AC9: Random Movie Review - Shazam!

It is really good to see many of the lesser known superheroes of Marvel and DC at the big screen. For so long we have had films that are more of the same in superhero films and with the popularity rising for both cinematic universes of both companies, risks are pretty much all they want to do. So now we come to Shazam! which funnily enough wasn't a DC character to begin with. But then again, you will get a number of superheroes who were not part of DC and/or Marvel to begin with, but its thanks to them that they are what they are today. So let's see what lightning can bring to the DC Extended Universe:

The film begins by giving us a origin story for the main villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (played by Mark Strong) who was once offered the power of The Wizard who was once known as Shazam (played by Djimon Hounsou and probably the only actor to appear in both DC and Marvel films without anyone noticing the blasphemy he has caused). But he became too tempted to release the Seven Deadly Sins and is thus not worthy of having the power of Shazam. His mistreatment by his family would drive him to gaining the power of the deadly sins for many years. Many years later, its 2019 and we are in Philadelphia where troubled orphan Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel) is given to the Vasquez family who have a group home with many other orphans. Billy soon starts to bond with the disabled but nerdy superhero enthusiast Freddy (played by Jack Dylan Grazer) and following being chased into a subway by some bullies, he finds himself at the Rock of Eternity where Shazam attempts once again to give someone his powers. Billy manages to not be tempted by the sins and becomes the new Shazam (played by Zachary Levi) and throughout the film learns about his powers before going to battle against a big threat within the Sins.

This is a fun film. Its really what a lot of DC films are missing in that it has some innocence to it and a lot less darkness about it. Sure darkness works with the likes of Batman and Superman, but you soon forget that not all heroes need to be dark and depressing. So yeah I really enjoyed Shazam! Its great fun with many moments of learning to be a hero and funny references to Batman and Superman all with some thunderous powers. And yeah even children can be heroes sometimes too. 9/10