A New Foundation for the DCEU
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery
The DCEU’s history is complicated, to say the least. Many abandoned plans, projects, ideas and more made for a disjointed franchise of varying quality. On the one hand, projects like those by Zack Snyder find a dedicated audience, while being unappealing to others. Some projects, such as the 2017 Justice League and Suicide Squad are unanimously agreed to be among the worst films the Superhero genre has to offer. Other projects, like Shazam, Wonder Woman, and, well, The Suicide Squad, stand among the strongest films in the Superhero genre.
Still, the DCEU has been a mess. A mess, which The Rock seems prepared to clean up alongside the new WBD regime.
Black Adam marks the start of a new era for the DCEU. In many regards, it echoes Man of Steel, the film which started the DCEU in the first place. Fitting given the direction Dwayne Johnson seeks to guide the franchise moving forward, but how does this film stand on its own? Well, simply put, Black Adam, much like Man of Steel, is ultimately enjoyable, though heavily flawed. While the action and cast is stellar, a shaky script holds the film back from being more than an enjoyable popcorn flick.
Black Adam brings the Thunder
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery
Despite the flaws of this film, there’s more to enjoy in this film than most reviews let on. One point which can’t be criticized is the action. Of course, there is plenty of CG, but the variety of powers, and the extent of said powers make for a visual spectacle, the likes of which even Marvel would bat an eye to. With the addition of the Justice Society of America, there’s a variety to the high-flying action in the film. Some fights carry the same, Dragon Ball-like action that Man of Steel excelled at. Other times, it’s combined with Dr. Strange type magic, thanks in part to Doctor Fate.
Of course, this is thanks in large part to Black Adam himself. The Rock flawlessly sells the characters ruthless strength, establishing the character as a powerful force the larger DCEU will have to reckon with. Unafraid to kill, Adam racks up quite the body count, some kills pushing the PG-13 rating.
Though issues with the story shall be brought up, the cast itself is quite strong, the stars of the show are Johnson and Pierce Brosnan. Johnson plays Adam as a character with a ruthless form of justice. The story of the character itself is interesting, and Johnson gets across the stoic pain and rage the character carries. While a bit odd that he’s portrayed as more of a heroic figure, there is certainly room for him to grow as more of a villainous figure. As for Brosnan’s Dr. Fate, he’s unexpectedly effective as an aging hero haunted by visions of the future. He’s wise, charming, and plays off all his fellow cast members quite well.
Black Adam has One Massive Weakness
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery
Undoubtedly, Black Adam has one major flaw; the story. While the specific stories of Black Adam and Dr. Fate are strong enough, there are multiple issues which hold the story back as a whole. The biggest issue is the villain, easily one of the worst in the DCEU. Not since the Enchantress in Suicide Squad has there been such a forgettable villain in a DC film, than Sabbac. In addition, the pace of the film often doesn’t allow the film to breathe. From the moment Black Adam comes on screen, the story goes at such a breakneck pace that it feels more like watching a series of bullet points rather than fleshed out ideas. For a time, there was an interesting parallel to the Middle-East and the conflicts in the region.
The idea isn’t entirely fleshed out, but there is certainly something there. The response the people of Kahndaq have to the JSA’s response to Intergang and Black Adam’s response is surprisingly realistic. Most people in such an oppressed nation would likely view Black Adam as an effective savior. Comparatively, the JSA comes in and seemingly makes the situation worse in the name of ‘justice’. It’s honestly fascinating to think about. Still, it doesn’t last long, and the final act story wise is ruined by the subpar villain. In addition, odd moments of writing, such as the conclusion to Dr. Fates story, and the story line involving Bodhi Sabongul’s Amon aren’t necessarily bad, just muddled and cliche.
Overall Thoughts – A Flawed Start Leads to a Promising Future
Black Adam made for an enjoyable film; one with very noticeable writing flaws. The action is a spectacle, and the characters have so much potential for the future. But sloppy writing and a villain which compromises its third act hold this film back a lot. Of course, it has to be mentioned that the post-credit scene is the most hype-inducing scene in the film. Those who have paid attention to what Johnson has said in interviews for where he wishes to take the DCEU moving forward will likely know what it is. Still, the confrontation to come from it will likely go down as one of the most intense, brutal confrontations to grace theaters by DC.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6/10.
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Graduated from Point Park University in 2021 with a Degree of English Creative Writing.
Author of the Chronicles of a Broken World Series
Avid Nerd and Enjoyer of All Things Fun and Thoughtful
