Black Adam Movie Review

Black Adam is the most recent installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s debut as a comic book character.

The movie was filled with many different cohesive elements that made it an entertaining movie. The film’s acting, special effects and pacing were all elements that made “Black Adam” stand out from the DCEUs most recent releases.

The acting in the movie was very foundational to the film because the casting choices were on point. Aldis Hodge playing Hawkman was the perfect casting because of the energy he brings to the role. In the comics, Hawkman is an instigator and is also problematic which is why Hodge brings intensity to the character every time he gets screen time. Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate brings a sense of wisdom in playing the character. Atom Smasher, played by Noah Centine, and Cyclone, played by Quintessa Swindell, both do a great job at establishing chemistry in certain moments of the film. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Black Adam steals the show every time the camera is focused on him. Even though this is his first comic book film, his screen presence as Black Adam can be encapsulating to audiences.

The special effects in the film were spotless and exciting to watch. All of the characters’ costumes were incredibly accurate to the source material as if they were straight out of a comic book. Out of all the costumes on-screen, Dr. Fate’s costume stole the show with its bright gold aesthetics.

The action sequences were very well done. Once again, staying close to the source material is what made the action sequences memorable but also look flawless. The characters interact with each other and fight as if they were given the comic book as a script. The cinematography played a big role in making the action sequences flow smoothly as well. Keeping the same color palette throughout the movie kept the film from being forgettable. Each scene and camera cut held great significance.

Throughout the two-hour runtime, world-building is established in the film. Black Adam’s country of Kahndaq is shown to be an oppressed country in need of change. Throughout the film, the audience is shown how the oppressors of Kahndaq treat the native people but it doesn’t explore that part of the story in-depth enough. That is the biggest fault in the story. The film was marketed in a way that showed Black Adam as the savior of Kahndaq but outside of fighting the other super-powered beings, the systematic threat is barely spoken about after the first act of the movie. 

This film may not be perfect but it is the right step in the right direction for the DCEU. The most recent years have brought nothing but convoluted storytelling and executive meddling within the DCEU films. Black Adam is the positive result of listening to fans and also staying unique in its storytelling.