Black Adam

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**AduroT**

Has Dwayne not seen any of the other DC movies? Because they definitely don’t have a code about not killing people, and generally leave a swath of destruction in their wake. Hell, as of their last movie Superman is now wearing black. Still keen to see this film though.

**Lance845**

Yeah... Batman only took some people in a car and turned them into goo as he used them as a wrecking ball for 3 cities blocks.

**BrianDavion**

yeah Black Adam isn't intreasting if all the other super heros have already killed.

**BobtheInquisitor**

Massive scale and size? That looks like Roger Corman’s warehouse. The destruction is less than one floor of one skyscraper from Man of Steel.

**gorgon**

BrianDavion wrote:
yeah Black Adam isn't intreasting if all the other super heros have already killed.

I think the character has a little more to offer than a 'killing code'. His mindset is what makes him interesting, IMO. I dunno if the movie's going to be good or not, but there's more to the source material than that, at least.

BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Massive scale and size? That looks like Roger Corman’s warehouse. The destruction is less than one floor of one skyscraper from Man of Steel.

I'm guessing the post is meant to separate the BA production design from...this...

Spoiler:

The Rock got absolutely *ridiculously* ripped for this movie, by the way. Actually looks like a comic book character.

Spoiler:

I'm interested to see more of the outfit and how it might pair with the new costumes for Shazam 2. Which definitely seem improved and less 'CW' than the ones from the first film.

Spoiler:

**Trondheim**

Hard pass, enough with the dull-minded superhero movies and such.

**gorgon**

You should post that in every superhero movie conversation on the internet and really change the world.

**Voss**

gorgon wrote:
You should post that in every superhero movie conversation on the internet and really change the world.

So... be James Gunn?
In the midst of finishing off one and starting on another (and executive producer of Thor 4), claim that they're boring.

https://screenrant.com/james-gunn-superhero-movies-opinion-boring/

Its a pretty bizarre self-parody, especially since his solution is to mix in other genre elements (war story in the case of Suicide)... but that's what the Marvel films were already doing, all the way back to Winter Soldier and Ant-man.

**gorgon**

That's funny, I just read an article the other day where he talked about 'boring', but the context was a little different.

“That is the one of the ways in which DC can distinguish itself from Marvel…I think the current batch of folks over at Warner Bros. are really interested in building out a world and creating something that’s unique to the filmmakers,” Gunn told The Times. “We’re in a strange time, so anything can happen.”

Gunn continued, “I do find, because of the ability to do different stuff in the DC multiverse, it’s fun. They’re starting to really resemble their comic books. The Marvel Universe has always been a little more cohesive, and DC has always had more great single runs. They had ‘The Dark Knight Returns.’ They had ‘Watchmen.’ They had ‘The Killing Joke.’ They had Alan Moore’s ‘Swamp Thing.’ The fact that they did ‘Joker,’ which is a totally different type of movie, that to me is cool. I’m very excited about Matt’s movie [‘The Batman,’ from Matt Reeves]. They’re getting some really good filmmakers involved. They’re always going to be hit or miss — I just don’t want them to get boring.”

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/james-gunn-difference-making-dc-marvel-films-1234651145/

So it seems to me that he's talking about formulaic superhero films being boring. He is a bit of an auteur filmmaker, so that's not really a surprise. Marvel definitely has some of that (I found Captain Marvel to be a snore, and I have zero agenda there) but they seem to be taking more and more risks. And Gunn was pretty complimentary toward Marvel in the article, although it's possible he was given more rope than some of their other directors.

**Trondheim**

gorgon wrote:
You should post that in every superhero movie conversation on the internet and really change the world.

Nah, the world can burn for all I care. I find it disheartening that the sliver of decent film that came from across the pond in years past has been replaced with these "films" aimed at an audience who has been dumbed down by the endless tide of utter garbage Hollywood and others are spewing out.

**LunarSol**

There was a really brilliant period in the late 90's early 2000's where the Sundance output was great. Then that sort of became a brand of its own and most attempts and thought provoking film turned into formulaic attempts to bait and Oscar.

As big of a fan as I am of what I would consider legitimately great films, it's incredibly hard to find anything that fits the bill in the arthouse scene these days. In terms of clever cinematography, choreography and character work, I've had better luck with the MCU, though of the whole body Black Panther is probably the only one that approaches legitimately good.

**Turnip Jedi**

so going grim derp, ho hum

Whilst Shazam was average at best it did at least flirt with the goofyness of it all, it's one of the better options for when dealing with god tier Supers

**gorgon**

I don't know how grimdark it can really be with the JSA showing up. Hawkman, Atom Smasher and Dr. Fate are in it, IIRC.

Think it's more about Black Adam being an antihero...which he is.

**Lance845**

At this point I am more interested in Dr. Fate and Hawkman.

**AegisGrimm**

Trondheim wrote:
gorgon wrote:
You should post that in every superhero movie conversation on the internet and really change the world.

Nah, the world can burn for all I care. I find it disheartening that the sliver of decent film that came from across the pond in years past has been replaced with these "films" aimed at an audience who has been dumbed down by the endless tide of utter garbage Hollywood and others are spewing out.

I mean, for what it's worth, Marvel has done a pretty excellent job of translating how it feels to read a comic book, but in movie form. Marvel movies are never going to be Grade-A thought provokers. It's pure escapism, and spectacle.

**Lance845**

And yet, people argued for a year over whether Thanos was right or not. Or Team Cap or Team Iron Man

Marvel movies are escapism and spectacle. But they are not devoid of messages either. The best Marvel has to offer offers some interesting points for discussion.

**Jadenim**

Lance845 wrote:
And yet, people argued for a year over whether Thanos was right or not. Or Team Cap or Team Iron Man

Marvel movies are escapism and spectacle. But they are not devoid of messages either. The best Marvel has to offer offers some interesting points for discussion.

I think I’ve said it before in the thread, but I’ve been seriously impressed by the level of depth and controversial subjects in all three of the D+ series. They could have made some generic monster of the week stuff, but they didn’t, it’s been far more interesting (and artistic) than that.

**gorgon**

Lance845 wrote:
And yet, people argued for a year over whether Thanos was right or not.

Who did? Stupid people on Facebook?

I agree that Marvel's TV series and a few movies have had a little depth to them -- there were very 'meta' aspects of Loki that I thought were fun -- but Thanos' plan only made sense if one actively stopped thinking about it. And the movie itself didn't exactly explore it deeply...there was no thoughtful meditation going on. Here's Thanos' plan...aaaaand here's a ton of action to keep you from considering how silly it is. Honestly, just having him in love with Death is cleaner and presents a much more unassailable motivation for a villain.

**LunarSol**

I think Black Panther is the only film with a real thesis behind it, but the D+ series have all had great ideas to explore. Loki is probably the weakest of the 3 in that regard, but also the most like a Marvel film.

**Frazzled**

Frankly, expecting deep thoughts from a comic book movie is...misplaced.

**LunarSol**

Expect it? No, but it can be a delightful bonus.

**Voss**

gorgon wrote:
Lance845 wrote:
And yet, people argued for a year over whether Thanos was right or not.

Who did? Stupid people on Facebook?

I agree that Marvel's TV series and a few movies have had a little depth to them -- there were very 'meta' aspects of Loki that I thought were fun -- but Thanos' plan only made sense if one actively stopped thinking about it. And the movie itself didn't exactly explore it deeply...there was no thoughtful meditation going on. Here's Thanos' plan...aaaaand here's a ton of action to keep you from considering how silly it is. Honestly, just having him in love with Death is cleaner and presents a much more unassailable motivation for a villain.

Definitely. MCU Thanos' plan falls apart in both directions (both collateral damage and the damage to available resources as a side effect of the 50%) AND that recovery is pretty rapid at modern (or higher) tech levels, and a lot of failure points for recovery at lower tech levels. At best its a needlessly cruel delaying tactic, but never a solution.

Obsession with a personification of a concept is sadly more relatable than a drastic population loss that's been repeatedly modeled by economists, sociologists and historians of epidemics.