Shazam Proves That The DCEU Has Finally Found Its Perfect Balance Of Action, Humor, And Heart

      The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) universe up until the release of Shazam has had quite a rocky start with the majority of their films proving to be major misfires with audiences such as Batman V Superman, Suicide Squad, and Justice League. Despite the misfires, the universe has had moments where it truly shines while ultimately giving fans a glimmer of hope that the DCEU will continue to improve with gems like Patty Jenkins Wonder Woman and James Wan's Aquaman, both of which proved to be highly successful with audiences both critically and financially. With the release of Shazam, the hope is that the DCEU films quality and tone will continue to improve and help course correct the previous faults of the universe while continuing the upward trend. Now that Shazam has been released, fans once again have reassurance as well as being provided with another glimmer of hope that the DCEU has found it's own path to success while not trying to duplicate Marvel's formula, which has proven to be a massive success thus far. Shazam is not only a highly satisfying superhero flick (Especially for the DCEU), it carries with it endless amounts of humor and heart while blending both together masterfully making it the second best film in the current slate of DCEU movies right behind Wonder Woman.

      The plot for Shazam centers around a 14-year-old foster child named Billy Batson (Played by Asher Angel) who full of streetwise smarts and possessing a good heart, finds himself being tasked with protecting the world from the seven deadly sins when a magician endows him with the ability to transform himself at will into an adult superhero named Shazam (Played by Zachary Levi). When confronted by a powerful supervillain (Played by Mark Strong), Billy realizes that super strength and speed are not enough and has to rely on his foster family to prevail. The story for Shazam easily separates it from the other films in the DCEU mainly because it's more warm-hearted and goofy in nature. What makes the concept of Shazam a success with audiences is that the film knows exactly what it's trying to be in retrospect and never attempts to be more than just fun and laughs. Gone is the dark and gritty nature of Zack Snyder's Man Of Steel and Batman V Superman and the bizarre style of Suicide Squad, Shazam embraces the charm of the universes hit films such as Wonder Woman and Aquaman while possessing the heart of those films with the visuals taking a backseat to the story. Shazam is a film that proves to be self-aware in which it knows what it wants to be and does so with confidence that it will win over its audience with its innocence in being both fun and heartfelt. One of the main problems with the DCEU, is that it constantly tries to copy the dark and grim tone of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy instead of trying to stand on its own ground and find its own stride. Shazam almost feels like an antidote to escaping the Nolan style of comic book movies and ditches the serious tone and socially relevant themes for solid fun. The film is just downright entertaining, hilarious, action-packed, thrilling, and big-hearted showing that not every DCEU film needs to have bleakness, darkness, and self-seriousness in order for it to work but that it can work without those things and be as successful like a standard Marvel picture.

      In terms of acting, writing, and directing, the performances from the cast are all believable and fun to watch. Zachary Levi is great here and proves to be a great casting choice for Shazam, he steals every scene he's in and breathes life into the films already strong source material. He's terrific. Mark Strong does a strong job playing the films main antagonist Dr. Thaddeus Sivana who pursues Billy with the intent of stealing powers as Shazam and targets his family into forcing him to surrender his abilities. Asher Angel does a terrific job playing young Billy Batson adding warmth and heart to his role with his performance blending perfectly with Levi's as Shazam complimenting each other. Jack Dylan Grazer does a likeable performance playing Billy's disabled friend Freddie, one of the first people to discover his powers and aid him in his superhero quest to stop Dr. Sivana. Adam Brody does an equally strong job of playing the older superhero version of Freddie much like Levi does with Shazam. Other noteworthy performances are Blood Diamonds Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard who gives Billy his powers, and the foster family members of Billy such as Faith Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Michelle Borth, Ian Chen, and Ross Butler. Smallville's John Glover plays a small yet effective role in the film as the father of Shazam main antagonist Dr. sivana, giving the audience a clue as to why Sivana is the way he ends up later in the story.  One thing that all the performances have that make them all effective​ and done so well, is they all have a sense of fun and excitement that's brought to the table as one can tell that each person is legitimately enthusiastic about playing their roles and it shows. Each actor and actress chosen for their parts is both a wise and perfect casting choice.

      As far as writing and directing goes, the script written by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke is both clever and witty, giving the film a satirical feel to it. The film carries a childish tone to it that tapes into the audience inner child, making them feel as if they're watching a larger than life superhero on the big screen for the first time such as Christopher Reeves Superman for example. Shazam's formula of not taking a guy with a flying cape seriously but having absolute fun with it's concept shows where Zack Snyder got Henry Cavill's character wrong with Man Of Steel. The film places heavy emphasis on themes such as family, abandonment, heroes, purity of heart, revenge, and bravery with the ultimate message of the film being that a family is made up of people who care about each other, whether they are related or not. The film also drives home the notion that everyone has a superhero inside of them and all they need is some magic to bring it out. The movie carries with it a 90's Nickelodeon feel to it that makes it feel right at home with older audiences while tapping into their inner child. In terms of directing, David F. Sandberg does a great job creating a light-hearted atmosphere that's extremely fun to watch, exciting when it needs to be, while having an emotional core to it's story that speaks to the audience, particularly orphans. It almost feels like David F. Sandberg is making the Superman film he never got to direct as he appears to understand the concept of a superhero flying around with a cape much better than Zack Snyder while also managing to capture the appropriate tone for Shazam. As for the film editing, Shazam moves at a steady pace that never feels like it drags out nor slows down. With a running time of 130 minutes, it utilizes every minute of it's running time to flesh out it's story and characters while maintaining a brisk pace that never lets up.

      What is it that makes Shazam a hit where other DCEU movies have failed (Wonder Woman and Aquaman do not apply to that statement)? It's simple, the film is full of heart and never looses sight of what it's trying to accomplish which is to entertain while delivering a hero that audiences can genuinely believe in. The film definitely aims for that old Saturday morning cartoon feel with it's tone and imitates it very well in hopes of drawing it's audience in his nostalgia. The film is essentially lightning in the bottle for DCEU, the casting is perfect, the script is strong, directing is slick for the style it's trying to convey, and the ultimate resort is one that might be strong enough to save the DCEU. With the world becoming more increasingly dark and cynical, Shazam almost feels like a breath of fresh air in the recent trend of comic book movies as it only intends to be nothing short of deliciously fun while having the wonder of seeing a new superhero on screen for the first time, not one that has been done before repeatedly (How many Spider-Mans and Batmans have audiences been subjected to thus far?). The films most noble trait is its innocence in telling it's story, it almost feels like a superhero version of Tom Hanks BIG with the same goofy style and charming moments. Is Shazam a great superhero movie? No, it lacks the depth that other superhero and comic book films have with it's plot and characters but its a very good superhero film and for DCEU, its the antidote it needs to restore faith in audiences that the universe has a future beyond its past missteps. Shazam is full-fledged fun and entertainment that's all heart and charm with enough humor to make its audience feel good while providing a hero they can relate to even if he comes with two different personalities that are split. Without Zachary Levi, the film would not have worked nor been as successful, Shazam is the prime example that sometimes its best to take a step back and reflect on what went right and what went wrong which the DCEU did in the case of greenlighting the movie. Here's hoping that this film continues the upward trend in the universe and convince audiences that the DC world on film is one worth saving and making better so one day it could have what Marvel worked so hard to accomplish. The film is a fun-spirited ride that never takes itself too seriously and that's not a bad thing. Shazam is the years best superhero film next to Avengers: Endgame.

Final Verdict: SEE IT

Avengers: Endgame Brings A Triumphant Finish To The Marvel Cinematic Universe

      The comic book movie event as well as the most anticipated movie of 2019 has finally landed in theaters bringing the concluding chapter to not just the Infinity War storyline but also closure to the first 11-years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Leaving audiences shell-shocked and blown away exactly one year prior with the Empire Strikes Back style ending of Infinity War where the fate of our heroes was up in the air, Endgame arrives to finish the story the Russo brothers commenced last summer and while doing so, spare no expense in expanding upon the storyline presented in Infinity War while giving the audience as well as the iconic characters in the film the grand finale they deserve to an epic story 11 years in the making. Looking back at the last 11 years of the MCU, one cannot fathom the achievement that Marvel has created on film, there's nothing but wonder at how far the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come and curiosity about where its future will head beyond this point. Regardless of what the future for the MCU looks like post Endgame, fans should pause for a moment and celebrate how amazing and fitting of a finish the Russo Brothers bring to the Avengers storyline, Avengers: Endgame is not just an exciting and thrilling blockbuster or superhero film, its a true triumph in how it manages to entertain its audience while delivering an emotional impact that stays with them long after the credits roll, providing an extremely satisfying finale to Marvels amazing Infinity Saga.

      Picking up after Infinity War's bleak ending that left half of all living things in the universe including many of the Avengers being extinguished by the unstoppable super villain Thanos (Played masterfully by Josh Brolin), Endgame takes place five years after the events of that film with the remaining Avengers along with the help of allies joining forces once again to undo Thanos actions once and for all while restoring order to the universe. Endgame never once shies away from the devastating climax that Infinity War left with audiences but thrives on building upon that reality. The film packs one helluva emotional punch that hits home by the films end while taking its audience on a ride that's thrilling, action-packed, funny, and emotional making it ultimately hit all the right notes. The Russo Brothers know exactly what kind of story they want to tell and deliver their absolute best in doing so. Much like The Dark Knight and Logan, Endgame is a film that's clearly a superhero film but has elements and moments within it, that makes it transcend and nearly break genre at times. That's not a criticism aimed at the film but an acknowledgement of how effective the storytelling is handled and it leaving exactly the kind of impact it always intended to do. Endgame is not just an ordinary superhero or comic book movie, its an experience that needs to be seen by all Marvel fans to witness one of the 21st century most crowned achievements on film. Endgame doesn't just bypass the previous 11 years of the MCU, it embraces the past and pays it's respects as it's self-aware that without the MCU as a whole, it wouldn't exist. For fans of the Marvel series as a whole, Endgame feels like the greatest and most sincere love letter both to the previous films and those who've supported the MCU since the beginning. As flashy as the films visuals come across which are absolutely stunning to witness on the big screen, the films greatest asset and what makes it such an impactful film in the Avengers series and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole is its heart.

      As far as performances go, the entire cast of Avengers: Endgame shines through once again proving to audiences that the casting of each character is not only spot on but in some instances irreplaceable. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man is simply fantastic, there is no one else that could've done this role the same kind of justice and no one who will match his work here as he's managed to fully immerse himself into the role and deliver what's probably his strongest performance yet as Stark. The same is said about Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, both men are perfect in their roles and bring their A game once again to the table. It helps that they have such strong source material to work off as they make the audience truly believe that they have the weight of the world on their shoulders after the events of Infinity War. Both men deliver career best performances in the iconic roles they play with a strong supporting cast to back them up. Mark Ruffalo continues to convince and show fans that the third time is the charm for The Hulk as he does a fine job here, showing that he's completely eased into the role and is a joy to watch. Chris Hemsworth is great as Thor being both funny and emotional with equally satisfying performances from Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. Paul Rudd's inclusion into the film as Ant Man is perfect, elevating the movie to moments of humor to balance the action and drama with Josh Brolin once again shining as Thanos, stealing every scene that he's in. Brie Larson's inclusion to the film is a nice addition given the recent success of her recent Marvel film Captain Marvel. There is not one performance in the film that feels out of place nor poorly delivered, everyone has a clear sense of enthusiasm and excitement for the story and it shows with their roles. The work that the casting directors have done as a whole for the MCU is impeccable and turn Endgame into more than just an epic story but also a star-studded event.

      The film's writing and directing by screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely is top notch with the film incorporating themes into its story such as death, the disappearance of loved ones, destruction of a large population, guilt, hope being lost, leadership, destiny, and discovering one's purpose. What separates Endgame from the other Avengers films is how it takes the characters and story to a much deeper level than previously seen before. The heart of the film outside of the films major set-pieces is the downtime scenes between the characters, those moments are written so brilliantly its almost as if the writers knew those were the scenes the audiences were most looking forward to besides the action. As far as the films three hour running time, the script never drags and each character is given his or her moment in the film to shine and flesh out in between the moments of pure spectacle. As far as directing goes, the Russo Brothers have a slick and stylish visual flare that makes both Avengers films they directed unique. While Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War were strong films they helmed, they also felt like test runs for the work they would establish with these films. Their work in both these movies is so exceptional, particularly Endgame that its heartbreaking to face the realization that they won't be directing anymore films in the MCU as the work they established here will stand the test of time and become one of the new benchmarks for what a superhero film can be. In terms of the films pacing and visual effects, both are top notch. The editing is perfect as the movie never feels like it's entire 182 minute running time. The first half of the movie basically deals with the surviving Avengers of the previous film coping with the losses they suffered and the victory Thanos achieved while figuring out a way to undo the catastrophic turn of events from the previous film. The moments of anger, sadness, and despair are also accompanied with moments of hope that cater to both the characters in the story but the audience as a whole. What could've essentially become a generic storyline that provided impressive but mindless action involving the Avengers has turned into something deeper than just one epic battle after another, its become a journey that fans are going to be astounded by and cherish for years to come.

      As far as concluding chapters go, Endgame is a near perfect effort in not just wrapping up the Infinity story but also providing a temporary closure to a decade of buildup that resulted in 22 Marvel films beginning in 2008 with Jon Favreau's Iron Man. These movies were made first and foremost for the fans and everyone else who came across them would be swept up for the ride that's lasted 11 years. What Endgame does so well is taking the Avengers team from their lowest point and building them back up through friendship, loyalty, family, and hope. The end result is a rewarding piece of Marvel cinema that awards its fans in the greatest way, providing the ultimate fan service while creating the MCU's Return Of The King or The Return Of The Jedi to Infinity War which was essentially Marvel's Empire Strikes Back. Endgame is not just an awesome movie, its an extremely satisfying and heartfelt experience for its fans as it feels like a special gift for everyone whose been apart of the MCU from the start. The Russo Brothers truly care about these characters and are well aware of the expectations audiences have placed upon this film as they meet and exceed every expectation while delivering homages that honors the work that came before them. Watching Endgame, one can't help but wonder how exactly will Marvel find a way to top the work that's been established here as one can't see it happening. Avengers: Endgame is the true cinematic event of 2019 that not only meets expectations but manages to rise above them to become something special that's rarely seen before. Here's hoping that Marvel pushes hard for Endgame to receive Award consideration at next years Oscar ceremony since last years Black Panther opened the door for future superhero movies to receive nominations in major categories. As far as blockbusters go, Endgame is one of the best ever made and a superhero film that's a true gem. Marvel fans couldn't ask for a better ending to the Marvel saga and Infinity arc. There will be more Marvel movies down the line but they will never be as special as what is seen here.

Final Verdict: A MUST SEE.