Skip to main content

Review: Shazam (2019)

Shazam (2019)

I think we can all confidently say that it's nice to no longer have Zack Snyder spearheading the cinematic DCU. No offence to Snyder - he has a specific style that works for those dark and stylistic stories - but he is not the right man for the usually whimsical and optimistic tone that permeates much of the DC universe. Aquaman and the studio's newest entry, Shazam, have now both succeeded in effectively evoking that fantastically high-concept and family-oriented side of the DCU that has been missing for quite a long time.
Overall, Shazam is a fun and entertaining superhero film. In this it is quite reminiscent of Donner's original 1978 Superman playing out with a lighthearted self-awareness. There were a number of children in the theatre when I saw the film who were audibly enjoying the film with laughter and cheering - a nice change from the morose and grimness of BvS (which those kids likely weren't even allowed to watch). The cast here are all great, especially Zachary Levi who seems to have been born for this role, convincingly playing the 14 year old superhero Billy Batson/Shazam.
The film does struggle a bit in its first half, going through some of the mandatory background material in order to set up DC's world of wizards. Some of the dialogue and scenes here are a bit awkward and unevenly paced. It is when Billy becomes Shazam though and begins experimenting with his newfound powers that the film finds its footing, and it does not let up from there. The final act of the film in particular is absolutely stellar and has some grand surprises that will wow both the comic book lovers and newcomers alike.
8/10


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: How to With John Wilson (Season 1)

How to With John Wilson (Season 1) TLDR: It's hard to describe exactly what How To is or why exactly it works, but there's a certain point in every episode when the comedy begins to click and then the human element - the surprising poignancy and the everyman/woman relatability - comes out in spades. This documentary series is unlike anything else out there and absolutely worth your time. Who exactly is John Wilson? That's the first question that comes to mind when HBO's new documentary series is recommended to a new viewer. The name is in the show's title, and yet John Wilson is rather a nobody in the grand scheme of things as well as in the entertainment industry (at least he was prior to the becoming a bonafide hit). However, not long ago, contemporary comedy icon Nathan Fielder discovered Wilson and, after seeing his work and style, decided to jump on board as a producer for a new series made by Wilson.  So, again, what exactly is this show? Well, each episode of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Soul (2020)

Soul (2020) TLDR: For a year where many may feel like they have lost a little piece of their own, Soul has arrived to remind us all what's most important in life. This is a Pixar film that is arguably more important for adults to watch than kids: it is beautiful - in both story and art, it is quirky, it is heartfelt and, as these trying times endlessly push on, it reminds us that there is still a lot of good in this world to enjoy and reflect upon.  Note: some spoilers below. It takes a little bit of time to ease into Disney/Pixar's Soul. Though the film starts out in a lush and beautifully rendered NYC filled with delightful jazz music as we follow Joe around his everyday boroughs, things very quickly run astray. Suddenly, we are thrown into an abstract world filled with Picasso-like wiry characters and massively heady existential concepts like 'where do we come from', 'the great beyond', and much more. If it's not immediately apparent, it soon becomes clea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Whiplash (2012)

Whiplash (2012) TLDR: On multiple levels Whiplash is a brilliant film. A dual character study. An ode to jazz music supremacy. And a cautionary (or inspiring?) tale of what it takes to become the world's greatest. In an instant, Whiplash cements Damien Chazelle as one of today's youngest and most talented filmmakers brimming with artistry, intensity and craftsmanship. This is not one to miss. It was surprising that the first time I saw Whiplash, I left the theatre with a slightly nauseous feeling in my gut. Not because of the film itself - its visuals or audio per se - there is nothing to criticize about its radiance. It was in its simple yet utterly-effective and haunting discussion of what it takes to become the greatest in one's field that left me feeling torn and conflicted. While most of the film seems to be a cautionary or reprimanding tale of jazz instructor Fletcher's (JK Simmons) brutal methods of 'mentorship', its ending posits perhaps an equally stron...
Post a Comment
Read more