Black Adam [DVD] [2022] [2023]

A new DC comics movie. Which tangenitally ties into the film 'Shazam!'. But you could get into this without having watched that.This was a passion project for Dwayne Johnson. Taking a DC character he long wanted to play, and bringing him to the screen.Long ago in the middle eastern country of Kahndaq, a tyrannical king wanted a very powerful metal. His people were enslaved. But a champion, the saviour of the country arose. Things then happened.Flash forward to the present day, and the country is under the control of criminal syndicate Intergang. Who are after a legendary and powerful artefact. Some of the locals are questing for it as well, to free the country. All of which results in the saviour's return. He has a lot to get used to. His style of justice doesn't go well with the modern world. But greater danger might lurk....This is one of those films you'll either get into because you just go with it and don't fuss about little details. Or you'll go with the internet and not like it at all. It is a packed film. We have the events in Kahndaq. Where Adam, the returned saviour, has to adjust to modern life. He does have a boy to help him out with that. Then there's heroes from the Justice Society who have been sent in to deal with him. Other plot lines are lurking as well. So the script could have probably used another edit or two.Dwayne Johnson is quite good, playing an anti hero, and shows well how Adam gradually adjusts to things. the heroes of the Justice Society all have potential, but get precious little screen to show it. And you can see an attempt at a running gag that gets quickly forgotten about. Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge as Dr Fate and Hawkman, two veteran warriors with the weight of the world on their shoulders, are a particular highlight. You do wish you could get more of the pair.Editing wise it does make some choices, also a lot of slow motion, that will be a matter of opinion.There are plot developments. I didn't see some of these coming. They ones that you will or won't spot from the off. I thought it handled these quite well. It does tick all the boxes for an origin movie, and it gets them in okay.It does have an interesting moral core as well. Which offers good food for thought. And frankly, it was nice to see something that was just a little bit different to the Marvel comics Movie model. So your reaction to this might depend on if you think those are getting over familiar or not.There are a few things that will delight those who know their dc comics continuity. And some welcome cameos. Blink and you will miss one. But see the cast list. [Not talking about the end credits scene! More on that in a moment!].Not a perfect film. But not a bad watch.There is one end credits scene. Which comes in the middle. Which got spoilered so you might know it anyway. And real world events mean it won't end up going anywhere. But it was nice to see it anyway.The dc goes straight into the main menu with no ads or trailers once loaded.There are no extras.Language and subtitle options:Languages: English, Castilian Spanish.Subtitles: English, Castilian Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish.Parents do note it's a twelve certificate, as it is a bit more violent than Marvel movies. To put it mildly.

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Lets get the obvious out of the way, this isn't nearly the ground breaking epic that Mr Johnson touts it as but ultimately that's okay. A (very) loose adaptation of the Kandaq War story written by Gunn's co-ep Geoff Johns this is not your normal superhero story with clear dividing lines between good and evil. Contrary to the pronouncements of the old school Justice Society the idea of sticking to moral absaloutes ultimately leads to inaction that leads to the triumph of even greater evil in this case embodied into the international crime syndicate Intergang and to a lesser extent the looming background presence of Viola Davis' ubiquitous Amanda Waller and her Task Force X.That's not to say our ancient tyrant demigod protagonist (Dwane Johnson) is some sort of saint, far from it. He is a killer, an authoritarian and above all a rampant egotist propelled by a Napoleon complex in stark contrast to his impressive stature. For all these faults there is no doubting the net positive achieved by his actions and that the JSA (under the direction of Waller of all people) are in a morally questionable position that does not compute with their black and white view of the world.A surprisingly intelligent and well presented theme for what is (quite rightly) considered something of a simplistic lowest common denominator genre but what's that got to do with the film experience? Well its clearly not for everyone as is evident by the polarised reception and the contrast between the very theatrical and exagerated old hams like Brosnan (Doctor Fate) and the more restrained natrualistic performances of the younger cast members (particularly Quintess Swindell's Cyclone) can be a bit jarring but at the end of the day its an enjoyable action romp with surprising depth considering the limitations of its genre. It isn't the comic, not remotely but as the great Douglas Adams once said "if you adapt something for a different medium without major changes then why bother doing so in the first place?"

Pre ordered this. Was looking forward to it and low and behold the 4k disc started freezing 40 minutes from the end. So unfortunately I’ve hade to send it back. I’ve purchased 4 DVDs from Amazon now and this is the second one that’s done this. And I know it’s not the player as it plays all my other 4k discs fine plus it’s a pretty decent player it’s not a cheap one. Anyway I had to end up watching the last 40 minutes on the blu/ray disc. About the film. I thought it was ok not great but ok well worth a watch. It could of be made into a fantastic film. Pierce brosnan just didn’t suit the part. Brosnan is an excellent actor but just not for this. Plus the team trying to stop Dwayne Johnson reminded me of a very poor x men. But there are some out there that will love it. But for me it was just ok.

Quite a decent story