Luke McWilliams gives his review of Black Adam (M), starring Dwayne Johnson.

In 2600 BC, Kahndwhere, a young slave gains the powers of Shazam, using them to liberate his people. Flashing forward to the present day, Kahndaq is again oppressed by a gang after the all-powerful Crown of Sabbac. With no other choice, resistance fighter Professor Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) reads an incantation to awaken the equally all-powerful anti-hero teth-Adam (Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson) to save them.

The Detective Comics Extended Universe (DCEU) stumbled horrifically with the equally horrific Justice League (2017). The studio has been in a free-fall ever since with the shared universe suffering under corporate egos, committee ‘creative’ decision-making, and lack of leadership and vision. Enter Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson to yet another movie franchise for the taking.

After 15 years of development, Johnson has not only manipulated a superhero movie to showcase himself as a star, he has rearranged an entire movie franchise-‘universe’ and studio into his image. Supported by heroes of The Justice Society, and one fantastic Pierce Brosnan playing Dr Fate, the movie serves as a strong origin story to seed multiple future movies in the Black Adam film series and plenty of other DCEU movies going forward.

The cinematic stylings of Zack Snyder are present throughout, laying the framework for the future of the DCEU while incorporating elements of what has worked well in the past.

Verdict: A perfectly solid superhero origin story that is doing much more for a cinematic franchise than any one movie should. Good thing the Rock has the shoulders for it! 3.5 stars.

 Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net.

 Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.

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