Spoilers Shazam! - Grading and Discussion

[dahj]

Since several people in the pre-release thread have already seen it, it's time for a spoilery discussion thread for DC's newest comic book movie featuring one of the oldest and for a while most popular superhero Captain Marvel Shazam!

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I won't be seeing it for a couple of weeks still, but if you have seen it by all means... commence the gradeage!

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

My favourite modern DC movie by a mile.

At first I was apprehensive about how they made Billy a little less than noble, but it gave him room to grow and by the end was totally worth it.

The humour worked well for me (LOVED the nod to "Big") and Zach Levi owned the role. The fun he was obviously having jumped off the screen and was infectious.

And seeing the whole Marvel (what are they called now?) family at the end had me grinning from ear to ear.

(Though sad the last cameo was filmed the way it was...)

 

[urbandefault]

And seeing the whole Marvel (what are they called now?) family at the end had me grinning from ear to ear.

The Shazamily?

 

[thribs]

It was pretty good. I agree about the Superman “cameo”. That was badly done.
It was fun to see Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. but I wouldn’t have done them in the first movie. They feel like characters you introduce later. I also don’t get the vibe Mary is her biological sister from what Billy’s mum says. I suppose she could be half, depending on how old his dad is.

It was fun seeing John Glover again in a DC property; playing a terrible father who controls a powerful company. I wanted him to be pushed out of the window so his death was exactly the same as in Smallville.

I knew that Black Adam wasn’t going to be in the movie but it does feel like a weird choice. Could have made a better post credit scene than what we got but also they’ve cast the Rock to play him since 2004. It’s about time they used him. I even had people in the cinema who were saying “ come on Dwayne” during the credits.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Saw this last night with my daughter, who’s almost 12 (this was the first superhero film she’s seen in the cinema, apart from the likes of The Incredibles 2). We both enjoyed it. I wouldn’t put it at the top-tier of superhero films but it’s an enjoyable family film with a lot of heart. The cast are excellent, especially Zachary Levi who brings a lot of charm and amiability even when his character is being a bit of a dork. Plenty of laugh-out loud scenes, especially the riff on the usual bad-guy’s-dramatic-speech scene near the end.

Didn’t see the scene with the superfamily coming and loved it.

My daughter noticed the Big tribute before me!

The cameo at the end was, as has been said, disappointing. Should’ve gotten Tyler Hoechin or Brandon Routh if someone else was too expensive! The post and mid-credits scenes are not essential and I had to google the guest appearance - it’s not quite eg Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man or Batman at the end of Suicide Squad in the “wow” factor. The last one did give a good giggle though.

Not quite as good or bonkers as Aquaman, it’s nonetheless an enjoyable movie and it’s nice to see that DC is willing to take chances and do an out and our family film which still exists in their expanded universe, as the numerous references to other heroes establish from early on.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I was not able to see it yet. But was aware John Glover is in the movie and the character. I am curious what he looks like?

On Twitter recently he had short hair and his beard. Only about a month ago did he shave it off to play a Catholic Bishop in an new Play.

He is is playing Sivana’s father but obviously not Lionel Luthor. But I am curious how much his appearance and performance are similar. Clearly that influenced this casting. But he is a versatile actor. He could also play this character very different.

It’s not clear Henry Cavill not being Superman in this has anything to do with money. Most are assuming WB is hedging their bases in case the part is recast. But it might be a creative choice. Good or bad choice is debatable. This is a movie about Shazam not cameos from other heroes to steal his thunder... umm lightning.

 

[thribs]

Looks more or less like Lionel from Smallville. Just with slightly shorter hair.

The cameo was at the very end so it wouldn’t have stolen his thunder if it was Cavil.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Yes, it's 4 seconds of him walking in, we see everything BUT his face (the shot is basically cropped to his shoulders), he stops walking, then the scene ends.

It's oddly framed which is what makes it so jarring.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Seems to be the Cavil suit too. Plus while it’s never explicit, there is a newspaper headline which appears to refer to the events of Justice League. So I’m assuming it’s meant to be Cavil’s Superman, but I’d say @Dick Whitman is correct.

 

[tomalak301]

I just got back from seeing it. I had a blast with this movie. I like this new DC. Having individual movies expanding its universe organically.

I do have a question though. Were we going to get a Slade Wilson/Deathstroke movie or was that cancelled because of Justice League.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I just got back from seeing it. I had a blast with this movie. I like this new DC. Having individual movies expanding its universe organically.

I do have a question though. Were we going to get a Slade Wilson/Deathstroke movie or was that cancelled because of Justice League.

Wasn't he at one stage supposed to be the villain in The Batman, when Affleck was still linked to star and direct?

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Wasn't he at one stage supposed to be the villain in The Batman, when Affleck was still linked to star and direct?

Yup! In other words, cancelled.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Now that I have seen the movie the Superman cameo seemed random and unnecessary. Regardless of how it was done. Shazam showing up at lunch for Freddy was a touching emotional payoff. I always assumed we would see Shazam meeting Superman for the first time. Seeing his face or not, we are to accept they met off screen. Seemed an out of left field gimmick more than anything.

Otherwise I loved the movie.

 

[Noname Given]

A

I was a fun, entertaining film. With what they did, it's (IMO) sad WB is deciding to ditch the 'DCEU' paradigm as for me the little crossover bits worked nicely here. If they could have gotten Cavil for a day, the Superman cameo would have worked better too.

 

[dswynne1]

Okay, I was lucky enough to see an early showing of the film two weeks ago, so I hope to see it again this weekend. But having said that, I have to say...LOVED IT. Still, I thought that there were pacing problems early on, and I would have preferred a more traditional version of the SHAZAM origin story (less "Big" influence). In fact, the movie could have easily started out with Billy already having his powers, as he continues his searches for his long-lost sister Mary (a brief flashback moment would have Billy meet the Wizard, who chooses Billy because, in spite of his rough exterior, was a person who is "pure of heart", a prerequisite needed to resist the temptation of the Seven Deadly Sins). Then again, having Billy already having his powers would take away the comedic aspects of him learning how to use those powers.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this film for the general audience, though it might be too racy or scary for young kids. Good job, WB! Keep it up!

 

[The Realist]

A+

I loved this movie. Loved. It.

"Hilarious and heartfelt." -- The Realist, TrekBBS.com

(And as much of a kick as it might have been to see Cavill, I thought the Superman bit actually worked better this way. More of a gag, less of a showy cameo.)

 

[1001001]

My son and I just got back from seeing it in Glorious IMAX (nearly empty).

What a treat! Absolutely wonderful film, full of humor and heart (DC is actually capable of it!).

Definitely more intense than I expected (the boardroom scene), and is definitely not appropriate for young kids.

The power testing scene, complete with Queen soundtrack, was hilarious.

I give it an A-, only because the final fight scene could have been tightened up and shortened a bit.

Poor Santa...

 

[tomalak301]

Poor Santa...

Speaking of that, was this movie pushed back so Aquaman could be released at Christmas? It seemed like this was more of a christmas movie than that movie was.

 

[dahj]

Just watched it, loved it.

It's got that 80s kids movie vibe going for it, it's fun throughout all the way to the end credits cartoon, the plot works well with the family theme, the cast is great(I did not expect to see half of Justice League Mortal cast in the Shazamily )

Darla totally stole the show though, she should get seven spin-offs immediately.

Speaking of that, was this movie pushed back so Aquaman could be released at Christmas?

It wasn't.
It's actually one of the rare DC movies that kept its originally announced date from all the way back when the slate was first announced.

 

[Noname Given]

Poor Santa...

What? By the end Santa was f**king impressed/amazed by it all.