By Marc S. Sanders
Black Adam has to be the first superhero movie that apologizes for the mind numbingly stupid two hours you just endured, by offering up an enticing ninety second end credits scene. That’s all that this headache inducing piece of noise has going for it; the end credit scene. The film is so headache inducing that I’d rather be serenaded with a duet performance of a car alarm and a leaf blower singing a rendition of a song I’ve always despised, like Red, Red Wine.
About twenty minutes into Dwayne Johnson’s debut into the DC Cinematic Universe, as the title character, I reflected on Raiders Of The Lost Ark from 1981. Remember when the government suits ask Indiana Jones about the significance of the Ark Of The Covenant? It took three minutes to sum up what was at stake, what the hero was going after and who he was expected to be up against. That’s it. After that, the piece was constructed to offer up one kind of stunt or action sequence or visual effect after another. The difference is that everything you saw served its story and thus carried on the pursuit. How I long for the days of intelligent writing.
Black Adam tries at least three times over the course of two hours to explain brainless conjecture about an ancient city where its inhabitants dig for some powerful element, called Eternium, at the behest of their harsh ruler. Then there’s something about a crown and a slave boy who comes into play. Later, I think his father is mentioned, but I was nodding off by then. I’m only mad at myself for focusing more on inhaling the contents of my popcorn bucket rather than getting invested in a movie. My mission was no longer to maintain an interest in this big budget comic book tripe. Now, I was destined to get to the bottom of my overly priced snack food container. This is not why I go to the movies, people!
When the movie is not talking (which hardly ever happens), it is pounding at my cranium with horrible CGI dust clouds and lightning bolts that offer up blindingly, irritating sights and bombastic sounds. My eyes hurt. My ears hurt. Light a firecracker, drop it in a tuba and blow. It’s likely more soothing to the senses. For surround sound, turn on your garbage disposal with your car keys in it. It’ll all be much more harmonious and pleasant.
What little I know of Black Adam is limited to a scant few comic book images. Long before I knew of Dwayne Johnson, it seemed inevitable that only this guy could play the part. It’s an uncanny resemblance. No one else can play this role. The supporting cast is promising, especially a sophisticated and well-aged Pierce Brosnan as the one with sorcerer like powers. His Dr. Fate is maybe DC’s equivalent to Marvel’s Dr. Strange. Aldis Hodge is Hawkman, and he looks absolutely confident in the guise with outspread bird wings and a kick ass helmet and spiked ball on a staff for a personal weapon. A guy named Noah Centineo is the Atom Smasher. He’s cute enough to fill the void for Ezra Miller when he eventually gets fired from his cushy gig as the Flash.
So, I don’t get it. Warner Bros and DC assemble a terrifically talented cast who not only look good in the costumes, but can act with timing as well. Yet, they give them nothing to do but be digitized in terrible CGI that makes the Hanna Barbera Superfriends cartoons look like breakthrough technology. Everything looks terribly animated in Black Adam, and therefore it’s as boring as a church sermon that won’t end because the minister is overindulging in chastising you for cheating on your diet. Johnson on the big screen flying up to the top of a towering monument looks ridiculous, like an ¾ inch action figure next to a life size kitchen refrigerator. I’m supposed to believe that’s Dwayne Johnson up there? Probably because Johnson was not in the image, or if he was there, he had no concept what he was supposed to be looking at. Captions like this happen multiple times here, but they are all devoid of emotion or depth. The statue itself looks unfinished by the effects wizards. There’s hardly any detail to it. What’s it supposed to signify? I completely bought it when Christopher Reeve flew against the skyscrapers of Metropolis way back when. In today’s age of films, this movie takes about a hundred steps back in progress. Everything looks artificial. Nothing looks convincing.
Black Adam is also unsure of a well contained story. I’ll take no issue with the movie being episodic if that’s what its intention was meant to be. First the main character is fighting a military that stems from I don’t know what organization or country. They fire rockets and machine guns at him. Does nothing. So, what do I care? Then he’s fighting the other super heroes in the picture. They pound each other into the desert streets and dust clouds heighten into the earth. What’s to be gained from any of that? Black Adam then fights a gang that looks no more threatening than a lame motorcycle posse. Eventually, he’s battling some kind of CGI devil monster who needs a cough drop. This guy mustn’t sit on the throne located at the top peak over the city. If he does, all hell breaks loose and blah, blah, blah. This is like watching a lame CW TV series crammed into two long tortuous hours. How does this movie go from here to there and then over there and end up wherever? I gave up trying to string it all together.
It’s ridiculous how dumb Black Adam is, especially when you consider how much thought went into a ninety second epilogue teaser before you leave the theatre. I’m sorry but I expect these filmmakers and studios who harbor these big budgets and hype to work on the same level of imagination and craft as a Steven Spielberg or a Christopher Nolan. Nolan reinvented the Batman franchise. He took his time to flesh out character motivation while painting a scenery for his own flavor of Gotham City. Marvel did this as well when Jon Favreau was wise enough to follow a Spielbergian trajectory with the original Iron Man. Kevin Feige often has not broken the formula since, because it succeeds. Black Adam neglects all of these techniques. Its lack of any quality is traitorous towards its consumers.
I don’t recall a conversation among the characters that lasts longer than four sentences. By the end of the film, I’m not sure if Black Adam is a bad guy or a good guy. I don’t know what was resolved to tie up the picture. I don’t know when the turning point occurred, and Black Adam got an upper hand over anyone he does battle with. Actually, he’s never challenged or weakened. So, where’s the suspense? What stakes are at play?
Black Adam functions as an eight-year-old kid in his room with his toy action figures. They crash into another and the child makes a “pshoosh!” sound with his duck face lips. I expect eight-year-olds to just enjoy their play things. They don’t have to focus on exposition for themselves or anyone else. Let them escape. However, I didn’t pay to watch an eight-year-old play on the floor with his toys.
The failure of this movie is inexcusable. It angers me that filmmakers with unlimited resources and a wealth of source material are not trying harder like some of their industry peers. It’s unfair to movie goers to pay for junk primarily assembled on a Dell computer with a wireless mouse. Coloring books have more texture than this finished product.
Black Adam is a treachery in any context of the word, filmmaking. It’s not art. It’s not fun. It’s nothing more than shit turned white. It’s not fresh shit. It’s worse. It’s rotten shit.
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 
you are an idiot, the movie was an action superhero movie, and anyone who is into comics doesn’t need all the backstory to get to the action. Maybe those who don’t read comics might be lost, but that is fine just watch and enjoy the action. Mind you would be nice to see some back story but this movie was not for that it was a kick-you-in-the-teeth action movie.
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Thank you for your comment dwayne. I’ll never name call you or any of my readers.
I appreciate that you read the review. I’ve always been a lifelong comic book fan. As such, I’m convinced that moviegoers and especially comic book fans deserve better. We’ve seen better countless times.
If I don’t need backstory and just action, as you suggest, then I’ll just watch car wrecks on a 24-hour loop.
I love “kick in your teeth action [movies]. “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” is one such example. So is “Lethal Weapon.” “The Fugitive” and “Air Force One.” The “Indiana Jones” films. The “John Wick” films.
So are comic book films like “The Dark Knight,” “V For Vendetta,” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” “Shazam” was a happy surprise with a gift of goofball humor. Look at how good the original “Wonder Woman” was. What these films also possess though are intelligence in writing, dimension in character and detailed visual effects with tangible cinematography and smart editing. If one of these characters gets punched out, well now I have something to care about. I have a value in their storyline.
The best in comic books also function on this level with storylines like “Crisis On Infinite Earths,” “Secret Wars,” “The Phoenix Force,” “Blackest Night,” “Knightfall,” “Watchmen” and “The Killing Joke.” Not every panel was a punch and bombastic action. Backstory, accompanied by good dialogue and beautiful artwork enhanced these amazing tales. When the action arrived, there were elements at stake. Risk of what we care about was involved.
None of these superhero movies should be regarded as “just a comic book movie” that I should “lighten up” over. They are made with enormous amounts of money. When they are done right, more often than not, they have been put together with care and detailed attention. “Black Adam” was not, and so I won’t forgive it as “just a comic book movie.” For the money invested, it shouldn’t be so lazy in its construction or imagination. The celebrated DC character is worthy of better. Much better. I have more respect for the Black Adam character than to minimize it as just a comic book movie or an action movie with no need for backstory. So do you. You’re passionate enough to call me an idiot over my viewpoint.
I pay the same amount of money for “Black Adam” as I do for a current Marvel film in the theatres. I, like all movie lovers and comic book lovers, deserve the same kind of quality that are only served with best efforts.
“Black Adam,” the film, lacks any of these qualities. At best, the production had a talented cast that was wasted with terrible CGI and unimpactful action. Whether it was the first time Black Adam vanquished a person or the twentieth time, made no difference. Each punch or lightning bolt tossed or pound into the ground had as much significant value as any junk yard car getting crushed at a Monster Truck Rally.
From my point of view, this mess was assembled with lack of imagination and lack of trying. Worse yet, it committed a terrible crime of squandering potentially interesting characters with a promising cast of talent.
You might consider me an idiot. I consider the film “Black Adam” to be idiotic.
I hope you’ll continue to follow our site and please feel free to lend your perspective. Thanks!
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