Shazam

Shazam is yet another superhero film in a long line of films of this type of genre and with Avengers Endgame right round the corner, the DC universe has tried to build its own infinity gauntlet around Shazam. I’ll be honest, I’m not a massive fan of the DC universe, however when I got the chance to see the film early because of my unlimited card I knew I had to check out the film! Definitely an interesting one and the film really provides a new perspective and series of twists which offer some level of freshness (is that a word?) and unique themes whilst still mixing the film with typical superhero themes and storylines to make the film memorable and enjoyable for DC fans and superhero enthusiasts alike.

If you’re familiar with my site, I always start with what I liked about the film so here goes! The beginning of the film introduced us to a series of unknown characters going through a series of traumatic events, this immediately helped to grab our attention and to add an element of excitement and speed into the film. Not only did the starting scenes help to really lighten the film up and give it an exciting start but it also provided us with a good idea of the characters in the film and their emotions which would help to strengthen the films plot as it progresses and helps us to understand why the characters make certain decisions. I also felt that this really helped to intensify and really make the emotions in the film real because we could see from such a young age the pain and frustration that both characters had gone through as young children and how this had affected their characters. This also had a really nice effect of helping to establish the films plot too, by outlining and focusing on the two characters as children going through the tests from the wizard this just really helped to make the plot simple to follow and straightforward and this was continued throughout the film. Scenes seemed really clear and made the film easy to follow, whether these were visual cues such as scenes in the film or audio cues from character dialogue. Not only did this help to make the characters exciting but it also made the film genuinely enjoyable and simple to understand so there weren’t any points where I was baffled or confused as to why certain fights were happening or as to why specific characters were doing things because the film flowed nicely and events linked well together by bouncing and referencing off each other. The whole idea for the plot of the film was also really interesting too, despite Shazam being a typical superhero good vs bad guy drama, it provided a nice twist by seeing the impact that the superpowers and world events had on the various characters - such as Billy on his side mission to meet his Mother again and the sadness of rejection.

I also felt that the films characters were enjoyable too, even though they were slightly cliche I definitely felt that they added in a sense of realism and character to the story which helped us to relate somewhat to the various characters - making scenes feel much more passionate and making the characters more exciting. They were also somewhat given their own identities too, each character was assigned a role and this was stuck throughout the film, so even though relationships didn't really change too much - the character identities definitely did which was satisfying to watch. The film also added a series of different emotions too which I liked, this matches recent superhero films in the way that humour is inserted into various parts of the film to lighten the mood and to make the characters entertaining, this worked and I found myself hearing laughs at jokes and gags that were made throughout the film. But the film also added in intensity and excitement where it was required - fight scenes and escape scenes all made for really exciting and intense viewings because of the character identities and the ways in which the scenes were set. This ensured that these key scenes in the film were really exciting and engaging to view, and definitely helped to keep giving the film energy and life. Another part of the film that gave it energy was the characters and actors, Zachary Levi was born to play Shazam! He carries childlike enthusiasm and a heart in effortlessly. He oozes charisma and really helps to make the character fun and enjoyable where needed, and intense and exciting at other times, I definitely feel like he really adds in a lot of entertainment and excitement to the film which really feels like a natural role. His direction and coordination through framing helps us laugh and, in some cases, feel the punches. The action isn't jolty like the other installments in the DC universe and due to the bright vibrant colors, we really know what's happening, where it's happening, and who it's happening to which helps to keep us in the drivers seat. The actors in this film definitely add a lot to the overall entertainment value of the film.

No film is perfect though and there are plenty of issues with this film too. My main issue is that comedy and superheroes don’t mix well at all and the comedy element in the film distracts from the usual tension and excitement we expect from a superhero film. A good example of this is Batman: The Dark Knight. That is one of the best films made and it doesn't use humour but instead it focuses on making scenes intense and exciting but here it just doesn't feel serious enough to be that intense really and this means that there isn't really any genuine 'superhero saves the world' tension or excitement which distracts a lot of emotion from the film. Because of this it definitely lacks the intensity of a decent DC film, or any decent superhero film to be honest. It just didn't feel like the film was as ambitious as is required to make superhero films stand out now, typical lunch with a superhero and "oh yeah, we're friends with a superhero" is old, outdated and doesn't offer much to the film.

I also felt like the plot was thin at most points choosing to do the predictable and rather boring than fleshing out its characters in a fun unpredictable way. Seems like the writer wasn't really that experienced or interested in Shazam as a character. The CGI while good for the most part became quite shoddy towards the end and evidentially became really unrealistic. I did say the plot was simple and straightforward which yes, did make it easy to follow but it just didn't make the film interesting and as intense as superhero films need to be to excite and entertain. The plot was very similar and typical, a child gets a superpower and then battles an evil character for power - this didn't feel unique and definitely gave off a vibe that the film 'stuck to the rules' of superhero films by playing it safe with plot choices and character developments. The main problem for me though is the intensity and comical value, superhero films are action and adventure films which are supposed to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout, with the evil character playing wicked and cruel tricks on the characters and having us really excited and engaged with what the final outcome will be, but here it was just so predictable that certain things would happen. The film lacked the intensity and excitement value (like Batman: The Dark Knight) that a good superhero film needs to have to be successful which was definitely a shame.

Overall, I would give this film a 7. I was impressed with the ways in which characters were represented from the very beginning and how the film started from a young age and developed the characters to help make the scenes understandable and passionate however I simply cannot overlook the lack of excitement and intensity that comes from any good superhero film which definitely hurts the overall film and I believe, when it is released will hurt the profits made. This is definitely a shame because this was a big opportunity to distract fans away from Endgame and back to DC after seeing Marvel in the spotlight for a while but their efforts have been in vain with an ok return. Would I recommend this film? Yes, I do think it's fairly enjoyable to watch from a neutral perspective and even though it isn't anywhere near as intense as expected, it still will please DC fans due to the references to other characters throughout.

Thank you for reading my review, I hope you enjoyed reading it. If you are a hardcore DC fan then I apologise, these are simply my own views and that is exactly what film is all about - sharing various opinions and views on the same film. Maybe you thought it was a 10 or maybe you agree with me, it's your choice. Have a lovely day! :)