The Shazam family is back for what will be a bigger more entertaining sequel.
Growing up is hard for everyone, even when you’re a superhero. Billy Batson is getting older and his alter ego, Shazam are both feeling the pressures of growing older and not knowing where he belongs. With his family and how to be a proper hero.
Comparing himself to the legends of the DC Universe, Shazam is having a tough time deciding what the best use of his powers are. Trying to hold together the Shazam family, as they appear to all be heading in different directions in life, all he wants is to be part of a family. He’s got abandonment issues so it all makes sense.
It’s not until some Gods show up, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Luci Liu) that Billy realizes it’s up to him to save the world.
This sequel looks like they got more money, so expect a larger movie in terms of scale and scope. More screen time for our heroes and probably twice the laughs.
I’m not entirely sure where the DC universe is heading but as a fan of the first Shazam, I’m excited for the sequel. Zachary Levi does a fantastic job and it would be really cool to see him interact with some of the other DC heroes and most importantly Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam.
When I tell you this is going to be the best comic book movie ever made, just trust me.
Everyone okay? Because I sure as hell am not! What a trailer, what a day for DC fans. It was already a packed day, but they always save the best for last and they weren’t messing around.
So much to process so little time because I’m clearly watching this on a loop for the next few days. From the aesthetics, Gotham’s landscape, how amazing everyone looks, the action. Everything from this trailer was Batman perfection.
This is the movie Seven but we are inserting Batman in the lead role. I loved how they have captured The Riddler and he’s interrogating him behind glass! Clearly a giant game of cat and mouse will be going on between these two throughout the entire film.
Everyones presence is felt in this trailer. Rob and Zoe especially with them having some sort of romance going on. Alfred looks like he is rocking a cane and again Colin Ferrell as Penguin is just unrecognizable in his role! We get a tiny glimpse of Paul Dano has The Riddler, but something is off, they aren’t showing us his face yet………..
We get Batman literally walking into gunfire, like this movie is going to be special. Batman is kicking the shit out of everyone in front of him and I’m here for it.
This looks like no other Batman movie that has come before it. It’s just so beautiful
Two Flashes, Supergirl, and Michael Keaton is back as Batman. Haven’t heard his Batman voice in 30 years. Today is a good day.
So Michael Keaton is back as Batman. Do I really need to say anything more about this movie?
So it’s been almost 30 years since Michael Keaton suited up as Batman, but life always comes full circle, and so does the DC Universe. The Flash will be running through multiple timelines, visiting multiple Batmen and trying to save the one person he loves the most, his mother.
Based loosely off The Flashpoint Paradox, where we see Barry Allen do the impossible and actually save his mother, only to see his own universe and world flipped upside down.
When he tries to clean up his own mess, it turns out, it’s harder than he thought, so obviously he turns to Batman to help him out.
This is such a small tease that it’s hard to understand everything, like why there are two Flashes, and how he gets to Keaton’s universe. Ben Affleck will also be joining in on the fun with his Batman. So this movie promises to be BIG with a ton of consequences for the DC Universe going forward.
One thing is certain, The Flash is going to change the landscape of everything and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
He’s been saying it for years, but the hierarchy of the DC Universe is about to change.
Dwayne Johnson is about to kick the living shit out of the Shazam family. He says he was born to play Black Adam and I think this small little tease we got shows us why.
From the Nation of Kahndaq, Black Adam can rival just about anyone in the DC Universe so why not get one of Hollywoods biggest stars to play this iconic character. The post-production has just started but it’s DC Fandome so obviously we weren’t going to leave empty handed.
We get a quick tease and glimpse of Dwayne donning the epic costume and zapping some dudes into dust in a mere instance. He’s powerful and he isn’t taking any prisoners.
The clip is great and showcases the massive scale this movie will have. Introducing the fans to a bunch of new and awesome DC characters while expanding the DC Universe.
It’s too early to tell what kind of movie this will ultimately become, but from this quick peek, Dwayne is going to crush this role.
James Gunn brings it with the latest entry into the DCEU. With a ton of heart and more violence, you can shake a stick at.
I can’t think of another director working today that is capable of taking ordinary and lesser-known comic book characters and turning them into captivating, crowd-pleasing “heroes” than James Gunn. This serves as a reboot almost, more like a launching pad for the next wave of convicts turned superhero hand-picked by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). You know the drill a bomb is implanted in their skulls and if they misbehave or go off mission, bye-bye birdie.
Enter Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Rat-Catcher 2 (Daniela Menchoir), Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian) Kingshark (voiced by Sly Stallone), and bringing back everyone’s favorite Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman). This is the new group of rag-tag heroes set on a mission to save the world from the inner galactic starfish Starro. First things first, this new team is incredible, who have terrific chemistry and play off one another so well. All having their moments to shine, fight amongst one another, and most importantly try to right their past wrongs. Among the team, I can’t even say one stands out more than the others because the new squad is actually so damn memorable. Polka-Dot Man being in a comic-book movie and having unbelievable powers? Who would have thought it? King Shark can flip a switch in a heartbeat from a lovable cute idiot, to someone who will literally rip you in half. Bloodsport is without a doubt the brawn of the group, the leader if you must. I loved his entire concept and his bag of tricks that were his weapons. Rat-Catcher 2 was the heart. Her love for not just rats but everyone in the group was heartwarming and she brought such a positive light to the film. The person who really surprised me the most was John Cena. Going from WWE to big Hollywood movies is never an easy task, but he was so impressive here and had some of the most emotional and raw scenes in the movie.
As for the two previous squad members, I felt Harley and Flagg were both insanely elevated this time around. Margot Robbie again kills it in this role, each time she’s portrayed Harley, she knocks it out of the park. As for Rick Flagg, he wasn’t at the forefront but it felt he was more important and actually cared way more about the team this time around. James Gunn manages to incorporate horror, action, humor, and heart, all simultaneously and it works so well. When it wants to be emotional it works and when the action hits, it hits hard. Harley Quinn has an all-time DCEU moment, while the third and final act of the film is so much fun.
It just feels like a breath of fresh air for not only the DCEU but comic book movies in general. The stakes are high, but it doesn’t feel like that, just seeing new comic book characters brought to life is always entertaining. When those characters come across the screen as well as they do here, it’s even better. The jokes mostly land, some don’t but with James Gunn directing you can expect a bunch of jokes and some will be better than others. Even some of the most violent and brutal action ends up being one of the funniest parts of the film and it feels like something only James Gunn could pull off.
Just from top to bottom, The Suicide Squad is a quality film that won’t be for everyone, but I loved every single second of it. This is what a comic book movie should feel and look like. Bright, splash pages coming to life. Absurd characters popping off the screen, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. We need to see these characters again soon because they were all home runs, and I hope maybe they will pop again in another DCEU movie. King Shark not having a little cameo in Aquaman 2 just seems like a missed opportunity if you ask me. Tons of fun, plenty of laughs, and many memorable moments.
How’s that for a group shot? I’m going deep on everything Zack Snyder and his epic Justice League movie has to offer, so buckle up, going to be a long one.
Zack Snyder’s definitive director’s cut of Justice League. Determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.
Redemption. If I had to best sum up the movie and the man behind the camera, Zack Snyder with one word, that would be it. This was a long and tiresome battle, that drained not only fans but Zack himself. Zack has been making movies for DC for almost a decade now, since 2013 and the release of Man of Steel. It seems ever since that moment it’s almost been an uphill battle for Zack over at Warner Brothers. His movies dividing fans and critics alike and not being the total box-office success that Warner Brothers was hoping for. Even with the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, people all over the world didn’t quite understand the magnitude of the situation at hand, because unless you follow these things closely, why would you? The events leading up to Justice League and the events that unfolded afterward will go down in Hollywood history. From the biblical-sized fan support and movement that honestly changed the way Hollywood could make movies going forward, to the backlash that the 2017 film endured and the fill-in director Joss Whedon faced. In March of 2017, one of Zack’s adopted daughters Autumn tragically took her own life and Zack like any parent didn’t know how to handle the situation. So when he decided he needed to step back from his work and focus on his family, his Justice League movie was on the brink of being complete. Warner Brothers decided that his vision and everything he had built for that studio since 2013 wasn’t their own ideas and beliefs anymore and wanted to alter, manipulate and downright destroy his beautiful movie. November 2017 rolls around and Justice League is released and to this day he hasn’t seen that product. Fans were unaware of just how mutilated his vision was and felt that “this wasn’t a Zack Snyder” movie and the birth of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement began. The next 3 and a half years had so many ups and downs for fans, trying and doing whatever they could to get the attention needed to bring about Zack’s cut of his own movie. Until finally on May 20th of last year, that was finally made a reality and now we can all say, we have seen the true vision, the true Justice League movie. When it comes to situations like these, I will always be on the side of the film-maker, and at the end of the day, no matter how you feel about the movie. One thing we can all agree upon is being happy for Zack Snyder and his family that his original vision has come to life and in the end, he got total redemption. This is a win not only for the fans but for him as well, erasing a black mark on his career, which wasn’t even his fault to begin with. The movie being released didn’t just redeem Synder but every single person involved, not only do our actors experience it, but their hero counterparts as well.
First things first, make sure you empty that bladder before you hit the play button! Now, those four hours just flew by didn’t they? Toss out everything you know about the 2017 version, in my eyes, it’s a parody. Except for the little bit of the original Snyder content left in, we can bury it, it’s dead. This is exactly the type of Justice League movie fans have wanted their whole lives. It’s immense, epic, mythological, and offers so much from every single one of our heroes. Each one gets their own moment to shine, in the grandest of ways, each making sacrifices and realizing that they can only save the world when they work together. All of this was missing 4 years ago, that’s because this new version gives our heroes time to breathe and get a feeling for one another. You understand their motives and why they might be a little coy on joining a team. No matter how big or how small your fandom is for DC Comics, this movie kind of has something for everyone. Each character fleshed out, making them feel more human, most notably Ray Fisher’s Cyborg. His character and Ezra Miller’s Flash are the two characters in my mind that get the biggest overall boost from this cut. Making you realize that they are vital and important members of the league. Everyone else also gets a boost and you see that these are Zack’s characters and aren’t muddled in nonsensical humor or completely defying everything that was built with Man of Steel and Batman v Superman.
As for the movie, I’ll be going into a little spoiler territory! Within the first scene, you know this is the continuation of BvS, that this is a Zack Snyder film. Watching Superman scream to the high heavens before he dies, and having the Amazons, the Atlanteans and even Cyborg hear those cries. It lets you know that his death means deep shit for planet Earth. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) is still trying to find the light again and he is doing his best Danny Ocean while attempting to recruit some warriors. He’s building an alliance and when Jason Momoa’s Aquaman essentially tells him to kick rocks, he goes back to Alfred with his tail between his legs. It was so amazing seeing Affleck back as Batman, and the way he was intended to be seen. I forgot how much I loved him in this role and so much of his anger is gone and this is a Batman just ripped straight out of a Justice League comic. Soon enough the only members he’s able to convince to help him Diana (Gal Gadot) obviously, and they are giving us a little “are these two just going to hook up” vibes a few times. I want it, you want it, we all want to see that go down. Evetually, after stalking Barry Allen they manage to take the League from a dynamic duo to a threesome but it still isn’t enough. Once Cyborg and Aquaman join their ranks after a tough first encounter with Steppenwolf, the team is ready to lay down the law. Speaking of Steppenwolf……
Can we all just take a moment and truly appreciate all the villains. Steppenwolf was a winey Momma’s boy in 2017 and became arguably the best villain in the DCEU. He’s mean, he’s lean and he kicks all sorts of ass. Amazons, dead, Atlanteans, dead, humans, dead. Steppenwolf’s design is just infinitely better this time around and it makes him look menacing and actually a formidable foe. We get a backstory for him this time, so we actually know what his motives are! We realize that he’s been kicked out of the house by dear old Dad, also known as Darkseid (Ray Porter). Everything is just so much more cohesive with the story actually being built. We understand why Steppenwolf has come to Earth and why rightfully so, he’s a little pissed off. As for Darkseid, who is DC’s Thanos, he’s terrifying, the dude straight up steps on Steppenwolf’s head after it’s been cut off like it didn’t even phase him. I wanted him to go to Earth and throw down against the league but we will save that for next time. However, we did get to see him and his little Omega Beams in action. In the Knightmare timeline, he totally alienates and kills Aquaman! They didn’t even bother putting DC’s biggest baddie in the 2017 version, like what on Earth were they thinking? I loved Steppenwolf and Darkseid looked terrific, we need to see more of him and the New Gods. We actually got to see him in action during the history lesson sequence. It was great to see the foreshadowing of the old gods coming together and being able to defeat him, each of them portraying one of our new heroes. One thing is for sure, we need more Darkseid and when we saw him take control of Superman after Lois Lane’s death, I can’t even imagine how much havoc he causes.
It takes almost 2 hours but Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) comes back. You didn’t think Zack would forget about his crown jewel. He’s resurrected once again, but this time they make it a little clearer about how they will do it and why it might be a terrible idea. When Superman returns he also gets his time to shine. He dons the epic Black Suit and all that was missing was his mullet. The action really ramps up once he is back on screen and for a 4-hour movie, the action is nicely spread out and isn’t overstuffed with unnecessary action sequences. The 3rd act of this film is mind-blowing and the team finally comes together and takes the fight to Steppenwolf. When the biggest moment of the film occurs that involves Barry running back through time to save everyone, that caught me off guard. I didn’t see that coming and it was the most powerful moment in the movie. His time to shine and in the biggest way possible.
Now for those last 20 minutes…….
Anyone else just want an entire movie set in the Knightmare timeline? Talk about the weirdest party anyone could ever attend. Batman, Joker, Deathstroke, Flash, Cyborg, and Mera all working together, well trying to work together to “make everything right”. Finally, we got some actual dialogue between Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jared Leto’s Joker and boy did it not disappoint. Some of the best dialogue between those two iconic characters ever put to screen. I think it totally redeems Leto’s Joker another character and actor to achieve redemption status. Then the ultimate party pooper shows up and we are left wondering how the hell our heroes got out of that one. Bruce wakes up and thinks Superman is coming to visit only to be visited by none other than Martian Manhunter himself! Bruce went from hating Superman and wanting to kill him to not giving a shit than an alien is flying towards him after waking his ass out of bed, now that’s character development baby! He lets Bruce know that “There’s a war coming” and Darkseid isn’t done with Earth. Bruce says he’ll see him around and that’s it. Until we get the most heartwarming moment of the film when “For Autumn” appears on the screen…..
This is a smorgasbord for DC fans and the accumulation of almost ten years from Zack Snyder. It’s one of the strongest and best comic-book movies I’ve ever seen and definitely cements it in the DC lure forever. Emotional beats, impactful character moments, with glorious and beautiful action set pieces. It met my expectations and rendered everything from 2017 obsolete. Whatever happens in the future regarding Zack Snyder and potential Justice League sequels remains unclear. One thing is clear, the world wants it, but I just don’t know if it will happen. That’s not important, what is important is a man got to undo something and maybe can sleep a little better at night.
This is and will always be about Zack Snyder and he just gave us one of the best comic book movies ever.
We are mere days away from Zack Snyder’s Justice League, so once again take a trip down memory lane with the birth of the expanded DCEU with Batman v Superman.
Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.
Remember this little indie flick that came into the zeitgeist back in 2016? Batman v Superman, arguably the most talked-about piece of pop culture this century. One of the most polarizing, divided, and controversial movies I can ever really remember seeing, it finally introduced us to the possibilities of the Justice League.
After the semi-success of Man of Steel, Warner Brothers knew they needed to go big for their next movie. Zack Snyder decided to bring in the big guns, which was Oscar Winner Ben Affleck, coming off winning best picture at the Oscars. He was going to be suiting up and taking on the Son of Krypton. Ben Affleck was at the height of his power, he had more juice than almost anyone in Hollywood at the time and Zack Snyder convinced this guy to come play Batman for him.
Warner Brothers had just wrapped up the monumental Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, proving that Batman was essentially box-office gold. How could this fail? Once production got underway, Zack Snyder and his team rolled out one of the most impressive marketing campaigns in history. Everything was a homerun, casting, posters, and more importantly the trailers. Fans couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into this movie and the world was waiting to see what Zack Snyder had in store.
When reviews came pouring in, it wasn’t what WB was expecting, arriving at 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and now that isn’t an important marker for every movie, but it can sink a movie in terms of box-office success. Not even eclipsing 1 billion dollars at the box-office, things didn’t seem the same once BvS was released.
Again, the problem with the movie for a lot of fans, they felt it had too many holes and some of the pieces of the puzzle seemed to be missing. Then came along the Ultimate Edition of the movie that proved the intended version that Zack Snyder had for the world was the superior one. It changed how a lot of people viewed the movie and made a stronger case for as to why Zack Snyder should be the one leading the charge on the future of the DCEU.
Personally, I remember being disappointed when I walked out of the theatre after seeing BvS. I waited over 700 days for the movie and it didn’t live up to my expectations. Until I realized I had set the highest of expectations that could never be reached. Like most fans, I didn’t really fall in love with this movie until I watched the Ultimate Edition. Now with every passing viewing, I find myself enjoying this thing just so much more. Mostly due to the fact, that there is just so much more to enjoy, and the movie just feels complete to me.
The movie serves as a launching pad for the future team-up movie, introducing us to Ben Afflecks’ dark and lost Batman. As he tries to find himself again and is eventually inspired by Superman. This is a Batman who has broken free from his golden rule and has lost all sense of what made him such a strong figure for Gotham City. We never quite got to see this kind of Dark Knight, someone who lives inside a world with super-powered beings all while having 20 years of crime-fighting experience. Without a doubt as of right now he is the definitive Batman because he fills out the suit to perfection and his relationship with Alfred is the best part of his entire character. Making his Bruce Wayne just as valuable on the screen as his alter-ego.
We also get introduced to the last piece of the Trinity, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Obviously not as flushed out as Batman, but we knew she would be getting her own solo flick in the near future. Gal steals the last third of the movie, having one of the best entrances for a superhero ever. She looks fierce and has only gained confidence on-screen as time has gone on. She’s a much better actor today than she was when she was first cast as Diana. Not to mention a quick glimpse at Cyborg, Flash, and Aquaman, Snyder was trying to tell us a much larger threat was on the horizon and these heroes would need to come together in order to save the world.
This is just so different from anything that was going on in the comic-book world at that time. It was serious and dealt with our heroes in a very thematic and layered way. In the MCU it was mostly ordinary people trying to be Gods, where Snyder was displaying our DC heroes as Gods that just wanted to be like everyone else. Superman is a flawed character, for good reasons and his story arc through the first two DCEU movies was a unique take.
Fron the beautiful score, that hits right from the very get-go as we watch the Waynes get gunned down once again in Crime Alley. Leading all the way until the very last moments of our film. The action isn’t what propels this movie forward. When it hits, of course, it’s great, that’s one thing you never really have to worry about with Snyder (warehouse scene anyone), and his visuals are always on the highest of peaks. These characters have never looked better in a movie. Jesse Eisenberg who gives a more Mark Zuckerberg rather than Jeff Bezos kind of Lex Luthor portrayal was met with such criticism, but for me, it’s one of the things that works so well. It’s interesting that as the movie goes forward we see Batman and Lex go on opposite paths, Batman gliding towards the light, while Lex slips deeper into the dark. His rooftop sequence with both Superman and Lois Lane is his crowning achievement.
Over time I think more people have come around to this movie, but it’s still highly discussed and has polarized a fanbase. It will leave a mark on the comic-book industry no doubt, even more so with the events that played out after its release.
Batman v Superman may be flawed in some areas but overall, I truly believe it is one of the best comic-book movies ever made. It’s rich in context and in texture and it is more than just heroes punching one another. Zack looks at our heroes through a certain lens that leaves you wondering what he had in store for the future. In less than a week, we will finally get to see that vision and I don’t think the world is ready.
With Zack Snyder’s Justice League just under a week away, we look back at the movie that kicked off the DCEU ,with Man of Steel.
An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened, when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when everyone was sitting down in the theatre to watching Christopher Nolan finish off his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. The first teaser trailer for Man of Steel was shown. Setting up what would ultimately become the infamous DCEU, showcasing a different outlook and tone of this beloved and iconic character of Superman.
Zack Snyder who had previously dipped his toe into the comic-book genre with Watchmen was now tackling arguably the hardest hero to put onto the big screen. Unlike Richard Donner’s take on the character, this seemed to go in a different direction, more thematic and stoic. Man of Steel was met with okay reviews by critics and fans all around the world were definitely divided. The world was used to a certain kind of Superman, one who smiled and saved cats from trees and was an all-around boy scout. Zack had different plans for the character and that’s what had people discussing the philosophy behind the character and is still the topic of discussion to this very day.
Man of Steel is a character-driven story that showcases what it would truly be like if someone with extraordinary powers came to Earth. Many parallels to Jesus are often brought up and Zack does really dive deep into the mythos of the character and what it would mean not just for our hero, but for humankind as well.
Times had drastically changed since the ’70s and a fresh new take on Superman was needed, but the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” really got in some people’s heads. It’s almost been a decade since this movie arrived and it has only aged more beautifully with each passing year. One of the strongest origin stories we have gotten, certainly on the DC side of things, but it’s an important movie that regardless of how you feel about it, lives in the zeitgeist, whether you like it or not.
Zack didn’t just find the perfect Clark Kent/Superman with Henry Cavill. Who is a spitting image of what Superman should look like? He brought along Amy Adams, Kevin Costner Diane Lane, and Micheal Shannon along for the ride as well. The casting was so pitch-perfect that you wonder how this movie didn’t do better at the box-office. Alongside perfectly placed Easter Eggs, some we wouldn’t find out about until years later, can you say Martian Manhunter.
One of the most difficult aspects of transitioning Superman from page to screen is just how incredibly powerful he is. Who can stop that hero who has it all? Well, you make him fight someone equally as powerful. The fight sequences are breathtaking, especially the battle of Smallville, easily one of the best action set pieces in all of the DCEU, that really started to show how awesome Superman can be. The battle of Metropolis was met with some criticism that was addressed in Batman v Superman, but what would you expect to happen with two unstoppable forces fighting in a major city?
With a beautiful Hans Zimmer score, a great script, this movie had all the makings to be such a fantastic launching pad for the DCEU, and to this day, I’m still not sure where it went wrong. Henry Cavill still hasn’t done a Superman sequel and could be on his way out the door. Which would ultimately be a crime because of just how perfect he is in that role.
Man of Steel was a groundbreaking achievement by Snyder who proved once again that he can be trusted with a comic book property and that just because his philosophy of a certain character isn’t what you think it should be, shouldn’t discredit the subject at hand. Russell Crowe who plays Jor-El, Superman’s father. Another brilliant casting decision says to Kal-El, ” But, in time, they will join you in the sun.” I think it speaks volumes to this movie. In time people will realize just how special this movie is and we all failed it by not making it a bigger deal.
I’ll never forget watching the battle of Smallville for the first time and realizing that we could have Superman movies like this for a decade. Truly a special movie theatre experience for me.
The first trip to the movies in 2020 was not ideal. Turns out the Birds of Prey doesn’t have much wind beneath their wings, as DC continues to find their footing.
After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.
People will do drastic things to fit in with the popular crowd. Change their hair, wear different clothes, even adapt to a new speech. The same can be said for the movie industry. Dating all the way back to the beginning of the DCEU, and even at that time, WB didn’t really know what they were doing. It wasn’t until they decided to go ahead with BvS and I truly believe that was never their original plan before the release of Man of Steel. Since then it’s been a rollercoaster, to say the least. Sure, they’ve made plenty of money, but the reception from not only critics but fans has been divided. There were a few standouts, mostly surrounding the casting of key characters in this rich and diverse universe. One, in particular, was none other than Harley Quinn herself, with the casting of Margot Robbie. So after Suicide Squad came and went it was only a matter of time before she got her own solo flick, and I’m going to be perfectly honest, WB once again dropped the ball.
Birds of Prey. Say that to any random moviegoer, and they will shake their head with curiosity and slight confusion. Unless you are a major DC fan or know the deep lure of the comics, it’s hard to put people in seats, when the average ticket buyer doesn’t know who the Birds of Prey really are. Sure they were marketing the shit out of Harley Quinn, but the movie was about so much more, and I thought they did a poor job at executing a well-put-together game plan on how to market this film. Harley Quinn has big as she is, well, she’s not Batman, or Superman or even Wonder Woman, DC’s biggest star at the moment. So if you’re going to center a film around a team of female super-heroes, why not let us all know who exactly we will be rooting for when we go purchase our tickets.
I’ll admit, BOP can be a ton of fun in moments, and the chemistry between all of the ladies is terrific. Quinn (Margot Robbie) Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) Black Canary (Jurnee Smollet-Bell) Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez). When they are all finally teaming up and kicking some butt, it’s entertaining, but it’s certainly not enough to save the entire film. One of the big issues I had with this film, is the lack of backstory we get for any of our characters. Mostly Black Mask (Ewen McGregor) and Black Canary. This movie just expects you to know who these people are and give us very little insight into how they arrived at their place in Gotham. For instance, Black Mask is a pretty great Batman villain, and McGregor is a terrific actor, but they give us no explanation to his name, or why he likes to wear masks, and most importantly, why he dawns his iconic “black mask.” That is a little scene they needed to shuffle into the film. Much like Black Canary, who does, in fact, have a superpower, and when she finally uses it, they don’t explain how or why she is able to do that. fans that know the character, sure, but for the people meeting her for the first time, might be a little confused. It’s just things like that, for me, that bogged down the film.
The film takes a while to get going. Slowly introducing our new female heroes. Huntress really steals the show, and she’s barely even in the thing, which shocked me, to be honest. It just feels all over the place, where random circumstances are leading all these ladies to finally meet up. This wanted to be Deadpool so badly, they decided to go with an R-Rating, which was a massive mistake in my mind. This is a film that wants to be hardcore but doesn’t need to be. That wants to drop ‘F-Bombs’ throughout and they didn’t have to. Harley is breaking the 4th wall, and that’s fine, but the cursing was so forced and just felt awkward at times. It could have benefited more with a lesser rating and kept the action pretty much the same. There is one sequence inside of Gotham Police Headquarters that was the highlight of the film, featuring a really cool fight in one of the cell blocks with Harley.
This just wasn’t the proper next movie for this important character and not having Joker involved was weird. I know Jared Leto might be done, but you got to slip him in for one scene. Because if he doesn’t exist anymore in the DCEU, then I’m not sure why this movie needed to be made? The whole concept and idea behind the film are based on the fact that she and Mr. J just broke up.
I’ll leave it with this. It’s fantastic that a movie like this gets to be made in 2020. An all-female lead comic book movie. Directed by a woman (Cathy Yan) who crafted a pretty unique experience and written by a woman (Christina Hodson). That doesn’t mean it gets a free pass and shouldn’t be criticized. I just didn’t really like the direction that they took Harley in. This for me isn’t the Harley I want to see in live-action. There’s no reason for her to be foul-mouthed the way she’s portrayed here. Again, I think WB thought the R-Rating would benefit this character, wherein all reality, I think it just dumbed her down. For me, go back and watch Batman The Animated Series, where it all began with this character. That’s the true Harley Quinn and the one we deserve on the big screen. Can we get her in the traditional Jester outfit already?
The thing about Shazam is, DC once again proves that their solo flicks are all stellar and I could see this becoming one of the most rewatchable comic book movies ever made . Zachary Levi is perfect in this homage to movies like Elf and BIG.
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.
Nowadays it feels too cliche to sit here and write the word “fun” when it comes to a movie review for a DC Comics property. But here’s the thing, Shazam is a ton of fun, and it’s fun in all the right ways. People shake their heads, but this sudden drastic change in tone from the dark and gloomy days of Zack Snyder, which I will admit, at times I find myself missing. It’s this change of pace that makes this feel so refreshing, another word that gets tossed around like a Juul at a college party these days. These are the elements that make this movie so damn loveable, and something I feel like fans that want that change will instantly appreciate.
When the DCEU started and we got our first glimpse at the new Superman and Batman, it would’ve been hard to imagine Shazam getting his first solo flick before The Dark Knight got us, and we got a sequel to the fantastic Man of Steel. But here we are, and Billy Batson is now a household name, and I really couldn’t be happier. He’s such an interesting and unique character with a great story to tell. We all wonder what it would be like to gain superpowers, but what happens when that wish is granted and we’re merely 14 years old? Toss in the fact, your body transforms into a 30 something god-like figure, it could become really complicated for our young hero. How would someone who is not even old enough to drive a car or purchase alcohol handle becoming one of the most powerful superheroes in all of DC comic book lure? Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has been trying to find his mother all of his life. It’s his driving force and what motivates him the most. Bouncing around group homes, he has a hard time letting anyone get close, let alone consider anyone to be family. At the heart of Shazam, and one of the main reasons why the movie works so well is the theme of what it means to be a family. What family means to different people, and how to ultimately let go of the past. When Billy enters his new group home he quickly meets Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) his new foster brother and his new foster parents Rosa (Marta Milans) and Victor (Cooper Andrews). Now Jack Dylan Grazer is becoming one of the best all-around young actors today. His quick-nipped comedy and chemistry with both Zach Levi and Asher Angel is truly a bright spot for the film. Billy has problems staying in group homes and letting people get attached to him, but deep down he has a pure heart and knows what it means to do right by people. So when the old Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) picks him to be his next champion, it’s up to Billy and his newfound powers to help track down the 7 deadly sins. Billy alongside Freddy and the rest of their foster home siblings, Mary, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro help him discover what it means to be the hero the world deserves and what it means to act and be a superhero. The way director David F. Sandberg was able to pace the movie, and blend all these different genres together was quite impressive. Known for his horror movies, Shazam was darker than I thought it would be, and in some parts, you could get a sense of David’s horror background. Transitioning from comedy to horror and mixing in action is a tall task to ask of a director who hasn’t done something like that before, but David really proved his worth to WB here, and I hope they get a sequel out with him attached real soon.
Not all are pure of heart and when Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) was hand-picked when he was a young boy to become the champion, he was turned away due to his evil heart. When he grows into an adult he makes it his purpose to find this wizard again and take the power that he believes is rightfully his. Mark Strong plays a solid villain, it’s very much in his wheelhouse, this is now comic book villain number 3 for him. Another strong outing, no pun intended. One of the things I really liked about Shazam was how grounded it felt. There was no giant laser in the sky, or some wormhole opening up, it was a small story, about a group of people coming together to find out what it means to be a family and what it takes to be a hero. They borrow a ton from movies like Elf and BIG, and there’s even a moment where Shazam and Dr. Sivana are fighting on a giant piano. They weren’t afraid to steer in the direction of the movies they took inspiration from. All the scenes of Shazam and Freddy goofing around, figuring out what sort of powers Shazam possesses was so cute and heartfelt to watch. Zachary Levi captures the spirit and essence of a child to a tee. He was so well cast, I can’t wait to watch him interact with other DC heroes, he certainly will be a worthy addition to the Justice League.
Speaking of other Justice League members, I don’t want to spoil anything about this movie, because there is a lot of fun stuff within this movie, that I forgot was going to happen when I was watching. The final scene of Shazam is so much fun and it really is one of the coolest comic book scenes ever, but it could have been pushed over the threshold if DC didn’t wimp out. If you are going to do what they did, you have to go all-in on it. You can’t hold back and you can’t go half-assed with it. That’s just my opinion, you’ll understand what I’m talking about once you see the film. Overall, Shazam is so much fun and the best DC movie since Wonder Woman. At times I even liked it more than Wonder Woman because of how much fun I was having. It was a nice new origin story take, and I just wanted more when I left. Unlike Aquaman, I have seen him interact with other heroes, I just really need to see that with Shazam, sooner rather than later. But the motherload for this franchise is the fact that Dwayne Johnson will be showing up as Black Adam. His arch-nemesis and that will be the best thing to happen for the DCEU in a long time. They need to push this sequel ahead real fast because the world is ready for that showdown now, not 3 or 4 years from now.
Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.
