This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 167! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
I recently had the pleasure of checking out a movie that’s been on my watchlist for awhile now, “Black Adam,” and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride from start to finish.
So, picture this: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the man, the myth, the legend, takes on the role of Teth-Adam, a dude from ancient Kahndaq (a fictional Middle Eastern country — think historical Egypt vibes) who got some crazy superpowers from the wizard Shazam. He’s like, ridiculously strong, can fly, shoot lightning, and is basically indestructible. But he’s been in a deep slumber for the past 5,000 years ago.
Fast forward to present day Kahndaq, which is still under the thumb of brutal interlopers. Enter Adrianna, a fierce archaeologist played by the ever-talented Sarah Shahi, who accidentally frees Teth-Adam while on a dig. Big whoops! Let’s just say he’s a bit crabby after his long nap.
This is where things get interesting. Teth-Adam is not exactly your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. He’s more of a “pulverize-anyone-who-gets-in-my-way” kind of guy. pulverize Intense, right? The Rock definitely brings the brooding anti-hero energy. So he goes on a rampage, taking out some baddies and causing all sorts of chaos.
Black Adam’s methods catch the attention of the Justice Society of America (JSA for short), a crew of seasoned superheroes led by the awesome Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate. Think a mystical cloak and seriously cool helmet – this guy’s got serious sorcerer vibes So the JSA is like, “Yo, we gotta stop this guy!” So, they send in Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) to take him down. 💪
The JSA tries to reason with Black Adam, because, you know, mass destruction isn’t exactly heroic. But Black Adam’s not exactly known for listening to others. Cue epic clash of the titans! This movie throws down some seriously impressive fight scenes. The Rock’s physicality really shines here, and the CGI is top-notch. I won’t spoil the details, but let’s just say there’s a giant, fire-breathing demon involved at one point – pretty epic stuff.
But here’s the thing: Teth-Adam isn’t just some villain on a power trip. He’s actually trying to protect his homeland. Along the way, he teams up with Adrianna (Sarah Shahi), the person who awakened him and her superhero-obsessed son, Amon (Bodhi Sabongui). It’s like a weird, dysfunctional family unit, but hey, it works!
The conflict between Black Adam and the JSA is at the heart of the film, and it’s a fascinating one. Black Adam is a complex character, and his motivations are understandable, even if his methods are questionable.
The action scenes in this movie are straight-up bonkers. I mean, watching The Rock throw down with a bunch of super-powered beings is like watching a WWE match on steroids. The special effects are pretty cool, too, especially when Doctor Fate is doing his whole magic shtick.
But let’s be real: the plot is a bit all over the place. There are a ton of characters to keep track of, and sometimes it feels like the movie doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Is it a gritty anti-hero story? A lighthearted family adventure? A setup for a new DC franchise? Who knows!
That being said, the cast is pretty solid. The Rock is, well, The Rock. He’s charismatic as hell and totally sells the whole “angry, brooding superhero” thing. Pierce Brosnan is also a standout as Doctor Fate, bringing some much-needed gravitas to the role. And Quintessa Swindell and Noah Centineo are adorable as the rookie heroes learning the ropes.
So yeah, “Black Adam” is a fun, if somewhat messy, addition to the DC universe. It’s got plenty of action, humor, and heart, and has a dark twist to add extra intrigue. So if you’re a fan of The Rock or just want to see some superhero shenanigans, it’s definitely worth checking out! Just maybe don’t show it to your grandma, there’s a bit of a body count. 🏴☠️
Thanks for reading, y’all! 😘
Roger