With the Bollywood ban still firmly in place in the country and likely to continue till after the Indian elections – perhaps Eid-ul-Fitr – the recent weeks have provided an opportunity to Pakistani films to prove their mettle. Where Lal Kabootar rose high, Sherdil and Project Ghazi sunk the other way.
Even so, where Pakistani films delivered mixed results, the absence of Bollywood films has given Hollywood the space to vie for a pretty large market of filmgoers. This, in recent weeks, has resulted in the Marvel vs DC rivalry taking centre stage in Pakistan as well.
A few weeks ago we discussed how Pakistan was missing out on Captain Marvel given that it wasn’t released in the country. The great news is that now only has Captain Marvel been released in Pakistan, there is confirmation that Avengers: Endgame is also coming as well.
So while excitement builds up for that massive release, this week we had Captain Marvel going up against Shazam! And having reviewed the former last month, it’s time to take a look at the latter.
Following the ripples created by Aquaman, DC Universe buffs saw their hopes on the up with regards to the awaited Shazam! The film is based on a young boy discovering – with the help of a wizard – that he’s a superhero. The film has rocked the box office since its release early this month.
14-year-old Billy (Asher Angel) finds out that he can turn into an adult superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi) – and all he needs to do is say one word: Shazam. Once Billy discovers his powers, he starts doing what any boy his age would with them: have fun.
While he is exploring his powers, he simultaneously finds himself in a rush to master them in time to fight against the evil forces that are being controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). As a superhero, he is basically an unstoppable force with some magical powers as well who can only be stopped if his enemies trick him into becoming his 14-year-old self.
The movie looks to cater to a teenager’s dream: being an adult with superpowers. Inside the perfect body of an adult superhero, the young boy remains a teenager at heart, adding to the entertainment and comical coefficients of Shazam!
Like most DC movies, this one too has some genuinely good comedy. After all, it’s about a boy in a man’s body – it has humour written all over it. However, there’s one thing having a comic core, another thing for the writing to make the most of it. There are well-written jokes spread out throughout the film, with the cast delivering the punches effortlessly. There’s laughter galore in Shazam!
In fact, sometimes you might be left wondering if the film has successfully transitioned from the intense drama towards comedy. If you don’t mind when and where your laughter comes from, and wouldn’t mind yo-yoing intensively, you should have a ball!
Has Levi done justice to the portrayal of a teenager in a grown man’s body at all times during the movie? The answer would depend on who you ask. But if you are willing to overlook minor anomalies, and focus on the entertainment package, you’d have no problems being thoroughly enthralled.
Also, since our job here is to do the critique on your behalf, Levi does more than a decent job overall, and his acting survives the stern tests in large parts.
If it still needs to be said, Shazam! is a great watch. It is not exactly your archetypal DC film, but it’s entertaining nonetheless – and more than just a filler between DC movies!
If there’s one word to describe the film, it would be Bam! It hits you with its dose of humour and fun, and you can’t help but enjoy the punches.
Even so, where Pakistani films delivered mixed results, the absence of Bollywood films has given Hollywood the space to vie for a pretty large market of filmgoers. This, in recent weeks, has resulted in the Marvel vs DC rivalry taking centre stage in Pakistan as well.
A few weeks ago we discussed how Pakistan was missing out on Captain Marvel given that it wasn’t released in the country. The great news is that now only has Captain Marvel been released in Pakistan, there is confirmation that Avengers: Endgame is also coming as well.
It is not exactly your archetypal DC film, but it’s entertaining nonetheless – and more than just a filler between DC movies!
So while excitement builds up for that massive release, this week we had Captain Marvel going up against Shazam! And having reviewed the former last month, it’s time to take a look at the latter.
Following the ripples created by Aquaman, DC Universe buffs saw their hopes on the up with regards to the awaited Shazam! The film is based on a young boy discovering – with the help of a wizard – that he’s a superhero. The film has rocked the box office since its release early this month.
14-year-old Billy (Asher Angel) finds out that he can turn into an adult superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi) – and all he needs to do is say one word: Shazam. Once Billy discovers his powers, he starts doing what any boy his age would with them: have fun.
While he is exploring his powers, he simultaneously finds himself in a rush to master them in time to fight against the evil forces that are being controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). As a superhero, he is basically an unstoppable force with some magical powers as well who can only be stopped if his enemies trick him into becoming his 14-year-old self.
The movie looks to cater to a teenager’s dream: being an adult with superpowers. Inside the perfect body of an adult superhero, the young boy remains a teenager at heart, adding to the entertainment and comical coefficients of Shazam!
Like most DC movies, this one too has some genuinely good comedy. After all, it’s about a boy in a man’s body – it has humour written all over it. However, there’s one thing having a comic core, another thing for the writing to make the most of it. There are well-written jokes spread out throughout the film, with the cast delivering the punches effortlessly. There’s laughter galore in Shazam!
In fact, sometimes you might be left wondering if the film has successfully transitioned from the intense drama towards comedy. If you don’t mind when and where your laughter comes from, and wouldn’t mind yo-yoing intensively, you should have a ball!
Has Levi done justice to the portrayal of a teenager in a grown man’s body at all times during the movie? The answer would depend on who you ask. But if you are willing to overlook minor anomalies, and focus on the entertainment package, you’d have no problems being thoroughly enthralled.
Also, since our job here is to do the critique on your behalf, Levi does more than a decent job overall, and his acting survives the stern tests in large parts.
If it still needs to be said, Shazam! is a great watch. It is not exactly your archetypal DC film, but it’s entertaining nonetheless – and more than just a filler between DC movies!
If there’s one word to describe the film, it would be Bam! It hits you with its dose of humour and fun, and you can’t help but enjoy the punches.