Shazam!

[The Nth Doctor]

The trailer was fun. I know absolutely nothing about the character beyond the very basic set-up (i.e. kid who can transform into an adult superhero), but the trailer was engaging enough to keep me interested. I particularly like how Billy doesn't magically know how to use all of us super powers at once and has to clumsily learn them through trial and error as any child would.

 

[kirk55555]

Were any of the earlier versions a complete reboot the way Johns version was?
If you're doing a modern reboot of a character like this, I can see where it would make sense to add a bit of darkness to the character.
Now they might have gone a bit to far in that direction in the comics, but I don't see any evidence of the things you're complaining about in the movie. He might not be the perfect flawless character you want, but I don't really see him being a "little shit" either.

He shouldn't be doing shitty things at school, being a moody shit or using his powers selfishly. To me, that's as anti Captain marvel as Superman being a serial killer would be anti-superman. Its actively giving the middle finger to the entire core of the character.

 

[matthunter]

Odd that the Wizard didn't actually take the time to explain the powers he gave Billy, but maybe it's a test of character. Billy is NOT perfect here - and despite Kirk55555recurring's usual "if it's at all different to the 1940s version I hate it!" moaning I think it's going to be easier for folk new to the character to see him that way - and may need some challenges from the Wizard to help him reach his full potential.

As for the "he's the perfect boy scout kid" version, ugh. Superman just about works as a paragon, but even with him you can't have him be Space Jesus 24/7 or he's unrelatable. Heck, even Big J had flaws.

Billy here is a kid whose prepared to throw himself into danger for someone else - someone he has only just met and barely knows. Because the strong are picking on the weak.

That's a superhero. That's rule fucking one of being a superhero - defend those who cannot defend themselves.

So he's snarky. Ooh, what a grave offence to the nobility of the human spirit.

Y'know, even Ghandi and the Dalai Lama have cracked wise now and again.

 

[kirk55555]

Yeah, because the character that existed from 1939 to 2011 was so confusing and never gained fans over the years. Also, you don't know shit if you think Billy didn't change between 1939 and, say, the 90s. the difference is the changes made sense and didn't ruin the core of the character (until The Trials of Shazam and Countdown were made, but thats the fault of a few shitty writers).

The new Billy is a thug who robs people he saves and does all the standard shitty things generic teenage characters do. The movie is basically that, but they might tone down the part where he basically robs the person he saves to go buy stuff, since that is a very Snyder move and they seem to want to stay away from some of that.

 

[matthunter]

Whatever dude. You haven't made a single positive comment in a superhero thread here for months. At this point, I'd stop watching for your own sanity and let those of us that might enjoy the new takes get on with them. Your original comics will still be there for you.

 

[kirk55555]

Whatever dude. You haven't made a single positive comment in a superhero thread here for months. At this point, I'd stop watching for your own sanity and let those of us that might enjoy the new takes get on with them. Your original comics will still be there for you.

Says someone who doesn't read the aquaman thread, or literally every single MCU movie thread that isn't Spider-Man, Logan or Captain marvel (MCU version) related. Your entire argument is provably, hilariously invalid if you'd paid even a little attention. I love a lot of superhero movies. I loved Infinity War, black Panther, GotG 2, etc. I loved Wonder Woman, thought Justice League was decent and even thought that Suicide Squad was a decent mindless action movie, even if its terrible as a comic adaptation.

Yeah, I hate some movies. Getting me started on Spider-Man, Captain marvel (both versions), or any FOX X-Men movies (outside of deadpool) post DoFP (well, apocalypse was not the worst thing ever, just mediocre) and you're going to get a lot of anger. But, there is a lot I like and outright love, too.

 

[JD]

I can't believe I was stupid enough to respond to you, I should have known better by now.

 

[Greg Cox]

Looks like fun. If ever a superhero was designed to be kid-friendly, it's Captain Marvel. So a light-hearted, kid-friendly SHAZAM movie seems like the way to go.

Wanna bet Mr. Mind pops up in the post-credit teaser?

 

[The Lensman]

I can't decide. On the one hand, it certainly looks like fun and hey, Zach Levi!

On the other hand, I really, really prefer the old idea of Billy as the really virtuous kid rather than the more snarky take. Or at least, that Captain Marvel (calling him Shazam is dumb) should be. The boy scout's boy scout really, like his appearances in the Justice League cartoon, or the backstory of him from Kingdom Come.

So... I just don't know.

I feel ya. I read Captain Marvel comics back in the 70's, watched the t.v. show, had the "New Beginning" mini, and collected Power Of Shazam in the 90's and I was excited to hear that Johns was bringing Cap back in the New52 and thought about picking the book up. But reading descriptions of the book, and having paged through a copy, snarky Billy was just too jarring for me.

But unlike too many "fans", I realize that I'm no longer the target audience, nor do I assume that what I like or prefer would capture the imagination of millions of people. Especially the imagination of kids of today. That would be stupid.

But then, I've always felt that Captain Marvel should never have been integrated into the DC universe proper, and should've been left in his own light hearted and poking fun at superheroes universe the way C.C. Beck intended him to be.

 

[Relayer1]

That looked a bit crap, but could sell itself on fun value alone.

 

[Anwar]

They were probably scared that having Billy be utterly unaffected by everything that happens to him would make him seem too much like how Harry Potter was unaffected by his life with the Dursleys. Johns probably thought having him start off with a bit of a chip on his shoulder but develop through his experiences into more of his Golden Age persona would make for a more engaging opening to his character.

 

[kirk55555]

I can't believe I was stupid enough to respond to you, I should have known better by now.

Yeah, people who only want their own opinions parroted back at them really shouldn't bother with forums,

 

[Professor Zoom]

Looks like fun. If ever a superhero was designed to be kid-friendly, it's Captain Marvel. So a light-hearted, kid-friendly SHAZAM movie seems like the way to go.

Yep. Agreed. I'm reasonably certain this will be the first superhero movie I take my son to. He'll be almost 7 by the time this comes out. Everything else, up to this point, and given his age, has been far to intense and/or dark (looking at you DCEU.)

But, I think this one will be a good experience for him.

Wanna bet Mr. Mind pops up in the post-credit teaser?

Tawky Tawny or NOTHING!

tee hee

 

[kirk55555]

If Tawky Tawny appears, it will be as a Tiger who escapes the zoo and is found eating the corpse of someone "Shazam" decided he wouldn't save because, I don't know, Shazam's crush unfriended him on Facebook or some other stupid thing the writers think teens get angry about these days and that made him too angry to stop the tiger. Either that or "Shazam" will skin the Tiger alive and use his fur as a coat, or maybe just capture the tiger and set him lose on someone that annoyed "Billy".

 

[thribs]

Needs more Black Adam. And Superman.

 

[kirk55555]

If they ever make the Black Adam movie with The Rock that they've been teasing, he'll probably be 1000 times more heroic then "Shazam", which would be interesting to see (plus it would have The Rock, who unlike Chuck is a good actor and also not an asshole like Chuck).

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Yeah, people who only want their own opinions parroted back at them really shouldn't bother with forums,

This is really ironic coming from the guy who always goes on about how he absolutely hates any sign of a reinterpretation of a fictional character. Not that I'm complaining, it's quite amusing.

 

[urbandefault]

Looks like fun to me.

I like Zachary Levi, and this looks like a great casting choice. I swear I had a Chuck & Morgan flashback with the "What are your superpowers?" scene.

I still can't get used to him not being Captain Marvel any more. What do they call the Marvel Family now?

 

[The Realist]

HE. IS. NOT. SUPPOSED. TO BE. REALISTIC. That is the whole fucking point.
<snip>
He's always going to be a bit unreal if done right, because the story of Captain marvel isn't a goddamn documentary.

Believe it or don't, kirk, I kind of feel you here. I certainly agree that so-called "realism" can be an unnecessary and self-defeating goal when crafting heroic fantasy stories, and I too have suffered through "modern, realistic" versions of favorite characters (Zack Snyder's Superman, Daniel Craig's James Bond) that rendered them virtually unrecognizable.

As someone who doesn't have much experience of or investment in Captain Marvel, I don't really see a problem with the character of Billy in this trailer. The way it's presented, it seems pretty obvious that it's his standing up for Freddy against the bullies that makes the wizard choose him, and that seems like a pretty heroic act to me, too.

But I can understand if you want a more undiluted, classic take for your favorite character, because the modern notion that we're suddenly too "sophisticated" for idealized heroes is indeed a dumbass idea.

 

[Relayer1]

I too have suffered through "modern, realistic" versions of favorite characters.......(Daniel Craig's James Bond) that rendered them virtually unrecognizable.

From what - the Roger Moore farces ?

Craig's Bond is way closer to the literary Bond or the one from the early movies. The things the cinema franchise was actually based upon...