So, with Black Adam almost finally here, after years after years of waiting, we’re finally hearing real feedback on the quality of the movie. And to be honest, it doesn’t seem like it was worth the wait.
Yes, after Black Adam premiered yesterday (October 13), the first reactions to the movie hit social media. And while some reactions praise parts of the movie, there seem to be a lot of issues with the movie, too. Even on a structural level.
Fortunately, there’s no need to sound a spoiler horn, as all those who watched Dwayne Johnson’s DCEU debut where Black Adam plays by the rules seem to be when it comes to details about the movie.
Here’s what everyone says about Black Adam, let us know in the comments below if this changes your interest in watching the movie:
Black Adam’s reactions: What do people like?
So, let’s start with the positives. Scott Menzel (Opens in a new tab) From We Live Entertainment, Black Adam praised it as “everything I wish it was and more”. In praise that may sound like a warning to some, he also called it a “Snyder-esque anti-hero scene,” though he also noted that it offers “great movement and impressive steady balls.” He notes that Dwayne Johnson was “born to play” Black Adam. It also pays tribute to performances Noah Centeno (Atom Smasher) and Quintessa Swindell (Hurricane).
Joseph Dekelmer (Opens in a new tab) From The Illuminerdi also gave a completely positive reaction, tweeting “Game-changing!!” This is a DC movie. [he’s] They were waiting and they didn’t disappoint.”
The third positive tweet we saw came from Dorian Parks (Opens in a new tab) From Geeks of Color, who also says that Black Adam “didn’t disappoint” before saying “The action sequences were amazing, especially the ones with JSA. The Rock crushes the role of Black Adam. The ending of the movie left me with high hopes for the future of DCEU.”
Brandon Davis (Opens in a new tab) From Phase Zero and ComicBook.com he said Black Adam is a “straight shot of adrenaline,” although he coined that by saying “when it moves” only because he wanted a sequel to Black Adam with a “smoother story.”
Black Adam’s reactions: What people don’t like
Those who have negative things to say about “Black Adam” have sometimes phrased it positive. Sean King (Opens in a new tab) From CNET he didn’t, tweeting “Unfortunate, it’s bad – no emotional depth, no sense of danger to the main character and boring CGI fights.”
Alex Abad Santos (Opens in a new tab) Note from Vox that while “Black Adam works in many ways—Dwayne Johnson and Pierce Brosnan’s charm offensive; Aldis Hodge exudes charisma: Centineo and Swindell’s alchemy—but the script’s inconsistent internal logic mars them in plenty of locations.”
Matt Niglia (Opens in a new tab) Next Best Picture tweeted that the film was “struggling to find its first footing”, and that it had a “weak villain”. On the plus side, he noted that “once you get into the Justice League, it’s more fun to watch,” and that “Dwayne Johnson’s hero introduces an interesting new dynamic to the DCEU.”
Outlook: Will Black Adam be any good?
It looks like Black Adam will be a movie that you need to properly calibrate your expectations. Many of the reactions we’ve seen show how her script seems to be the most flawed part. Germain Loser (Opens in a new tab) from Gizmodo and io9 notes that while Black Adam “is a worthy new piece of the DC puzzle, [it’s] Not the savior you promised.”
He also said that “Black Adam’s surprisingly compressed timeline maintains the action and pace of action, but also transforms many of the themes, plots, and characters into fanciful window decoration. It’s chaotic in a way to watch.”
So, if you can enjoy a chaotic superhero movie, and you’re ready for an anti-hero, Black Adam seems like a good time for you. If you want something simpler? We are less certain.
