Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan
Review by Carol Allen
Black Adam is a new super hero on the block with a very complicated back story. In fact technically he’s not a hero as such. His creation goes back to ancient times in the fictional city of Kahndaq, somewhere in the middle East. With the people suffering under the weight of an oppressive ruler, slave Teth Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is elevated to super powers by the gods to fight for freedom. However because of his anger at the murder of his wife and son, he goes over the top and pretty much destroys the whole country, so the gods entomb him alive forever.
He is accidentally released into the present day by freedom fighter Adrianna (Sarah Shahi). Kahndaq, you see, doesn’t have a lot of luck in the freedom stakes. The country is now in the thrall of the Intergang, who seem to be made up of Australians and Americans, who at first I thought was the American forces doing an Afghanistan type operation.
But no, they are rather under characterised and presumably mercenary baddies. But fret ye not, the all American Justice Society led by Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) is on hand to fight for justice and freedom, along with youthful new recruits Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. They also have normal human form but you can work that one out for yourself if you go see the movie.
And they are not all American either. A now grizzled and distinguished Pierce Brosnan plays Kent Nelson, an archaeologist, who by donning a golden mask transforms into Doctor Fate, who can multiply himself and pull a few other tricks as well. Brosnan brings a nice dry humour to the role, as when he questions Black Adam about his habit of smashing through walls rather than bothering with using the door.
The film is interestingly morally conflicted in the that Black Adam is at the centre, supported by Adrianna and her rather annoying teenage son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui), who is a whizz on a skateboard. They are pinning their hopes on the big guy winning freedom for their country. But he is in conflict also with the Justice League members, who are trying desperately to keep him under control, knowing what a disaster he was in the olden days.
Oh and Dwayne Johnson? Well, he’s big and butch, packs a helluva punch and can destroy a whole battalion of the Intergang before breakfast.
The film itself is loaded with impressive special effects and spectacle and must have cost a fortune. The climactic battle goes on for weeks and appears to blow up most the Middle East. And just looking at the credits for the technicians as opposed to those actually filming on set, it provided employment for a whole city’s worth of workers.
Personally I preferred those character driven and less noisy early Superman movies. But if this is the sort of thing you like, you will love it.
DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS
“Black Adam” Premium Digital Ownership and Premium Digital Rental contains the following special features:
· The History of Black Adam
· Who is The Justice Society?
· From Soul to Screen
· Black Adam: A Flawed Hero
· Black Adam: New Tech in an Old World
· Black Adam: Taking Flight
· Kahndaq: Designing a Nation
· The Rock of Eternity
· Costumes Make the Hero
· Black Adam: A New Type of Action
“Black Adam” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
· The History of Black Adam
· Who is The Justice Society?
· From Soul to Screen
· Black Adam: A Flawed Hero
· Black Adam: New Tech in an Old World
· Black Adam: Taking Flight
· Kahndaq: Designing a Nation
· The Rock of Eternity
· Costumes Make the Hero
· Black Adam: A New Type of Action
4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: January 16, 2023
DVD Languages: English, English with Audio Description, Spanish
BD Languages: English, English with Audio Description, Italian, Japanese
4K Languages: English, English with Audio Description, French, Spanish
DVD Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian
BD Subtitles: English, English SDH, Italian, Italian SDH, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese
4K Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Dutch
Running Time: 125 minutes approx. (4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray); 120 mins approx. (DVD)
Rating: Rated 12 A (Theatrical), 12 (Home Entertainment) for moderate violence, threat, horror, injury detail
