Black Adam introduces the DCEU’s Man in Black.
After years in development, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson finally gets his Black Adam movie. He even declined to appear in SHAZAM first initially. However, Johnson wanted this DC anti-hero to get his own film first and finally got what he worked hard on. Black Adam hits theaters this weekend, signaling the strong return of the DCEU.
Synopsis
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods–and imprisoned just as quickly–Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Black Adam’s brutality and strength on the big screen were fun to watch. Unfortunately, this movie had to be edited several times to meet the PG-13 rating. After watching this film, you will be asking for Warner Bros. to release a Rated-R cut. Johnson is highly likable and can do no wrong in this movie. He is accompanied by a tremendous supporting cast that makes up the Justice Society. Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate was my absolute favorite. His performance made me want to revisit his 007 James Bond film.
Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman is something we have not seen before with this DC hero. A solid and charismatic performance by Hodge showcases that he needs his own origins movie. New JS members Cyclone and Atom Smasher, played by Quintessa Swindell and Noah Centineo, were great to see on the big screen but were underutilized. Surprisingly the stand-out character in this film was played by a Houston native, comedian, and actor, Mohammed Amer. The humor in this movie was excellent, and I felt they could have utilized more of it. Unfortunately, the film had pacing issues, and some scenes seemed out of place. Finally, sitting at just over 2 hours, some parts drag when Johnson is not in the scene.
Verdict
I give Black Adam 3.5 out of 5 stars. Makes sure to stick around for just a single mid-credit scene that will confirm the DCEU’s future is bright and bold. Black Adam hits theaters starting October 21st. Read more Reviews on Nerdtropolis and Subscribe to our YouTube.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.