Ayman

A brilliant cocktail of coming-of-age story, superhero origin, Christmas movie, and hilarious comedy with a lifetime-casting in Zachary Levi, dark villain in Dr. Silvana, & nostalgic Reeve-like heart expertly handling the Seven Deadly Sins-comics mythos. 9.5/10. ... Review: S-H-A-Z-A-M. Solomon-Hercules-Atlas-Zeus-Achilles-Mercury. Once the biggest/most popular superhero in the world, even over Batman and Superman for a brief stint in the 1940's, a being mired in Greek mythology was concocted with the radical notion: what if a kid got to be the superheroes they read so much about in comic books? It sold like hot-cakes and mesmerized millions of youngsters seeing the red, white, and gold comet race across the sky stopping bad guys and become a connectable hope-symbol and wish-fulfillment for young and old audiences-alike. The *original* Captain Marvel - he donned the name decades before Marvel stole-it for their subservient Green Lantern-clone - he was a hero I related and looked up to for years, and finally got a movie. And I'm here to tell you, something I never thought I'd ever say: It might be the best DC movie, and possibly overall-*superhero* movie along with WW & Spider-Verse, since The Dark Knight. The cocktail of different ingredients on display. Director Adam F. Sandberg has mixed up a dazzling array of ingredients to reinvigorate and innovate the increasingly-tired superhero genre: It works as a coming-of-age story with immaculate character development and emotion, superhero origin with powerful theme explorations and villain action, Christmas movie I have a suspicion might elevate itself to the top of some lists there, mythology adventure masterfully handling and palatably-presenting the iconic Shazam/Seven Deadly Sins-lore built over 70+ years, and most of all: comedy. It is a peculiar, refreshing, brilliant mash-up of elements I've never seen presented in such a way - and it works on every possible level. Next, Zachary Levi. Oh boy, I cannot even find the words to describe how much joy he brought to this canvas. I will guiltfully admit: I was not sold on the casting when it was announced. I was even *gasp* disappointed. Disclaimer: I sincerely apologize for ever doubting and will exercise extreme caution ever doubting casters again. Zachary Levi was BORN FOR THIS ROLE. in fact, I might need some convincing he's not actually a teenager in a man's body. He has an effortless delivery, comedic presence, and fun atmosphere/vibe that brings honor to the lore, fits with the muscular strength superheroes should have, and exudes an old-world, nostalgic, classic-Superman class and aura. This is a lifetime-casting and I couldn't possibly be happier with the results. Beyond Levi, everyone else in the film is perfectly cast with phenomenal performances as well, especially Asher Angel playing a <em>perfect</em> Billy Batson, Mark Strong's Dr. Sivana (will get to later), Dijmon's haunted wizard-Shazam, Jack Dylan Grazer's side-splitting comic relief Freddy Freeman, and the rest of the *certain* family that cameos in the end (!!!!!!). Incredible. The cinematography, score, and tone. THIS is how you do a superhero comedy. DC captures lightning in a bottle with one of the funniest superhero movies ever, even perhaps funnier than Deadpool and completely accurate to the character. However, the film never mixes business with pleasure or falls into the MCU-trap either keeping clear lines between comedy and even darkness with its chilling villain Dr. Sivana showing the dark side of childhood/"why not me?" and coming-of-age thematics/family drama complete with immaculate emotion and character writing. The cinematography is stunning too in shot set-up & scoring classic & triumphantly nostalgic in genre history.The only miniscule flaw I found is not naming Shazam in-film and the somewhat-lackluster 2nd post-credits scene (1st one's incredible though!). Overall, Shazam is an incredible, extremely-fresh genre-revitalization that stands as one of the best in the superhero genre's history. DC IS BACK BABY!! Overall Rating: 9.5/10