Cinematography
Visually the movie doesn't disappoint. The action sequences were intense, but paced
well enough for the eye to follow. It's common for an action movie to have fast
sequences where it's hard to catch some of what's going on. That's not the case with Shazam!.
CAPTAIN MAR...!! I mean... SHAZAM!! The DCU returns with an original film, following the success of Wonder Woman and Aquaman, with Shazam! Starring Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong, and Djimon Honsou,
Expectations
Being familiar with the character, I was looking forward to seeing this film. It was dis-appointing knowing that the titular character wouldn't be duking it out with longtime rival Black Adam, but there's still hope for that in the future. Walking into theatres, I was just expecting a fun movie.
Synopsis
Billy Batson has trouble dealing with life as a foster child, to the extent of running away from every home that takes him in, while searching for the mother he lost years before. All of his mischievous endeavors are brought to a halt when he finds himself in the presence of a wizard who grants him the strength of Hercules, the speed of Mercury, the wisdom of Solomon, and the stamina of Atlas.
Performances
Zachary Levi and Asher Angel balance teenage Billy Batson and adult size Shazam very well, with the adult version obviously being more comical. The banter between Billy and Freddy is what you would expect from any buddy movie but it never comes off as forced or stale. Mark Strong pulls off a solid performance as Dr. Sivana, Shazam's destined nemesis, as well. Things never feel dull with the cast. Each character adds a different dynamic to the story leading all the way up to the end.
Score
The music in the film didn't stand out much unfortunately. It's not to say that it wasn't good, just nothing outstanding. Overall I would recommend this film to any fan of
comicbook/superhero related content. It was really good. There was a decent
balance in humor, action and drama, the characters were diverse and impactful,
and there were a few big surprises during the climax that actually took the film to another level.