fate is the next JS character Carter Hall/Hawkman, the winged leader of the JS, played by actor Aldis Hodge (Brian Banks and TURN:

Washington's Spy). Hawkman gets plenty of screen time, and Hodge is tasked with making the most of his time as a nobler, righteous superhero in Black Adam.... What is Johnson's Teth-Adam? A little opposite. Also, it would be nice to see the Hawkman character appear in a live-action DCEU feature film. He gets a little bit of redemption and understanding in the second half, but then Black Adam starts to go a little numb, making Hodges Hawkman pretty direct and taking a backseat.

Unfortunately, the other two JS characters (Maxine Hunkel /Cyclone and Albert "Al" Rothstein/Atom Smasher) are the actress Quintessa Swindell (Trinkets and In Treatment) and actor Noah Centineo (The Perfect Date and The Recruit). , was terribly underdeveloped in the film and basically should have been written out completely. From a visual standpoint, the force of the cyclone's wind is captured with dramatic flair and the growth/size of the Atom Smasher. The difference between is played out in a funny laugh, and both characters are given plenty of expression.But her character itself simply doesn't exist, she exists only to ride Black Adam. Hell, Cyclone has Given nothing to accentuate her personality, Atom Smasher does add a few comical moments of relief, but it's a bit hit and miss. So it's a shame there isn't much material for Swindell and Centineo to play with.

Unfortunately, the rest of the non-superhero characters in the movie fare actual worst and end up being quite “cookie cutter” caricatures that are incredibly one-dimensional. As stated, I do appreciate the Middle Eastern acting talent is being represented in movie as the various characters, but that still can't hide the fact that these characters are poorly written and just mediocrely played on-screen. This is perhaps best one of the group would be the character of Adrianna Tomaz, an archaeologist of Kahndaq who is looking for the Crown of Sabbac and aides Teth-Adam throughout the movie, who is played by actress Sarah Shahl (Alias and Fairly Legal). The character has some interesting moments in the film and definitely is presented as the strong female archetype of which Shahl does sell. However, that still doesn't make the character memorable and slowly becomes quite “cookie cutter” as the narrative progresses forward in the picture; making Adriana just as vanilla as when she was first introduced.

What really did the worst (in my opinion) was the character of Adriana's son Amon Tomaz, trying to make Tess Adam the hero the people of kandaq needed. main event). why is he doing the worst? Well, because that's a common thing in movies. He's an annoying hyperactive boy who befriends the main character and tries to guide him on the right path (or at least try to do so). It's a very clichéd character, and Sabongi has the right amount of energy for such a character, but the character itself is very boring and simplistic, acting like a plot device to push events forward. I'm here. So Amon's character is redundant and downright generic. The same goes for the supporting role of Adriana's brother, Karim Thomaz, played by actors Mohammed Amer (Mo and Ramy). His character is (in a way) meant to be a sidekick character and has a lot of comedic dialogue, but the actual comedy and how it's delivered is pretty flat and boring. This makes Karim's character rather boring and unmemorable...the script tries to make him memorable.

Perhaps worse than everything else, the film's actual main antagonist is Adriana's colleague seeking the crown of sabacc, actor Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin and the Old Guard) for his own ambitions. Character of Ishmael Gregor. Unfortunately, the film makes this villainous character so boring, generic, and blunt that it comes off as a terrible cliché. He actually does a good job with his acting talent. Also, the movie immediately plants him as a villain, but the writer and director of the movie try to hide this fact, making him completely redundant. Just a clichéd villain, with a lame backstory and an even more lame character presence.

Actor Djimon Hounsou as the wizard Shazam (Gladiator and Blood Diamond), actress Viola Davis as Amanda Waller (The Woman King and The Fence), actress Jennifer Holland (Peacemaker and Brightburn) Email as Harcourt. Again, most of these cameo appearances are minor, but they definitely build a sense of continuity that Black Adam is part of the larger DCEU universe. There is an Easter egg scene in the closing credits (mid-credit point) of . It's probably my favorite part of the movie. Of course, I don't mean to spoil it for the reader, but I envisioned characters other than those with whom Black Adam briefly interacts. The people he interacted with in person were amazing, and I got a little excited about what might be coming to the DCEU in the future.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You have two choices:Be the destroyer of this world, or be the savior. It's up to you!" Questions for Teth Adam, who must wake up from his slumbering prison and learn how to save the people of kandaq, or star as their destroyer in the movie Black Adam. A great and powerful anti-hero character from the DC Comics series, it presents an origin story that serves as an introduction to the DCEU's title characters. . In particular, lack of narrative content, chaotic (and outdated) storyline, recycled ideas, abuse of technical effects, some rushed graphics, boring antagonists, mundane final battle, personally Unforgettable characters, sick of this movie can be misleading, especially considering this particular superhero movie is heavily touted as the expected movie in the DCEU. There are certainly moments here and there and I liked Johnson leading the way, but the rest completely backfires and is incredibly sad. Calling it my least favorite DCEU so far...and that includes 2016's Suicide Squad. Couldn't find it...so my recommendation for this movie is a definite "skip" as the audience may be interested in seeing it. The film's ending hints at the continued involvement of Johnson's Black Adam as part of the future DCEU. Ultimately, Black Adam is a lumbering, recycled, dated superhero that does little more than introduce Johnson's Adam into the larger cinematic universe of DC heroes and villains. and has no substance!