Shazam! offers a fun take on superheroes and a strong cast, but strays too much like Aquaman with the Geoff Johns’ take on the comic books. The formerly Fawcett Comics character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (1940) by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. The comic book was more popular than Superman. The character says the name Shazam! which actually stands for Solomon (biblical king not Greek god), Wisdom, Hercules, strength, Atlas (Titan not god), stamina, Zeus, power (the lightning power?), Achilles (hero not god), courage, and Mercury (the Roman name of the god), speed. These changes are all forgivable because the name is so cool, the names are mentioned briefly by the wizard.
He was also the first superhero to arrive on film with the Republic serial Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). Fawcett Comics went out of business after a copyright lawsuit from DC Comics in 1953. In 1972, DC Comics licensed the character for their own comics title, Shazam, in 1973. Strangely, Marvel Comics trademarked the name Captain Marvel for their own character who also has a movie out this year! The DC comic featured art by co-creator C.C. Beck. There was a popular Filmation live action tv series, Shazam, that ran from 1974 to 1976. DC Comics brought the character into their own universe with the Crisis on Infinite Earth limited series. The character ended up joining the Justice League. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank brought Shazam into the New52 with their back-up stories in the Justice League title. The character didn’t prove to be popular. Johns relaunched the character in a Rebirth Shazam tile with artist Dale Eaglesham. It is an incredible and complicated history of a comic book character.
He was also the first superhero to arrive on film with the Republic serial Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). Fawcett Comics went out of business after a copyright lawsuit from DC Comics in 1953. In 1972, DC Comics licensed the character for their own comics title, Shazam, in 1973. Strangely, Marvel Comics trademarked the name Captain Marvel for their own character who also has a movie out this year! The DC comic featured art by co-creator C.C. Beck. There was a popular Filmation live action tv series, Shazam, that ran from 1974 to 1976. DC Comics brought the character into their own universe with the Crisis on Infinite Earth limited series. The character ended up joining the Justice League. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank brought Shazam into the New52 with their back-up stories in the Justice League title. The character didn’t prove to be popular. Johns relaunched the character in a Rebirth Shazam tile with artist Dale Eaglesham. It is an incredible and complicated history of a comic book character.
Shazam! is directed by David F. Sandberg who previously directed the horror movies Lights Out (2016) and Annabelle: Creation (2017). The screenplay is by Henry Gayden who earlier wrote the screenplay to the family sci fi movie Earth to Echo (2014). He co-wrote the story along with Darren Lemke who was the screenwriter for the Goosebumps (2015) movie. The opening begins in 1974, we get a station wagon driving on a snowy road in upstate New York, there is the young son, Thad (Ethan Pugiotto), his older brother, Sid, bullies him over his Magic 8 Ball, and his father, played by John Glover, whom I recognize as another comic book father, in Smallville. Thad’s Magic 8 Ball suddenly has strange symbols on it and he finds that he is alone in the car in a strange cavern which is later identified as the Rock of Eternity.
There is a brief cameo appearance that had me freaking out as a fan of Captain Marvel (the original). He finds that there are grotesque stone statues, these are the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man representing the sins. Then, he finds the wizard Shazam played by Djimon Hounsou, who is also in the MCU this year with Captain Marvel and was voiced King Ricou in Aquaman (2018). He says he is the last of the Council of Wizards. The wizard has a staff and tests young Thad who hears the voices of the Seven Deadly Enemies that promise him strength to prove himself to his father. He reaches for a globe called the Eye and the wizard says he has failed and sends him back. Thad is excited at seeing this new world, but his father spins the car out of control and crashes. His brother blames him and Thad sees a message to “Find Us.” We have the young Thad and later the young hero to compare their paths.
There is a brief cameo appearance that had me freaking out as a fan of Captain Marvel (the original). He finds that there are grotesque stone statues, these are the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man representing the sins. Then, he finds the wizard Shazam played by Djimon Hounsou, who is also in the MCU this year with Captain Marvel and was voiced King Ricou in Aquaman (2018). He says he is the last of the Council of Wizards. The wizard has a staff and tests young Thad who hears the voices of the Seven Deadly Enemies that promise him strength to prove himself to his father. He reaches for a globe called the Eye and the wizard says he has failed and sends him back. Thad is excited at seeing this new world, but his father spins the car out of control and crashes. His brother blames him and Thad sees a message to “Find Us.” We have the young Thad and later the young hero to compare their paths.
Now this moves to Philadelphia. In the current day, police are told by a kid, Billy Batson (Asher Angel), now age 14, that robbers are at the back of a store. I like his "Holy Moley!" remark right out of the comics. Angel played Jonah Beck in the Andi Mack series. He has a certain charisma as a lead. They check it out and Billy drops the gate in front of the store. He goes to the police car to check the computer and find his mother. Billy locks at the bag of Geno’s Steaks (a Philly staple) which the officer pleads for him not to take, but he does so anyway. His selfishness strikes me as a misunderstanding of the character. Billy Batson is a true hero, check out Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam (2010), young Billy gives his bag of snacks to rats, defends a homeless man from bullies, and gives him his only subway token.
This movie reminds me of Green Lantern (2011); Hal Jordan there has to learn how to use his will power, he is not inherently strong in will. There is more reckless behavior which might be a contrast to the super heroism and magic, it might be teenage wish fulfillment, but it didn't interest me. Billy tries to go a house that he looked up, he is nervous and has a flashback, a young mother played by Caroline Palmer tries to win a carnival game for young Billy (David Kohlsmith). He wanted a stuffie tiger, but she wins him a toy compass key chain. They leave surrounded by crowds and Billy chases after the compass. He finds that he has lost his mother. Current day, Billy finds that it is the wrong person and the police officer also pulls up. He is taken to the social worker, Ms. Glover, played by Andi Osho. She is a comedian and is currently in the Curfew series. Ms. Glover tells Billy that he should give his new foster home a chance, they are both former foster children.
This movie reminds me of Green Lantern (2011); Hal Jordan there has to learn how to use his will power, he is not inherently strong in will. There is more reckless behavior which might be a contrast to the super heroism and magic, it might be teenage wish fulfillment, but it didn't interest me. Billy tries to go a house that he looked up, he is nervous and has a flashback, a young mother played by Caroline Palmer tries to win a carnival game for young Billy (David Kohlsmith). He wanted a stuffie tiger, but she wins him a toy compass key chain. They leave surrounded by crowds and Billy chases after the compass. He finds that he has lost his mother. Current day, Billy finds that it is the wrong person and the police officer also pulls up. He is taken to the social worker, Ms. Glover, played by Andi Osho. She is a comedian and is currently in the Curfew series. Ms. Glover tells Billy that he should give his new foster home a chance, they are both former foster children.
His new foster parents, Victor Vasquez (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa Vasquez (Marta Milans) drive Billy back to their home. This was on December 6th from what was later said in the movie. Andrews plays Jerry in The Walking Dead and Milans is in the El Embarcadero series. Their comfy home is open to another member to the foster family. First to greet Billy is the spunky Darla Dudley (Faithe Herman) who hugs him. Herman plays Annie Perason in the drama This is Us. Also there is gamer Eugene Choi (Ian Chen). The actor plays Evan Huang in the comedy Fresh Off the Boat. Billy is also sees Mary Bromfield played by Grace Fulton busy with her CalTech application.
The last film for Fulton was Annabelle: Creation. Her character, Mary Marvel, was introduced in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 (1942) created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze. Interestingly, Binder later co-created Supergirl in Action Comics #252 (1959). Rosa tries to introduce all of them to Billy and takes him up the stairs to his room. They pass another foster son, Pedro Pena (Jovan Armand), who just shrugs. Armand has been in television including playing Troy in The Middle. These other characters might be interesting, but for the most part are relegated to cameo parts, they were introduced in Flashpoint #1 (2011) by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. In the New 52, they appeared in Justice League #8 (2012).
The last film for Fulton was Annabelle: Creation. Her character, Mary Marvel, was introduced in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 (1942) created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze. Interestingly, Binder later co-created Supergirl in Action Comics #252 (1959). Rosa tries to introduce all of them to Billy and takes him up the stairs to his room. They pass another foster son, Pedro Pena (Jovan Armand), who just shrugs. Armand has been in television including playing Troy in The Middle. These other characters might be interesting, but for the most part are relegated to cameo parts, they were introduced in Flashpoint #1 (2011) by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert. In the New 52, they appeared in Justice League #8 (2012).
Billy is then introduced to Freddie Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), who is wisecracking, walks with a cane (never really explained), and a super fan of superheroes collecting a Batarang replica and a bullet that was fired at Superman. Grazer played Eddie Kaspbrak in It (2017) and the upcoming It: Chapter Two. The character first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 (1941). He goes to Fawcett Central, a nod to the comics, he goes through a security check. This is strange since there is absolutely no supervision in the front of the school and the lunch area. Freddie clings to Billy, but runs into trouble with two bullies, the Breyers, Burke (Evan Marsh) and Brett (Carson MacCormac).
While Billy is getting to know his foster family, we are introduced to a study where Dr. Lynn Crosby (Lotta Losten from Lights Out) questions a woman about her experience at a strange cavern. Intrigued is the older Thaddeus, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), the actor is known for playing Merlin in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), and also played Sinestro in the Green Lantern. He finds out the correct symbols from the woman and opens a door to the Rock of Eternity. The fate of Dr. Crosby is similar to half the universe in Avengers: Infinity War, but it is more horribly realized so this might be disturbing to young viewers. He is now given the power by the globe which shrinks so he can insert it into his right eye, another part of the Johns’ version. Now with the power of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, he blasts the wizard Shazam, and frees them from being trapped as statues!
While Billy is getting to know his foster family, we are introduced to a study where Dr. Lynn Crosby (Lotta Losten from Lights Out) questions a woman about her experience at a strange cavern. Intrigued is the older Thaddeus, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), the actor is known for playing Merlin in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), and also played Sinestro in the Green Lantern. He finds out the correct symbols from the woman and opens a door to the Rock of Eternity. The fate of Dr. Crosby is similar to half the universe in Avengers: Infinity War, but it is more horribly realized so this might be disturbing to young viewers. He is now given the power by the globe which shrinks so he can insert it into his right eye, another part of the Johns’ version. Now with the power of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, he blasts the wizard Shazam, and frees them from being trapped as statues!
The bullies clip Freddie in front of the school with their truck. They get angry at him for putting a dent in their truck and start to beat him up. Billy tries to walk away, but ends up striking the bullies with Freddie’s cane. The rest of his foster family checks on Freddie as Billy has to outrun the bullies. He finds himself in a subway car and again there are symbols before Billy is taken to the Rock of Eternity. The Wizard Shazam is weak, has Billy take hold of his staff, and say his name. A flash of light and Billy is transformed into Shazam, an adult form now played by Zachary Levi, with red costume, white cape, and glowing lightning bolt symbol on his chest. Levi currently voices Eugene on Tangled: The Series and of course was Fandral in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). The super hero finds himself on the subway car with astonished people.
He of course teams up with Freddie to find out how his powers work. They try to keep the superhero a secret, Freddie dubs him Captain Sparkle Fingers (his superhero name is never clear), and the Seven Deadly Enemies, in cloudy, demonic forms (please no more cloudy villains!), tell Sivana to find Billy before he learns his powers. Still, it takes days for him to find the superhero even though he is on Youtube videos and newscasts! Billy continues to make illegal and selfish actions, yes, he has to learn to be the hero. The film has a mid-credit and end credit scenes. It opens in theaters on April 5th. One of the best parts of this film is that the promotion has improved, they show only the Shazam and Freddy parts in the trailers and leave out the rest of the foster family, they are a surprise. There are slightly fresh takes on superheroes, a theme of family, and some humor. I love the character and the cast, but for me, it does not fulfill the fun potential.
He of course teams up with Freddie to find out how his powers work. They try to keep the superhero a secret, Freddie dubs him Captain Sparkle Fingers (his superhero name is never clear), and the Seven Deadly Enemies, in cloudy, demonic forms (please no more cloudy villains!), tell Sivana to find Billy before he learns his powers. Still, it takes days for him to find the superhero even though he is on Youtube videos and newscasts! Billy continues to make illegal and selfish actions, yes, he has to learn to be the hero. The film has a mid-credit and end credit scenes. It opens in theaters on April 5th. One of the best parts of this film is that the promotion has improved, they show only the Shazam and Freddy parts in the trailers and leave out the rest of the foster family, they are a surprise. There are slightly fresh takes on superheroes, a theme of family, and some humor. I love the character and the cast, but for me, it does not fulfill the fun potential.
Three Lightning Bolts out of Five!
#ShazamMovie, #DavidFSandberg, #AsherAngel, #ZacharyLevi
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