I love DC Comics, so I always look forward to their movies.  Black Adam is another great one! It’s got a ton of action, some moments of humor, and it asks the question – what makes a hero? (Which I find incredibly fascinating.)  All in all, it’s a fun ride, and well worth it!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Adam_(film)

Movie: Black Adam

Rating: PG-13

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The Plot

So, the plot is a little convoluted. I will try and explain it without spoilers.

There’s a legend that the last king of Kahndaq enslaved his people to find the mineral Eternium (like MCU Vibranium).  When he got enough, he used it to create a demon crown (not its official name, but that’s what it is). The Shazam wizards give power to a champion to fight back. In the battle, the king dies, but Kahndaq’s hero is never seen again.

Fast forward to today. Kahndaq has been exploited by invading countries seeking Eternium throughout its history. A historian/professor in Kahndaq realizes the current occupiers are about to unearth the demon crown, and so she takes it before they can. While there, the occupying soldiers attack – and she awakes the hero Teth-Adam.

This causes Amanda Waller (from Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad) to send the Justice Society to capture Teth-Adam.  They have sources that say Teth-Adam isn’t a hero, and so old recruits Hawkman and Doctor Fate, and new recruits Cyclone and Atom Smasher, go to stop him.  Cue the action.

Basically, there are two plot lines woven throughout the movie.  Although it’s well done, it is a little convoluted as the Justice Society alternates between helping and hindering Teth-Adam.  We also see Teth Adam (who becomes Black Adam by the end) alternate between “hero” and “villain.”

The Good

Despite the convoluted plot, it is an amazing movie. There are major X-Men (2000) vibes, as Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate counsels the younger gen of heroes. I liked the use of slo-mo, as it was very reminiscent of Zack Snyder’s DC movies.  These sequences are also accompanied by upbeat rock songs which gives it an element of fun. The humor is wry and well timed. And you know….it’s Dwayne Johnson. You have to love him.

Why is it a 4.5?

Besides the convoluted plot, the violence is edgy. Like, Teth-Adam electrocutes a guy down to his skeleton and it’s kinda graphic. Teth-Adam has a disregard for life that made me cringe.  However, that is part of the point – Teth-Adam isn’t a traditional hero.

And yes, I worried about all the innocent people in cars who would have died if it was real. I guess Marvel and DC are the same on that count.

Finding God: Evaluating Good

Throughout the movie, there is a subtle questioning of good. Like, yeah, it’s bad to kill people. But is “breaking their minds” like Doctor Fate wants to do, or keeping a room full of villains in suspended animation any better? I vote no. It’s actually worse than dying, in my opinion.

Our culture seems to be questioning our traditional narrative of good right now (see my review of The School for Good and Evil) . And you know what – that’s exactly what Jesus did.

The Pharisees were the “good” guys in their day. They did everything right – including not actually killing Jesus. (They got the Romans to do that.) But just a casual reading of the New Testament shows that even though they obeyed the “rules” of good, their hearts were evil. They were whitewashed tombs, decaying inside but beautiful on the outside (Matt. 23:27-28). Like the Justice Society, they didn’t kill people; but they definitely broke them.

Both the New Testament and this movie show that blindly following the letter of the law is not good.  In fact, it makes good no different than evil.  Rules have nothing to do with the heart, after all.

In order for good to actually be good, we must look at the heart behind intentions.  The Justice Society’s motive is to keep the global peace – not to protect the innocent.  If it were, they’d end Kahndaq’s occupation.  The Pharisees’ goal was to make sure they kept power – not to protect the innocent. If it were, they would not have allowed Jesus to die.  (After all, he is the only one who is truly innocent.)

A hero’s goal is to protect.  It’s why Teth-Adam’s story is so compelling.  We see his flaws, we see his scars.  We understand why he wants revenge.  And when he conquers his impulse, we cheer even more (and if you’re me, you cry).  It isn’t just a victory over the evil facing him, but a victory over his own heart, too.  

Our culture realizes good isn’t defined by rules – and is trying to find just how far from the rules it can/should stray.  It’s an interesting phenomenon, and I think it will (hopefully) give fresh life to the real heroes in our world. I hope we as Christians can engage meaningfully in this conversation and point people to the true Hero who offers protection of the soul.


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