[Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Moderators: Bakhtosh, EvilHomer3k
- hepcat
- Posts: 51503
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
He won. Period.
- YellowKing
- Posts: 30197
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
We saw it Saturday night.
Overall I REALLY enjoyed it, though I'm not sure if that's because it was really good or if it wasn't a total bomb like most other DC movies.
I will say I was really impressed with how much story they crammed in, even at 2:20. They basically had to give Aquaman's entire origin, Black Manta's origin, introduce Mera, set up the conflict between Arthur and his brother, expound on the cultures of the Atlanteans, etc. That's even before you get to the actual journey. Yet I thought the pacing was really good - never dragged, but the info dump was just spread out enough you could follow everything easily.
Yes it's a total CGI fest, but I'm OK with that. It's a comic book movie, after all. And yes, the CGI was cheesy at times. But it's an Aquaman movie after all.
Seriously though, this was the first DC film in quite some time that actually *felt* like a comic book. (Wonder Woman was great, but it wasn't as epic and thus missed out on some of that feel). They definitely took some tips from Marvel and upped their humor. Aquaman never feels brooding or dark, and it was such a refreshing change.
Yes, it comes off as a little goofy and cornball at times, but DC's still finding their way. This was a huge step forward, and I finally felt like I could enjoy a DC movie the way a kid would and not as a morose emo Goth twenty-something.
Overall I REALLY enjoyed it, though I'm not sure if that's because it was really good or if it wasn't a total bomb like most other DC movies.
I will say I was really impressed with how much story they crammed in, even at 2:20. They basically had to give Aquaman's entire origin, Black Manta's origin, introduce Mera, set up the conflict between Arthur and his brother, expound on the cultures of the Atlanteans, etc. That's even before you get to the actual journey. Yet I thought the pacing was really good - never dragged, but the info dump was just spread out enough you could follow everything easily.
Yes it's a total CGI fest, but I'm OK with that. It's a comic book movie, after all. And yes, the CGI was cheesy at times. But it's an Aquaman movie after all.
Seriously though, this was the first DC film in quite some time that actually *felt* like a comic book. (Wonder Woman was great, but it wasn't as epic and thus missed out on some of that feel). They definitely took some tips from Marvel and upped their humor. Aquaman never feels brooding or dark, and it was such a refreshing change.
Yes, it comes off as a little goofy and cornball at times, but DC's still finding their way. This was a huge step forward, and I finally felt like I could enjoy a DC movie the way a kid would and not as a morose emo Goth twenty-something.
- rittchard
- Posts: 1664
- Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:16 pm
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
YK, it's funny how many caveats you put on your review of Aquaman lol. I agree with the majority of your comments, and while overall I enjoyed it I'm probably a little less forgiving.
I think the comment you made about plot being "crammed in" is the best way I would describe it, even though you used it as a positive. I would have preferred an abridged version, maybe chop about half an hour or so. No offense to Manta fans, but I think they could easily have edited his story out entirely and kept the focus on the origin plus Atlantean storylines. Some of the over the top CGI I could do without as well, particularly the crab people and the monster that looked like they stole straight from Pacific Rim. I also felt like there was zero chemistry with Amber Heard. All I kept thinking was what if they had cast Emilia Clarke in the role, I think my fanboy head would have exploded. I didn't even recognize Dolph Lundgren and Willem Dafoe seemed completely wasted and/or out of place in this movie. Patrick Wilson, who I normally love, didn't really add much to his role, and it was poorly written at best. One minute it seemed like they wanted us to be sympathetic to his cause, the next he was a traditional evil psycho villain.
The thing that did work for me was Jason Momoa's overall performance. I had a lot of doubts of him as a serious actor, but he just seemed so comfortable and joyfully engaged in the role that it muted out a lot of my criticisms while watching it. I also really enjoyed the backstory with Nicole Kidman and the father, who actually showed some amount of on screen chemistry. Or maybe it's just that she's that good of an actress.
All in all, like many others, I'd put it as the second most enjoyable DC film behind Wonder Woman. I still feel like DC just tries way too hard with their movies when they really don't need to.
I think the comment you made about plot being "crammed in" is the best way I would describe it, even though you used it as a positive. I would have preferred an abridged version, maybe chop about half an hour or so. No offense to Manta fans, but I think they could easily have edited his story out entirely and kept the focus on the origin plus Atlantean storylines. Some of the over the top CGI I could do without as well, particularly the crab people and the monster that looked like they stole straight from Pacific Rim. I also felt like there was zero chemistry with Amber Heard. All I kept thinking was what if they had cast Emilia Clarke in the role, I think my fanboy head would have exploded. I didn't even recognize Dolph Lundgren and Willem Dafoe seemed completely wasted and/or out of place in this movie. Patrick Wilson, who I normally love, didn't really add much to his role, and it was poorly written at best. One minute it seemed like they wanted us to be sympathetic to his cause, the next he was a traditional evil psycho villain.
The thing that did work for me was Jason Momoa's overall performance. I had a lot of doubts of him as a serious actor, but he just seemed so comfortable and joyfully engaged in the role that it muted out a lot of my criticisms while watching it. I also really enjoyed the backstory with Nicole Kidman and the father, who actually showed some amount of on screen chemistry. Or maybe it's just that she's that good of an actress.
All in all, like many others, I'd put it as the second most enjoyable DC film behind Wonder Woman. I still feel like DC just tries way too hard with their movies when they really don't need to.
- hepcat
- Posts: 51503
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I saw it over the Christmas holiday. While I enjoyed it, I couldn't help but think how simplistic the story was compared to the Marvel origin stories...well, most of them, anyways. While not award winning writing, Marvel still tends to give their villains and their heroes more complicated lives than "love action, love hittin' stuff". Aquaman is a good action film, don't get me wrong. But it seems like they wanted to mimic the depth of a Marvel film with their pre-Wonder Woman films, realized they had no idea how to do that without being ridiculous, and then just said screw it, let's concentrate on the fun parts. Wonder Woman, for all its accolades, isn't much more deep than Aquaman when you break it down. It's still about action first, plot and character development second (although Wonder Woman does much better than Aquaman on the latter).
I also saw Spiderman Into the Spiderverse this past weekend and that one puts all of the DC live action films to shame.
I also saw Spiderman Into the Spiderverse this past weekend and that one puts all of the DC live action films to shame.
He won. Period.
- naednek
- Posts: 10878
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:23 pm
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
My dad is coming over tomorrow to relieve me of hospital movie and to go see a movie.... I'm trying to decide Spiderman or Aquaman. I guess available showtimes will be the deciding factor.
hepcat - "I agree with Naednek"
- naednek
- Posts: 10878
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:23 pm
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I really enjoyed Aquaman. I had low expectations when it was first announced. I always felt he was the lamest of all the superheroes. But man I enjoyed every minute of it. Everything just felt epic.
hepcat - "I agree with Naednek"
- Blackhawk
- Posts: 43888
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:48 pm
- Location: Southwest Indiana
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Get 'em, Batman!
(˙pǝsɹǝʌǝɹ uǝǝq sɐɥ ʎʇıʌɐɹƃ ʃɐuosɹǝd ʎW)
- Hamlet3145
- Posts: 1534
- Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:27 pm
- Contact:
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Wasn't following Shazam at all, but I caught a matinee of it today (I'm in Australia at the moment and apparently in the future) and really enjoyed it. One of the funniest superhero movies that I've seen with a lot of heart. Honestly liked it more than Captain Marvel and I found Captain Marvel to to be a perfectly fine (if average) Marvel movie. Chuck did a great job playing a 14 year old in a 30-something superhero's body. The director completely embraced the inherently goofy nature of Shazam and just went for it.
- Blackhawk
- Posts: 43888
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:48 pm
- Location: Southwest Indiana
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
The good news is that my copy of silver age Shazam #1 just quadrupled in price.
(˙pǝsɹǝʌǝɹ uǝǝq sɐɥ ʎʇıʌɐɹƃ ʃɐuosɹǝd ʎW)
- gilraen
- Posts: 4321
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:45 pm
- Location: Broomfield, CO
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Just got back from seeing Shazam, and it was a lot of fun.
(Yes, there's a mid-credits scene AND a post-credits scene)
(Yes, there's a mid-credits scene AND a post-credits scene)
- hepcat
- Posts: 51503
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I saw it Friday with a friend and we thought it was okay, but not deserving of the 92 percent or so it’s enjoying on Rotten Tomatoes. I fear we’re at the point where reviewers have given up and are now just doling out praise to superhero movies as long as the film has a somewhat coherent plot and decent acting.
While fun, it did absolutely nothing new. It did focus on family more, and seemed at times to be geared towards kids. But then they’d include scenes of monsters biting off people’s heads, or being tossed out windows to their deaths. So the tone seemed all over the place.
Also, the villain seemed to be an attempt to use Black Adam by pasting his name and part of his origin onto another Captain Marvel villain, but without actually using Black Adam so they wouldn’t infringe upon the upcoming Dwayne Johnson movie featuring that character.
While fun, it did absolutely nothing new. It did focus on family more, and seemed at times to be geared towards kids. But then they’d include scenes of monsters biting off people’s heads, or being tossed out windows to their deaths. So the tone seemed all over the place.
Also, the villain seemed to be an attempt to use Black Adam by pasting his name and part of his origin onto another Captain Marvel villain, but without actually using Black Adam so they wouldn’t infringe upon the upcoming Dwayne Johnson movie featuring that character.
He won. Period.
- coopasonic
- Posts: 20992
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:43 pm
- Location: Dallas-ish
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I was all set to take my kids to see it this weekend and then my wife sent me some texts with comments similar to that and then we didn't go to the movies this weekend.
-Coop
Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter
- Blackhawk
- Posts: 43888
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:48 pm
- Location: Southwest Indiana
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Wow, that was really good. The whole family loved it. It was nice to prove Deadpool wrong. The DC universe isn't all darkness and gloom.
And while there was some dark stuff, most of it occurred just off camera. A monster does bite a guy's head off, but you don't see it. You see the monster pick someone up and put his head in its mouth. Then the camera angle changes and you see his feet just before the monster hurls him (very quickly and blurrily) out the window. At no point did it show the blood, the head, or a headless body. Probably the most potentially disturbing scene was
There were so, so many references in there.
Anyway, I loved the movie as a Shazam fan, and Michelle and the kids loved it with almost no familiarity with the character.
And while there was some dark stuff, most of it occurred just off camera. A monster does bite a guy's head off, but you don't see it. You see the monster pick someone up and put his head in its mouth. Then the camera angle changes and you see his feet just before the monster hurls him (very quickly and blurrily) out the window. At no point did it show the blood, the head, or a headless body. Probably the most potentially disturbing scene was
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
(˙pǝsɹǝʌǝɹ uǝǝq sɐɥ ʎʇıʌɐɹƃ ʃɐuosɹǝd ʎW)
- hentzau
- Posts: 15131
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:06 am
- Location: Castle Zenda, Ruritania
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I do wish they hadn’t given Sivana an origin/powers that are so close to Black Adam though. But I thought it was fun.
“We can never allow Murania to become desecrated by the presence of surface people. Our lives are serene, our minds are superior, our accomplishments greater. Gene Autry must be captured!!!” - Queen Tika, The Phantom Empire
- pr0ner
- Posts: 17429
- Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:00 pm
- Location: Northern Virginia, VA
- Contact:
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
I think Sivana was originally supposed to be Black Adam (played by Dwayne Johnson!) until they decided to spin Black Adam off into his own movie. Maybe the script didn't change terribly in terms of origin/powers after that shift.
Hodor.
- hepcat
- Posts: 51503
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
They should have just stuck with mad scientist for Sivana. But apparently they weren't creative enough to make that work, so they had to make him superpowered too...then tack on parts of Black Adam's origin. That was pretty weak writing, imho. In the process, they've lessened two of Cap's greatest enemies.
I will say that if they make Mr. Mind the villain in the sequel, they have a chance to redeem themselves in my eyes.
I will say that if they make Mr. Mind the villain in the sequel, they have a chance to redeem themselves in my eyes.
He won. Period.
- Blackhawk
- Posts: 43888
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:48 pm
- Location: Southwest Indiana
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. It's going to make it... odd if they ever bring the two film series together. Of course, they set up
Spoiler:
(˙pǝsɹǝʌǝɹ uǝǝq sɐɥ ʎʇıʌɐɹƃ ʃɐuosɹǝd ʎW)
- Jaymon
- Posts: 3016
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:51 pm
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
We enjoyed it. but I wish the trailers had done a better job of showing it was more than just bubble gum and teenagers.
The beginning scenes, and the later monsters were very scary for my 9year old. I am not sure how suitable this is for young viewers. And i particularly didn't like the use of a brothel. What specifically age group were they intending?
but after all that, 9year old says that Shazam is the new favorite hero, so I guess thats something.
The beginning scenes, and the later monsters were very scary for my 9year old. I am not sure how suitable this is for young viewers. And i particularly didn't like the use of a brothel. What specifically age group were they intending?
but after all that, 9year old says that Shazam is the new favorite hero, so I guess thats something.
Bunnies like beer because its made from hops.
- Isgrimnur
- Posts: 82308
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Chookity pok
- Contact:
Re: [Movie] How about trailers for Shazam and Aquaman?
It was a strip club, not a brothel. And did you’re pandering to the fantasies of a 14yo straight boy, it’s an easy gag.
It's almost as if people are the problem.