SHAZAM! (aka DC's Captain Marvel)
I don't know what movie other people are seeing. Ninety-some percent on both critic and viewer scores? Savior of the DCU?
I didn't hate it so it wasn't terrible. Not any worser than the Aquamans. Which still puts it worlds better than BvS and Justice League. But right now it still looks like whatever WBDC is trying to do has to rest on Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot's efforts. Which, I suppose is okay.
The goodish parts are that it is indeed a lot more fun. Levi and the cast have a great time and do a p good job. The story works as an updated retelling of Billy Batson, the boy called by a wizard to become an adult shaped superhero, with the usual Flying Brick powers, plus a few. Decidedly missing from the normal Shazam! powerset is the Wisdom of Solomon. But then, the powers are usually depicted as hit or miss in most media anyhoo.
What sets me off though is the (new?) trope of the Selfishly Superpowered. You discover you have beyond mortal abilities and what's the first thing you do? Property destruction, grift, petty theft and other crimes. Before you realize your true calling and do the good thing for the good reasons. And even that's usually only after something personal makes you pay attention to it.
But also also, in this retelling Billy is an orphan who has been toted from foster to foster and would likely have a non-traditional morality. So, okay. Whatever.
For anyone who hasn't been eating up trailers and other what-all leading up to the release, like me, there are some neat things that are definitely not in the trailers that happen. And they are really good. Not price of admission good, but still really good.
I did catch a MovieBob pre-talk wherein he delved into the ad-hoc "lore" of the DC's Captain Marvel and I appreciated a little more of the movie from it.
And I just figured out something that was bugging me. But it's a spoiler so I can't even mention it in polite company.
No, serious. Super spoiler here.
Shazam mentions his six counterparts who were to be sitting on their thrones doing ... I dunno... whatever those dudes did when they were all together. By the end of the movie, I'm counting and there are only six Marvelses. Seven seats but only six butts.
Before the movie I was surprised that my man The Rock Johnson wasn't cast as Black Adam. Who, weirdly, isn't even in the movie.
Ooooh. Black Adam is in possession of the seventh wizard's power. Derr.