What is your favourite DC movie? After watching Shazam!, the movie turned to be my answer immediately. I’m so glad to see the movie is released right between Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame, the two most awaited superhero movie from Marvel. Hence there won’t be any palpable rivalry between the two production house this year.
Quite different from the other DC movies, Shazam! tells a hero which originally is an ordinary boy. The movie opened with the introduction of young Thaddeus Sivana who got a car accident after arguing with his brother and father inside the car due to his previous sudden experience. He was brought to Rock of Eternity to inherit a power from a wizard named Shazam. However he was tempted by the classic seven deadly sins, the devil representation at the whole movie, released by Shazam and didn’t pass the test. Later, Sivana would be the main villain in the movie who was highly obsessed with the wizards’ power. Meanwhile, our upcoming hero, Billy was described as a naughty boy who loss his mother and never wanted to live at a home run because he thought that he still has living parent. Billy then finally adopted by a family along with five other foster kids. When escaping from a bully, Billy is summoned by the already weak Shazam to be given his power and transformed into adult superhero. Had no idea what kind of superhero he transformed into, Billy and one of his foster brother, Freddy started to explore superpowers Billy capable of.
Freddy‘s character is one of the show stealer here. He is Billy’s foster sibling which would take part on the movie the most. Initially, he is a superhero enthusiast who were set to be Billy’s assistant. If Batman has Alfred, then Billy has Freddy. One of the conflict in the movie also involved Freddy which started to dislike Billy because of his selfishness after being an adult. Yes, Shazam! not only tells how Billy turned into a superhero but also an adult as general. In funny way it shows how Billy chose to enjoy his adulthood (like went to a club) while exploring his inner ability. To be an adult when you’re not mature enough is a process of searching our true identity too. Billy felt unhappy to be to be stay with his foster family because he couldn’t continue looking for his mother. The movie used this premise to add a short inner conflict on Billy, where he had to choose the real family he would like to stay with. In the same time the conflict surrounding Billy emphasized him that he is still a child inside his adult body.
Talking about the action scenes, the movie displayed no special heroes combat. Here the adult Dr. Sivana is the only bad guy appearing to discover the way to enter Rock of Eternity based from his prolonged research. He obtained his power from the seven deadly sins which he used to kill his father and brother firstly. Despite of having a superpower from the Eye of Sin, Sivana was still obsessed with the Shazam’s power and wanted to take it from Billy. It motivated both to fight and keep each other’s power at the final action scene. With the help of his foster siblings, Billy’s effort to fight and stop Sivana and the deadly sins is thrilling but still fun to follow. The way it ends was still complicated unlike when things became easy after Superman took part in the Justice League. But that’s what the audience want, an uneasy battle of the superhero(es).
Overall this movie is the most enjoyable DC movie for me. You may like Freddy, the “Alfred of the movie” but you will love the other siblings too. You will adore the most talkative and youngest Darla, love the oldest Mary, envy with Eugene the gamer, and curious with the big Pedro. The movie also has enough original jokes and drama aspect which make the movie become a complete family superhero movie. In short Shazam! quite reminded me to Marvel’s Deadpool 2.
I rated this movie 7.5 of 10. This is higher than the one I gave to last year’s Aquaman, 7 of 10.
Notes of Hobbies 