Absolutely amazing!! The best new film I've seen all year. This film really had me in stitches of laughter to the point where I didn't think I'd be able to stop. I was pleasantly surprised by this film because I was told that it was a superhero film with comedy in it. With the exception of Spiderman, I'm not really into Superhero films or any kind of action film. I've watched many but they're not usually my thing. But this had it all - excellent storytelling that touched your heart, superb comedy that genuinely makes you laugh out loud on multiple occasions and loveable characters. It kept my gripped from start to finish. Couldn't recommend this more!
Great action, a fine sense of humour, and a rich emotional core at the centre of the film. This is DC's best movie yet, and is a heck of a lot of fun. There is a lot to recommend here, not only for superhero fans, but for anybody looking for a great night out at the cinema.
This is a rocking good movie for all ages. Very enjoyable.
40 minutes!!! Forty minutes to introduce the main character. Am I the only one that think the adult guy's personality and the kid's aren't well matched. Low intelligence script, poor acting. In the positive side, good effects, three laughs... or maybe four. Disappointing.
Few cheesy parts but other than that this film that was across from big and superman vs lex was fucking brilliant with a super cast, full on humour, emotional at times and lots of fun action XD
This is by far my favourite DC universe movie. Shazam! showcases the sort of quirky and exiting content that could only come out of an expanded universe in the same way Guardians of the Galaxy did. David F. Sandberg appears to have taken ques from other superhero directors, namely James Gunn and Mathew Vaughn, and made something fun, heartwarming and altogether a blast to watch.
Zachary Levi is pitch perfect in the role of Shazam, in every scene he is believable as a kid in an adults body. The psychical humour and sharp dialogue work perfectly but don’t take away from the real character moments. At no point did it feel as though there was a disconnect between Asher Angel and Zachary Levi’s performances which is insanely impressive.
My one flaw comes with the villain played by Mark Strong. Although the set up is good the conflict with his character doesn’t really start until the end of the second act and so his character sort of disappears for a long time. When he does show up again it feels as though it kills the momentum of the film but this is made up for with a fantastic finale.
The real joy of this film comes from the fact that DC have realised that realism doesn’t have to mean dark and brooding. All of the kids at Billy’s foster home feel real and fleshed out and the character’s struggle is believable. This manages to have realistic characters and yet still feels fun which is a crucial element that has been missing from this franchise for a long time.
Overall Shazam! is a wholesome, fun movie that is absolutely worth checking out. I can see this becoming many children’s favourite film in the next few years but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something for everyone to enjoy.
Great movie DC can't wait to see black Adam then a Shazam 2 with black Adam and Shazam. Loved the cast and who they turned into when they all said SHAZAM!!!!!!
The movie starts good with setting up the character background and trying to produce more humor than required. But there are some minor details cinema lovers would notice and might like.
On the whole, the movie sometimes feels lengthier especially at the end. But a good effort by the team.
In simple, you will like it if you are a superhero fan and love little humor here and there.
Occasionally goofy but cute and fun. DC still can’t do CGI for monsters though. The Seven Deadly Sins look like something from a Scooby-Doo movie.
So they need to work on CGI still. Since Doomsday and Stephanwolf. Either way the charm and heart is what makes Shazam good. It was perfectly cast as well.
Based on the trailer I thought it was going to be a silly kid movie but still fun to watch. Got earlier premier and decided to take a change.
Not what I was expecting, totally like the movie. Started slow with Billy Batson story and how he get to the foster home. Once Shazam appear you get good action scene and unexcepted funny moments. Overall it was a really good movie.
I’m not a big fan of super hero movies but I like this style of movie where is entertaining to watch. Similar to Deadpool, you have a mix of everything, drama, action, comedy, etc…
The real Captain Marvel. Hope the movie will be fine.
Very disappointing
I saw the trailer and really liked it but the movie was waste of time, too childish and boring
Well, damn.The reviews for this were good, but even by keeping my expectations in check I still ended up disappointed.
It's really a kids' movie, and not a very good one at that. It's not, say, The Incredibles where you can indulge in the fantasy as an adult and stll enjoy it... It's the kind of kids' movie that condescends to its audience. The Wizard and the bad guys are just terrible, barely on the level of a Scooby-Doo villain, and the entire conflict at the heart of the movie makes no sense.
There's a bit of humor in having a teenager in an adult superhero body, but most of those jokes were shown in the trailer or don't amount to much more than predictable humor. Worst, there's no attempt at all by Levi to act as if he's Billy Batson in Shazam's body... The two characters may as well be completely different people. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle this ain't.
A hard pass as far as I'm concerned.
DC has made their best Marvel movie. No, that's not a knock on this film. It's a fun family adventure with a lot of heart. Levi is great as Shazam and Mark Strong is the 2nd best DC on-screen villain. They dive right into the magic elements of the DC universe and also tell an origin story lead by heart and family. This was a fun ride with some funny moments. It seems DC/WB is on a streak now with this Aquaman and Wonder Woman.
Surprisingly good! It is certainly "DC dark", but lightly comedic as well. Any movie that opens with a father calling his son a 'little shit' and still calls itself a family flick has gotta be DC. There's also the theme of abandonment and belonging, as we see the desperation of the main character's search for his parents, who never bothered to search for him. The reveal that the mother intentionally let her son get picked up into foster care because she felt unprepared as teen mom was heartbreaking. Damn! Zachary Levi was fantastic as a teenager in a man's superhero body. And there were lots of other surprise superhero moments in the 3rd act that kicked ass. The trailers did this film NO justice! One of my most enjoyable DC flicks in years, go see it!
Maybe the decent reviews got my expectations too high. I didn't see anything that I haven't seen in five other superhero movies.
Just watched and its AWESOME!!! The movie has humor (hilarious), action, horror and above all it has HEART. I loved it.
To say the least, Aquaman was everything i wanted it to be (and maybe more) except that last Patrick Wilson fight maybe
This WASN'T.
This movie is just a lot of fun. Aimed at a pre-teen audience the humour can be a bit juvenile for adults but kids will love it. This superhero with training wheels is played brilliantly by Zachary Levi who was mining his inner kid. Jack Dylan Grazer plays the superhero expert to a tee. The movie has gags, humour and heart, and the twist at the end sets us up for the possibility of sequels. This DC Universe entry has found a missing pocket in the superhero saturated media offerings and I look forward to them developing this stream. Don't forget to stay for the mid-credit and end-credit scenes. I give this film a 7 (good fun) out of 10. [Superhero Action Adventure]
a great family movie, not my type of movie, a lot of jokes and a "decent" CGI, good in general.
Shazam! is a fun and enjoyable superhero movie that stands out among DC's offerings. Directed by Lights Out helmer David F. Sandberg, the movie offers a light-hearted and playful take on the classic Big story. The cast, led by Zachary Levi as the adult version of the titular hero, deliver strong performances and the relationship between Billy and his foster family is heartwarming. The jokes and gags come fast and hit the mark, and there's a refreshing self-awareness that helps the movie stand out. While the CGI is not always convincing and the villain's backstory could have been developed more, Shazam! is a crowd-pleaser that will bring out the kid in you and make you root for the team.
¡Shazam! es una película de superhéroes divertida y agradable que se destaca entre las ofertas de DC. Dirigida por el director de Lights Out, David F. Sandberg, la película ofrece una versión alegre y divertida de la clásica gran historia. El elenco, encabezado por Zachary Levi como la versión adulta del héroe principal, ofrece actuaciones sólidas y la relación entre Billy y su familia adoptiva es conmovedora. Los chistes y las bromas llegan rápido y dan en el blanco, y hay una autoconciencia refrescante que ayuda a que la película se destaque. Si bien el CGI no siempre es convincente y la historia de fondo del villano podría haberse desarrollado más, ¡Shazam! es un placer para la multitud que sacará al niño que hay en ti y te hará animar al equipo.
Great movie, adventure, action and comedy in good measure.
Shazam! It's an amazing movie, from previous movies DC has done, this one is average, of course it doesn't reach Batman's feet, but it's excellent.
The special effects are very good, I found this or that flaw, but it's almost imperceptible.
Waiting for the sequel with Shazam! Two.. Highly recommend!!
Overall Rating: 8/10
[7.9/10] It’s no coincidence that the two best movies in the D.C. Extended Universe -- Shazam! and Birds of Prey are the ones that could be labeled as comedies. With Zack Snyder as the originator of the uber-franchise, the DCEU has a reputation for dour, grayscale drudgery through its superheroic meditations. But by breaking out of that mold and into humor, the two more colorful corners of this cinematic universe carry far more charm than all their sister films put together.
Which is to say that Shazam! is nothing short of delightful. It doesn’t offer particularly deep ruminations on the moral weight of being a hero or grappling with human prejudice in the face of demigods. Instead, it leans into the goofy glee of what it would be like for a fourteen-year-old to gain superpowers and the ridiculousness that would ensue. It tells the tale of Billy Batson, an orphan and perpetual runaway who finds himself tapped as the much-ballyhooed “champion” of a dying wizard, becoming a grown-up hero in the process.
In some ways, for all its bright and silly trappings, this is most realistic movie in the D.C. pantheon, for the way it acknowledges that a kid gaining superhuman abilities would probably goof around and fumble the hero ball a lot as he started to figure out what they should really be used for. The scenes where Billy and his best friend/foster brother Freddy test out those powers, with mixed and often comical results, are an absolute highlight.
What makes Shazam! so refreshing in the DCEU is that it doesn’t take this superhero stuff seriously. There’s a Guardians of the Galaxy-like quality to it where any time it seems like the movie might devolve into scowling superheroic severity, the script undercuts the heaviness of the moment with a joke, often one that pokes fun at the conventions of the genre. Villain monologues go unheard across long distances. Bearded mentors shouting instructions to chosen ones receive chuckles. And attempts to leap tall buildings in a single bound end in a splat.
And yet, despite the air of cartooniness about the whole thing, and its general bent toward humor, there’s some real sadness and heart at the core of the film. (As my wife observed, the movie feels strangely of a piece with Lilo and Stitch in that regard.) Billy rejects the warm loving group home he’s been placed in, and the adoptive family who’ve welcomed him, in favor of tracking down his biological mother. Finding her is supposed to make his life whole again, to fix whatever went wrong.
Instead, when he does find her (with the help of his foster siblings, no less), he discovers that the mom he thought he lost abandoned him, because she was a seventeen-year-old kid barely older than he is now who couldn’t take care of him then and is no more equipped to now. In different hands, this could be one of those stark but affecting indie dramas, about an orphan who’s held a place in their heart for a missing parent who finds the reality doesn’t match their fantasy.
Shazam! isn’t subtle about any of this, but the emotional adjustment in these scenes feel real. You’re apt to roll your eyes when Billy utters stock pre-epiphany aphorisms like that “family is for people who can’t look out for themselves.” But there’s meaning when Billy decides that even though he’s not related to them by blood, the smiling faces and supportive siblings he finds in his group home make it his real home, make them his real family, and the thing he was truly looking for even if he didn’t realize it. There’s some cheesiness and simplicity to the delivery, but the moral is a wholesome and, more to the point, effective one, which comes through in the lived-in relationships and dynamics we see between Billy and the people in his orbit.
Much of that owes to the great performances in the movie. Zachary Levi does great work as the titular hero, channeling the “kid in a grown up’s body” vibe necessary to make the boyish fantasy work. Levi remains charming and funny throughout, capturing a fourteen-year-old’s wide-eyed wonder and sheer excitement at being able to be powerful and self-directed after so long being the little guy.
Mark Strong all but saves the antagonist chunks of the film as Dr. Sivana, a magic-eyed baddie out to steal Shazam’s powers. There’s some meat to Sivana in the script. He’s a negative image of Billy, resenting his family rather than yearning for one, and motivated by proving himself to a bad dad who told him he was never good enough or man enough rather than an absent mom who wasn’t there to tell Billy anything. But after the first act or so, Sivana becomes a pretty generic bad guy who’s only elevated (no pun intended), by Strong’s presence and commitment to the character and his longstanding resentments.
But Jack Dylan Grazer steals the show as Freddy, Billy’s best friend, hero coach, and conscience. Billy’s emotional journey rises and falls based on how he treats Freddy, and theirs is the strongest relationship in the film. In that, Freddy is not just the heart and soul of the film, but its most charming performer. He not only wins over the viewer with his motor-mouthed takes on history and family and most importantly superherodom, but he is, beneath his jibes and spunk, an earnest but wounded kid, who looks up to superheroes in part because they represent the opposite of his social perception. Grazer channels all of those complicated layers into one endearing package, no small feat for a child actor.
Eventually, the affection Freddy stirs and the epiphany he provokes in his foster brother is returned, as Billy defeats the bad guys not just through a show of force, but by sharing his powers with his new family. It’s a delightful twist, one that gets lost in a characteristically overextended and occasionally exhausting series of third act action sequences, a pathology even the light-hearted Shazam! cannot fully escape.
Even there, the film succeeds with levity, charm, and earnestness. Life is not all grim reflections and brooding shades of gray. Sometimes it’s poppy and colorful, with lots of laughs and irreverent slip-ups, while still reflecting the real pain and hardships that we all experience alongside those more joyous occasions. In that, Shazam! and Birds of Prey feel unexpectedly more mature than their sturm und drang counterparts, and despite their amusing exaggerations and winks to the audience, that much more real.
The “I’m floating”-scene was one of my favourites this week.
This has been a really nice movie. About family. Makes sense to create movies like these nowadays, when the traditional sense of a family in which we feel safe and protected and “belong” applies less and less. So here’s one for the “Make your own”-type.
I hadn’t expected the film to be this nice actually. I’m not disappointed in how they made a big kid believable. I mean, getting soda and candy wouldn’t have been the first thing I’d have done as super hero, but it would have been there right after saving all the animals from the bad bad humans hahaha.
Either way, nice tale about family and sharing. New generation of Christmas movie huh? Nice move.
And
“Weak, worthless, ugly envy.”
The very end surprised me hahaha!
It was a good movie but i find it weird that the kids were acting more maturely than their adult versions except Darla.
this is such a great movie, i had such a good time watching it :sob:
8/10
Well I'm glad I watched it...and equally glad to never watch again
if you like marvel movies, you'll like this one, if you're into something more special and marvel movies are not for you, you won't like this movie!
It is an okay movie. Poor casting.
For comedy 8, for story 6. Nothing special but the fan factor remains there every moment. A good weekend night entertainment movie.
That's the kind of movie to watch with family and friends. Really fun.
Best DC movie since forever !!
Muito bom, povo fala das piadas do filmes, mas as piadas de Thor Ragnarok são em excesso e todo mundo achou legal. Isso para mim são os fanboys da Marvel. O filme vale muito a pena.
a description? just a fair movie for kids
Well. It's your basic superhero movie. I am kinda biased here, but some moments in there were dumb. )< Like, how did thet ferrous wheel break? But overall. Good for the kid whose mom abandoned him, then the kids gets superpowers from a weird wizard.
If you are a fan of the superhero stuff, it's a movie for you. I just came to the college at the wrong time, so I decided to visit a movie theater to watch this movie.
Loved it... Had quite a few laughs.. I really like it when Superhero movies do not carry a far too serious tone like Avengers 4 feels right now. The movie really embodies what it would be like if a teenager is granted superpowers.
This was actually pretty good, and really fun. Levi's man-child, Angel's don't care attitude, and Strong's cynicism played well off of each other. I liked this about as much as I liked Aquaman. A little slow in the beginning, but more than compensated by the light-hearted comedy of this child who learns what it means to have a family, and to be a hero.
I didn't really liked it because it felt like they dumbed it down quite a bit. The antagonist felt like he was more appropriate for a darker tone instead of the lighthearted one that was obviously directed toward younger audience... the demons were useless against any character with plot armor... sure, yeah I don't know what villain would've been appropriate for a kids movie but still... I guess the comedy was decent and since this came from the DC-verse it feels kinda new... I really liked how in the very last scene they teased us with a Superman cameo which indicates that Shazam may make an appearance in the upcoming Justice League 2
That was just sad... (fifthword)
The trailer of this movie is misleading. It leads you to believe that this is a silly comedy but it is not. It is at least 30 min (if not more) into the movie when you hear the first joke. The movie is entertaining and has the same feel as all movies based on comics (not Marvel). Overall good movie with lots of silliness. There is something that bugged me between Shazam and Billy Batson however I cannot make any comments about the plot prior to the movie being released. Another thing that bothered me (although not as much) was that sometimes Shazam was shown really tall, other times - not as much. There is no consistency.
Decidedly better than the DC lineup so far, and even a contender of other recent Marvel films. The humor was well executed, and exactly what you'd expect from a kid trying to figure out their superpowers. Zachary Levi was a perfect pick for the role of Shazam.
The last quarter of the film dragged a bit, becoming more like other DC films, taking itself too seriously. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and couldn't leave my seat.
This is a lot of fun and doesn't take itself too serious. It starts a little slow but once Shazam shows up things start picking up. Zachary Levi is delightful and really makes the movie. The little kid in a grown body gimmick works pretty well here. The themes of family are strong and really great in that last battle. The whole mom situation was really weird. Mark Strong was good but his character was meh. The CGI was decent but that last fight felt a little long. This is one of the better DCEU movies and I hope to see more Shazam.
It was pretty good, not great. There might have been a little too much juvenile humor in it for my taste, but the final act made up for that I think. Hopefully a follow-up movie (if there is one) will be a bit better.
The dark DC Universe goes kiddie with the lighthearted, comedic superhero film Shazam! When 15-year old Billy Batson is given magical powers by a wizard he turns to his foster brother for help, and soon discovers that there’s a super-villain who’s trying to take his powers from him. Zachary Levi gives a pretty good performance, as does Mark Strong, but the material doesn’t really let them do much. The characters are all broad, one-dimensional stereotypes (particularly the villains). And, none of the action scenes are all that impressive, and the character designs for the Seven Deadly Sins aren’t scary. More Disney than any Marvel movie, Shazam! is a silly kid’s film that doesn’t fit the cinematic universe that DC has been building.
This is fun movie and good:)
A goofy fun movie. The score 8/10 is for a superhero movie... Probably more of a 6 or 7 if you're looking for a serious plot.
The monsters look like ass though. Someone else said it well... They look like straight out of a scooby do movie.
I watched this yesterday for the first time and I was a bit disappointed. Though I have to admit I am not a DC fan. I am also not into these comics things, but I watch every comic movie from recent years. So this was is definitely a movie I would not recommend. The acting is good, the sound is good, just the story is a little boring.
Always fun to watch. So entertaining!
Quite a letdown after Aquaman. Childish superhero movie. Only the last half hour was good.
Not sure why it took me so long to watch this. I haven't laughed that hard at a movie in a long time.
The boy spent a quarter of the movie running.
:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart: - This film is thoroughly entertaining for every age group.
My rating system works:
10:heart:- Masterpiece :100:
9:heart:- Excellent
8:heart: - Amazing :ok_hand:
7:heart:- Great :sun_with_face:
6:heart: - Good :thumbsup:
5:heart: - Average :head_bandage:
4:heart: - Bad but watchable :octagonal_sign:
3:heart: - Bad :sob:
2:heart:- Awful :face_vomiting:
1:heart: - Bull Shit
Very entertaining, funny and yes cheesy, Zachary was exactly Zachary. Very enjoyable.
Also i was curious about the Title of course and the story between the captain marvel, DC and the name trademark was very interesting after movie reading.
9/10
Superb
Even though
I am
"Always That Marvel Guy"
and DC continues to
fail in the
Cinematic Universe
I actually rather enjoyed
this more than I thought.
for once DC got some light
in this one so I could actually
see what's going on,
it wasn't dark and depressing
nor did it over stay it's welcome
like most DC movies do.
Great performances
completely heartfelt,
I laughed in all the right
places, Darla was
my favourite,
bloody hilarious and
a scene stealer.
Good reference's to
Black Adam,
Captain Marvel and
The Joker.
with nice vfx and a
story I could follow
this particular DC
installment surprisingly
was a lot of fun and very
entertaining.
Was it a
"Marvel" Billion
Dollar Blockbuster"
absolutely not,
but at the same time
it wasn't a painful
grind and a big fat
waste of my time like
most DC movies are.
Out of all the utter
Piss-poor Garbage
DC turn out this movie
is in my top 6 favourites
where DC are concerned.
I think this is better than the first. It had a good story and enjoyed it….
I'm hear for my boy Chuck. Zachary Levi is the perfect choice for the role. :ok_hand_tone2:
Oh wow! I'm guessing I might appreciate this film more if I was 12. I cannot for one second buy the rating. At its best it's a five out of ten despite crudely throwing in some funky music. Way too juvenile, thin story, embarrassing costumes and cgi.
Zachary Levi returns In this trite yet entertaining sequel
Shazam 2 is visually appealing and entertaining sequel but is also a convoluted mess at many places. Peppered with some great action set pieces, adequate humour elements and amazing VFX, Shazam is a good if not a brilliant film. The storyline could have been a bit more engaging in order to give us a highlight of the future of DC universe but it doesn't so. Zachary Levi is exceptional and suits the character with his witty humoir and sharp style. Overall, a film you shouldn't take seriously and enjoy while it lasts.
What's Good?
Zachary Levi is in top form as Shazam, delivers a solid naive superhero character.
CGI and VFX Work Exceptional.
Comedy is Brilliant and keeps you chuckling from time to time.
Emotional Scenes work efficiently
What's Bad?
Suffers the Typical Sequel syndrome, couldn't elevate the experience to better standards
Storyline isn't effective , drags at times and doesnt tease us the DCU's future except the mid credits scene
Why should you stream?
If you aren't yet exhausted with the superhero stuff, or you are comic nerd who likes Shazam's Character and wants to follow the DCU closely then go stream Shazam 2 in theatres. Its a good entertainer.
I frankly had a hard time watching a decent chunk of this movie, because I have a hard time watching embarrassing stuff. And oh boy, there is a bunch. I give credit that it’s accurate to when 14-year-olds get superpowers but it was too accurate.
However, the story itself is pretty nice, and the characters are charming. Everyone played their part well. So that was some wholesome stuff for the heart, but the kids-being-dumb portion of the movie was just embarrassing and that was not as fun to watch.
But, I have to admit, some jokes were funny.
5.5/10
Re-watched this in anticipation of seeing the sequel and it was about what I remembered it to be: a family/YA geared superhero movie that succeeds on the back of better than average child performers, humor that hits more than it misses, and a story that is simple enough to not get in its own way. Of course, there are juvenile elements that don't land and the family theme results in some extra cheese here and there, but, as will likely be my refrain with any superhero movie I review for the foreseeable future, it's way better than Ant-Man Quantumania.
Nice. For kids. Not really movie for adults but entertaining.
Pleasantly entertaining.
6.5/10 - for the good family vibes.
I wish I could like this. I understand it's a good movie. All the elements are there. The CGI is servicable, and the rest of the pure craft aspects are at the very least decent. But I'm sorry, I just can't deal with the embarrassing and awkward moments of the film. I understand this is just completely natural for 14-year old boys. They are embarrassing and awkwayd, I get it. But I'm way too neurotic and anxiety-ridden for this.
Extremely fun and entertaining enjoyable movie
Well directed with a good and different script and some good laughs.I enjoyed it more than i expected and i just saw it after i finished the boys so i was looking to see something similar to this,so good choice. 7.2/10
Probably a great movie for young children but this is definitely not your "superhero" movie by any stretch. I can't believe I actually sat through this. I guess I've forgotten what the comics were like as a kid; I honestly expected this to be far far better than it was. If you're looking for "superhero" movies on the scale of the usual DC (or Marvel) films, you're gonna want to skip this one. I can only see this being appealing to very young audiences. Terrible from start to finish.
A bit of a parody, a bit of moral lessons, but above all 2 hours of good entertainment. :)
I love Zachary Levi and wanted to like this so bad... But this was just... bad.
Kinda cheesy but also kinda fun.
Shazam is a superhero movie that really entertains children and adults. A child's maturity has been perfectly passed on by Shazam. This was the differential of this film, in view of those already on the market.
pretty dumb but still entertaining
The film was generally quite enjoyable, although extremely uncertain in tone. Many jokes didn't land, and the last fight sequence was way too long. Sure, it's a family movie that rediscusses the concept of family in a not-so-obvious way for a Hollywood flick, but the overall taste is a bit too sugar-coated and childish even for a 14 years old main character.
Managed to be just funny enough to make it a decent super hero movie
Just like every superhero origin story film of the past 10+ years, Shazam is overlong, hits all the prerequisite "making the hero" beats, and is just watchable enough to not flip off. The biggest upside to this one is Zachary Levi. He is the perfect person for the titular role and feels natural as a teenager in a superman body. The rest of the film is fine. The big bad has stock motivation. The hero grows. There's a big fight to cap things off. It's all so...the same. But if superheroes are your jam, you could do much worse.
I'd put off watching this one as I assumed it would get the silly Marvel-esque treatment. I'm glad to see it still kept its DC roots whilst managing to be a decent PG-13 film though.
There were laughs but it wasn't afraid to be serious and heartfelt. And it didn't feel the need to punctuate those moments with a joke (like the MCU does). The effects were done well and I loved the fact that John Glover was cast as the overbearing bully father to the bald super villain as a huge nod to Smallville.
Fun ride with some real feels at the end.
I delayed so much to watch this movie because I really though it would be silly (even though I never thought it would be a bad movie). But I finally watched. And it was a really good surprise. Of course, it was a very "simple" super hero movie, predictable in some aspects, but even though this movies has a lot of cliches typical of super heroes movies, this one uses the cliches in its favor.
The young cast is brilliant. I love that actress who played Darla so much!! She's so cute and funny!! Zachary and all the other adult actors are so similar to their child versions and they all can capture that childish spirit. Cause after all, those adults are actually only children. The cast is definitely 10/10.
In the end, it was another good DC movie. Really love it. Looking forward for the sequel. Let Shazam! Fury of The Gods come!
10 if you're 10, seems worse as you grow up, I'm 26, so a 5 from me
For me the beginning was a bit too long, but once the boy becomes Shazam I had a good time. It still didn't have to be over two hours if you asked me. Severeval scenes could have been shortened/cut, I guess.
Depending on your viewpoint they will definitely be parts of Shazam that will annoy you. I have to be honest I find the whole premise of superhero movies a bit silly and I never showed an interest in any of the comics from a young age until an adult. My boat was never afloat. I will watch them on film and I have viewed all of interminable Marvel Universe series, with the explosions, and so forth, but in general I like these type of films with a light touch, so Spiderman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, oh I know they have a serious side but the touch is light, now we can add Shazam!
I would say this film is a great big smile of a movie, it is clearly made to be enjoyed, to be entertained. With the casting of Zachary Levi the makers got the perfect focal point. He exudes the joy of being a boy in a grown-up superhero body with the fun and underlying seriousness this brings. So far so Big, so far so daft.
The rather bland peril given to Billy, his alter ego and his best friend are very ‘comic-book baddy’ boilerplate and although they are given to the very capable and charismatic Mark Strong the whole story was much less interesting or important to me than the dilemma that being Shazam brings up for Billy and his best friend and indeed surrogate family. It is much more compelling.
Therein lies problems for Shazam!, it’s great and it’s fun but it can’t escape it’s superhero restrictions. Boring pointless baddies whose motive and plans seem ludicrous and ill-thought-out. Although this does give the film and most joyous and fun ending.
The special effects, set pieces and overall look of the film are good, A super impossible situation mixed into a blandly normal world is tried for in many superhero films and with Shazam! this attempt is definitely more hit than miss. The direction and editing move the story on at a good whip and the film never sags which in these types of films can definitely be a problem.
Overall Shazam! is a bright, joyful, fun-filled film and with the genius casting of Zachary Levi in a role, he was seemingly born to play you have a film with way more summits than troughs and you should get just over two hours of entertainment.
You cannot really ask for much more can you?
Escapist fantasy that also, almost coincidentally, happens to involve a big, powerful, lightning-themed superhero. For better and, sometimes, for worse, Shazam! is more like a cartoon than almost any other offering from the recent flood of caped/costumed movies. It's playful and carefree, even when a serious threat looms near. The surrounding world is vibrant and simple, most supporting characters dedicated to their one specific personality trait.
There's a welcome sense of relaxation throughout, an exhale when we realize there won't be much dramatic tension. On occasion, it toys with that juxtaposition - a confrontation with would-be robbers from the first trailer being the loudest example - but for the most part it's happy to occupy its own place and do its own thing. The humor is mostly on-target (razor-sharp, actually, during its most inspired moments), and Zachary Levi is wonderful as the innocent, naive cape-bearer, but it's awfully narrow and the constant efforts to tie it in with the super-serious DCEU are off-putting. I enjoyed the experience, but I didn't love it. My kids did.
As the great Edna Mode said:
NO CAPE!!!!
Other than that, this is a good movie to watch when you're sick
I liked very much! The movie satisfy with the promise being so funny and introducing a good hero.
6 - Fair
I'd describe this as a "Safe" comic book movie. It's a good movie but it doesn't do anything special (although I get that, the story can get a little bit crazy in itself). The ending is bit disappointing but the rest of the movie is okay (even the child actors - which I usually hate - are good).
How embarrassing - but I loved this. It was childish (but probably not for children) - but harkened back to the super hero movies of 20 years ago (but with proper special effects).
Sure, I had just finished watching Avengers Endgame, which I found as over-contrived self satisfying rubbish - and then this.
It's a nice reminder that some people can still make good movies.
Very simple For a children's audience. It is a film without great intentions, but it still has many shortcomings and the story makes it more incredible every minute that passes.
Zany, but in a bad way. I prefer Chuck to Shazam any day of the week.
Loved it. Captain Marvel was always a great character and I think they did an excellent job of modernizing him. Fun and exciting. Hope to see more of him.
Loved it. Captain Marvel was always a great character and I think they did an excellent job of modernizing him. Fun and exciting. Hope to see more of him.
Me a few years ago: "Hey DC, are you trying to f**k this up on purpose? Seriously! What the hell is going on over there."
DC: OK Matt
Me after Shazam: Well, that's more like it.
I've been harsh at DC for awhile now, but for good reasons. I don't want them to fail, it's just that they keep missing the point. However they are listening and improving. If this is the direction DC is taking, then I think it will exciting and ambitious, if done properly.
'Shazam!' is the true hero DC needs right now, right behind 'Wonder Women' for this rocky cinematic universe. It’s fun, light-hearted, funny and embraces the corniness. Although don’t let that trick you into thinking it doesn’t have any serious moments, because when it gets dark, it’s absolutely terrifying and no surprise the director’s previous work are horror movies. Throughout the movie, I would occasionally have flashbacks to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
Not to say it’s a great or perfect movie, as it’s got problems. The visual effects looked pretty good (for the most part), however the other times it either looks out of place or unfinished, like needed more time to polish up. It takes a while for things to get moving in the first act, and not to say it’s dull, just padding along. And that’s really it for issues.
Zachary Levi is an absolute joy to watch as Shazam and the older version of Billy. Levi oozes with charisma and a clear indication from his introduction he was born to play this role. I can’t imagine any other actor in the role than him. There was never a scene where I didn’t buy him as a kid in a man’s body. Asher Angel as Billy Batson also did a great job, especially during the more dramatic scenes, which I thought he performed beautifully. Levi had the comedic elements, while Asher had the emotional elements.
Jack Dylan Grazer is great once again and a promising young star. He can express some much emotion through his face and eyes, despite looking like he’s up to something. The chemistry between him and Levi (and Asher) are dynamic.
Mark Strong plays the main villain Dr. Sivana, which Strong best describes him as “an evil son of a b**ch”. While not the best or the most compelling villain of all time, but at least his motivations are clear and you understand what he’s been through. Heck, the film starts with a young Sivana experiencing a traumatic event that shaped him to be what he is. I can tell Mark Strong was having a blast and he was menacing enough to be a threat.
The other child actors were also pretty good, although some of them took a while to fully grow on me. Once they did, it was good and dandy. Also the foster parents are the sweetest people in the world.
Another thing to mention is how genuinely well written it is. The humor and the punchline to every joke was surprisingly funny, which I didn’t expect judging by how cringe the trailers falsely advert it. I find it compelling that we see Billy learning how to use his given powers step by step, even the end climax he’s still learning. David Sandberg manages to juggle some many themes and tones, but impressively never came off as “too much” or a train wreck that any new director with a background in small budget movies would struggle at.
Still, I can’t believe a movie like “Shazam!” exist in the same universe as the bleak ‘Batman V Superman’ and the third worst thing to happen to America “Suicide Squad”. Even a familiar f̶a̶c̶e̶ shows up at the end.
Overall rating: Just say the name
I really enjoyed Billy/Shazam scenes with Freddy because of the actors themselves but it was not very funny anyway. The whole movie and especially story looked so cheap. Costumes, fighting scenes, monsters, plot... well I did not have high expectations but I was dissapointed anyway. But yeah as one time movie it was okay.
I actually think it's pretty good. Had a good laugh. No romantic interest, which is a plus to me. and yeah, family. It's nice to watch and was very enjoyable and entertaining to me. :)
I didn't expect much – as I don't like super hero movies – and was not disappointed: this is utterly nonsense. Not like all superhero movies but like all DC superhero movies. I don't know how they still continue to try but fail so miserably. I don't like Marvel either, but DC always feels worse.
Jokes are kind of lame and the acting is… huoa… not that I can act, but I'd expect more for a budget like that…
The concept itself is really good, but I think the writing lacks majorly.
Mediocre acting, bad story but had a couple of laughs at least.
What a wonderfully fun bit if nonsense. Really enjoyable and playful. 8/10
only bad and long bad film
The Marvel magic is working better then the old depressing stuff the first movies used.
don't know why people hate on it, i thought it was very good.
O melhor filme de super-heróis!
Shout by David d'SousaBlockedParent2019-04-08T18:19:19Z
My favourite DC movie so far , I might have a few new favourite superheroes...