Friday, November 4, 2022

Immediate Response: Black Adam (2022)

 I went to a Theater at peak times- Thursday at 9pm- in Week 3.

So let's see if a Decade or so of Dwayne Johnson's life was worth this Film getting made.

The Good

* The Film sets things up nicely in big, dramatic fashion.

* Love it or hate it, Johnson commits to this Character, playing him a weird mix of violent, aloof and serious.

* The Film introduces lots of new Characters who get their moments to shine, although some get more than others.

* They give Adam a whole Arc here, which I appreciate.

* The Film looks nice, only letting some obvious Green Screening be seen towards the end.

* The Film has some very good, dynamic Action Scenes throughout, which helps keep the pace strong.


The Bad

* There are LOTS of unanswered questions about the Plot here, which make it feel like it was meant to be made in a DCEU where Justice League was a hit and none of the other Films were cancelled/delayed.

Short version- Who is the JSA?  Why does Waller call them?  Where is the Suicide Squad?  Which of those 2 Films is canon?

* That random lady from THE Suicide Squad/Peacemaker fell pretty flat.  'Oh...it's...her?'

* While I like the JSA here, they are 1,000% just a re-skin of the X-Men.  Fate is the Professor, Hawkman is Wolverine, Cyclone is Storm and Atom Smasher is just Deadpool.  Seriously, don't make Atom Smasher into Deadpool!

* They do a 'it is totally over' thing that rings hollow.  Nice try.

* The Marketing and the Film are out of sync here as a key part of the Ad Campaign talks about his wife and son dying.  So, when we see no Wife or Son, that's a giveaway.  So, I guess, don't watch any of the Ads (or read this) to get the Ending as planned.


For all of my complaints, it is a good start and could revitalize the DCEU.  Prove me wrong about the DCEU's future, Mr. Gunn.

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