Rating: 4.0

Interesting ideas decent effects but poor narrative execution. Finally a "hero" who doesn't care about killing people and has a good reason for his mindset his son a true hero died to save him making him feel unworthy of the legend that precipitated as he continues through his path of anger and mourning. The inversion of the motif life is the only path to death being used as the literal way the antagonist gains his powers was clever and the presentation was decent for the most part. The problem is the weak side characters: Adrianna is one-dimensional (only about her son), her son is a MacGuffin in the second half, atom smasher is bland comedy relief etc. There were nonsensical action scenes ex: Black Adam fighting guards with a literal tube down his throat when the guards can just shoot him. Black Adam going to save Adrianna's son then abandoning him at his house to fight enemies when he literally could've just taken him when he found him preventing his kidnapping. Also adam drowning then somehow rising to the surface so he could say shazam. And preachy dialogue: all of Adrianna's monologues about teamwork and oppression were cringe and forced. Same with her son. It just felt like fanfiction in areas from the action to the dialogue to the worldbuilding (eternium? Seriously?).

Black Adam is the cinematic equivalent of a tuneless marching band running endless circles around your increasingly throbbing head. The score is omnipresent and oppressive. The action frantic and relentless. The entire thing just keeps beating you over the head until you throw up your hands and surrender. And then it knocks you to the ground and starts kicking you. Ultimately whatever virtues it may have had are buried under the rubble from its nonstop assault on your senses. Watching this film was like boxing a 'roided up octopus.

And speaking of 'roided up, The Rock is the fulcrum of this mindless drivel, and with his relative charm buried deep beneath an ever-present and sweaty sneer, the film's only notable asset is extinguished. That the recently announced reboot of the DC Universe renders the entire affair utterly moot is simply the last shovelful of dirt on its grave.

From start to finish, Black Adam is an unpleasant experience. Bad script. Bad acting. Bad CGI. Bad movie.