Black Adam showcases the super powered Dwayne Johnson and has a substantive plot that makes this film soars a little higher than your average superhero movie! The DC film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who also directed Johnson in Jungle Cruise (2021), the movie is an improvement of this team here. The screenplay is by Adam Sztykiel, one of the screenwriters for Johnson’s Rampage (2018), also Rory Haines, who also wrote The Mauritanian (2021), and Sohrab Noshirvani who had worked with Haines on The Mauritanian script. Black Adam was created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, who are given credit, after DC in The Marvel Family #1 (1945). This was five years after C.C. Beck co-created Shazam in Whiz Comics #2. The original comics were published by Fawcett Comics until a DC lawsuit alledging that the character was similar to their Superman, Fawcett stopped publishing superhero comics in 1953. DC then acquired the comic characters.
It was 15 years since Dwayne Johnson’s announcement that he would play Black Adam, the long wait is worth having a non-standard super film. The movie gets started the moment the Warner Bros and the DC hero opening. Then, we get “Kahndaq, 2600 B.C.”, this is a fictional Middle-Eastern country that first appeared in 52 #1 (2006). It is explained by the kid narrator (Bodhi Sabongui) that King Anh-Kot wants the rare metal, Eternium, to form the Crown of Sabbac. A piece of Eternium is found and a boy slips away from guards to reach a cliff’s edge to form a gesture of hands in a triangle, a symbol of rebellion. He is taken to the Council of Wizards which includes the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Housou) who was in Shazam! (2019). The seven other wizards we briefly see, but they fill the seats in the Rock of Eternity. The boy just has to say one word. He returns with the power of Teth-Adam (Johnson)! The crown is formed, but while Teth-Adams takes it to King Anh-Kot, he destroys the palace!
This moves to the “Present Day” in Kahndaq and we are told about the occupation of Intergang armed with high-tech weaponry. This is actually Superman criminals that were introduced in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 (1970) created by Jack Kirby. Here they are mercenaries. The boy, Amon (Sabongui) skateboards Marty McFly-style holding onto a truck. There is an Intergang checkpoint where another van is being checked, the driver is Karim (Mohammed Amer), the names of the characters are not immediately clear. Amer starred in the comedy, Americanish (2021). Amon passes by and the Intergang guard tries to chase after him. In the back of the van, a compartment is opened, and Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) slips out. Shahi voiced Killer Frost in the “Terrors” (2011) episode of Young Justice. Her character appeared in 52 #3 (2006), closely connected to Black Adam. Her character is based on Andrea Thomas (JoAnna Cameron) in The Secrets of Isis (1975-1976). It was spun off from the Shazam! (1975-1976) show. Adrianna is the mother of Amon and Karim is her brother.
The group heads in the van to a mining area and Adrianna as an archeleogist/university professor, like Indiana Jones, has found the location of a mountain. Karim stays in the van while the others, Samir (James Cusati-Moyer) and Ismael (Marwan Kenzari), enter the cave system with Adriana. Cusati-Moyer was in “The Angel of Warning” (2022) episode of the supernatural show, Evil. Kenzari was Jafar in the live action Aladdin (2019). She translates some heiroglyphics and notices that Ismael is missing. Samir goes to find him, Karim is listening to music, then Samir falls down a cliff before the van! Suddenly, Intergang arrives in vehicles. Then, Ismael shows up and Adrianna translates about the champion trapped in a “dream-like sleep.” She sees the Crown of Sabbac floating between two rock formations pointing towards each other. Adrianna climbs up one of the formations very much like Tomb Raider. I found Shahi’s character to be the most fascinating; a mother, pulp-hero type, fighting for her people.
Then, she leaps across to grab hold of the crown. Intergang holds a gun to Adrianna, she reads from the heiroglyphs on the floor which light up, and then says the final word, “Shazam!” This brings the arrival of Teth-Adam in his armor and cloak. He takes out the Intergang soldiers using his strength and lightning powers. He speaks English, even though it has been thousands of years only speaking the Khandaq language. Adrianna with the crown and Karim escape the battle. Teth-Adam destroys two attack helicopters and then takes out ground troopers with a Hulk slap. Karim tries to escape in the van, but Teth-Adam blocks the road. We have Adrianna and then Karim rolling up their windows. Karim warns Teth-Adam about the rocket. He catches it and sees Eternium on the rocket before it explodes. He is not invulnerable, the Eternium has created a gash on his side. In a mansion at St. Roch, Louisana, the headquarters of the Justice Society. The team made their debut in All-Star Comics #3 (1940).
Carter Hall (Aldis Hodge), otherwise known as Hawkman, is watching the conflict on several screens. The character first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (1940). Hodge voiced the John Stewart Green Lantern in the animated movie, Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022). I don't find Carter as millionaire mansion owner as interesting. He is more of a loner archeologist/crime fighter. This does not connect with the rest of the movie. Carter partners with A.R.G.U.S. to deal with Teth-Adam, he says, “We have the team.” Then, we see Maxine (Quintessa Swindell), Cyclone, ride up to gate and is allowed in. Cyclone was introduced in Justice Society of America #1 (2007). Swindell starred in the crime comedy series, Trinkets (2019-2020). In a car, Al Rothstein (Noath Centino), Atom Smasher, contacts his uncle about the Justice Society. Atom Smasher was introduced in JSA Secret Files and Origins #1 (1999). The character was previously played by Adam Copeland in The Flash episode, “The Man Who Saved Central City” (2015). Centino is known for playing Peter in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies.
Kent Nelson (Pierce Brosnan) is being a chauffered in a car and sits in the back. Carter is told there is a secure cell waiting for Teth-Adam and looks towards his Hawkman armor. Kent has a vision of the future and then his driver tells him that he was out for a half hour. He enters the mansion and is good friends with Hawkman. He is in his armor made of nth metal, the most indestructible metal, think vibranium especially since the character reminds me of Black Panther. A hawk statue retracts from doors revealing the Hawk Cruiser like the X-Jet in X-Men movies and comics. There is a flashback to ancient Khandaq of a boy, then Teth-Adam sends out a lightning burst that puts a hole in a poster with Superman’s face. Amon tries to explain that it is 5,000 years from what he remembered. Adrianna returns home to see Karim watching on television, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966), and she asks about the crown which he wears! Amon’s room is decorated with superhero posters and other merch. He tries to tell Teth-Adam about superheroes. Teth-Adam crashes through the wall, Kool Aid Man-style, “Oh yeah!” This turns Karim in the bed and Adrianna says he is the champion who will help the people.
On board, the Hawk Cruiser, the two young members introduce each other. Dr. Fate says they have to make Teth-Adam say the word to return him to his sleep. Teth-Adam breaks through another wall and Amon chases after him. Amon tells Teth-Adam about his statue and he flies off towards it. He tries to follow on his skateboard, but Amon has to follow behind. Teth-Adam sees his past looking at the statue. His last, ancient Khandaq day is the secret behind his motivation. Amon has reached the base of the statue and Intergang soldiers run up to him. He holds his hands in the triangle gesture, but Teth-Adam does not notice. A soldier is about to strike him, but is stopped by Adrianna! Teth-Adam arrives, he takes the soldier’s baton to the face, and sends him to the sea. It is said that he murders people, Hawkman later points this out, but they are all Intergang. They surround Teth-Adam and we get the Western music as we have a Intergang soldier with his hand at his gun. Teth-Adam is faster at the lightning trigger and zaps soldiers all around him. Hawkman intervenes and has his spinning, spiked mace, but is battered by his opponent.
Dr. Fate says to the young members, “We’re the anvil, you’re the hammer”, then leaves the cruiser. The crowd starts to side with their champion. They hear Dr. Fate’s thunderous voice. He changes the battlefield to the ancient Khandaq of the past. There is some confusing action which has Hawkman and Teth-Adam fighting in the sky. Hawkman’s good and evil world view is never really explained as well as his background. Cyclone appears in her green costume as Atom Smasher is ready in his new costume. Cyclone spins, the smoke doesn’t make sense, but the streaks are the most beautiful superhero effects. Dr. Fate saves Adrianna and realizes she may have the Crown of Sabacc. Atom Smasher says he is almost at the battle, but an explosion shows that he was going the wrong direction! He is the comic relief of the team. When he arrives, he goes giant size, and crushes Teth-Adam with his palm. Dr. Fate congratulates him. Atom Smasher’s hand flares as Teth-Adam sends up his lightning power! The crowd cheers, “Long live the champion!” as he flies away. Adrianna thinks of Teth-Adam as a champion and the Justice Society was not there when Intergang took over Khandaq. This is the central theme of the movie beyond the superhero fights. There is a greater threat lurking for Khandaq which is hiding from the beginning. A mid-credit scene interrupts the credits, no end credit scene. Black Adam is a fulfillment for Dwayne Johnson, the anti-hero who is not really anti or hero, with a strong story that does need some polish, and great actors with Sarah Shahi and Pierce Brosnan!
Four Pieces of Eternium out of Five!
#BlackAdam, #JaumeColletSerra, #DwayneJohnson, #SarahShahi, #BodhiSabongui, #MohammedAmer, #AldisHodge, #PierceBrosnan, #QuintessaSwindell, #NoahCentineo, #MarwanKenzari.
No comments:
Post a Comment