A New Hope for DC (Once Upon a Time) Review written in October 2022. Interest in this DC project had been growing as its release date approached. Black Adam was pitched as a kind of revival of the cinematic universe that began back in 2013 with Zack Snyder’s successful and intriguing "Man of Steel". A lot has happened since then, and the direction of that franchise has been all over the place. And finally, Dwayne Johnson—aka The Rock—brought his long-awaited project to the big screen. To be fair, according to various sources, Johnson had been pushing for this movie for nearly 15 years. Credit where credit is due—he made it happen. From what I understand, Johnson holds considerable sway in Hollywood, not just as an actor but also as a producer and manager. "Black Adam" and the whole DC situation around it are good examples of that influence, with some of his proposals being accepted by the studio, which is why the movie (and some related projects) were framed as a “revival” of the DC universe. I usually try not to write reviews of a film immediately after watching it. I prefer to wait a few days, so that my initial emotions settle and my impressions become more balanced. With "Black Adam", I’m giving it a measured 7/10. It might be a bit generous, but overall, I think it’s a fair score. Visually, the film is sure to please. The creators delivered a genuinely spectacular movie. With a massive $195 million budget, the production values are obvious, and the film is packed with colorful, large-scale action sequences. In fact, the whole thing is practically stitched together from action scenes. Rapid-fire dialogue constantly gives way to battles, explosions, and set pieces, so you won’t be bored for a moment. The tone of the movie shifts wildly from scene to scene. For me, that was a misstep—a clear attempt to please everyone. At times, it tries to lean into the darker, grittier tone DC is known for, only to suddenly drop into something resembling a family comedy, complete with a teenage boy, his brave mom, and of course, the absent father figure. Naturally, that role ends up falling on Adam, who reemerges into the modern world after millennia of imprisonment. Still, I have to admit I enjoyed the humor. Honestly, I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did, even at some fairly simple jokes. Maybe it had less to do with the film itself and more with the world around us in 2022—sometimes even basic humor feels like a relief, a way to disconnect for a couple of hours. The main star here is, of course, Dwayne Johnson. His character isn’t particularly unique. The tragic backstory of his family and his struggle as an anti-hero (something the filmmakers really tried to push, but didn’t fully succeed at) adds some weight, and Johnson gives it his all. But throughout the movie, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was watching a version of The Terminator: a kid teaching a giant, stone-faced brute how to function in society. The supporting characters suffer from similar issues. Most feel derivative. There’s Doctor Fate, played quite well by Pierce Brosnan, but the character inevitably reminds you of Marvel’s Doctor Strange. There’s Atom Smasher, chatty and awkward, coming off like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man or Ezra Miller’s Flash. It’s supposed to be funny—and sometimes it is—but it still feels like obvious copying. Other heroes didn’t stand out either. The supposed long friendship between Fate and Hawkman wasn’t convincing, and Cyclone felt more like a checkbox than a character. As for the villain, there’s not much to say. He was weakly written, with simplistic motivations. So forgettable, in fact, that I can barely recall the actor’s face. The plot itself isn’t complex. It’s straightforward, predictable. There’s one twist connected to Black Adam’s story, but it wasn’t particularly impactful. As I mentioned earlier, the film tries to juggle superhero action, drama, and comedy. It’s a tricky mix, but it works decently enough. In the end, what kept me invested was Johnson’s charisma. Watching him tear through everything in sight while slowly learning to adapt to modern society—that was the core appeal, and I think that’s what the filmmakers wanted to show. If so, they succeeded. "Black Adam" is clearly not a masterpiece, but it does feel like an attempt to bring back DC’s old direction, where we might soon see the full Justice League again. Hopefully, with Johnson playing such an active role in shaping things, we’ll get more projects featuring his character alongside other DC heroes. As for this film, I’d say it’s a solid addition to the DC catalog, especially compared to some earlier entries that felt unnecessary. 7 out of 10