5 superhero movie scenes in “Black Adam”

The Rock’s slow-motion sequence is evocative of a scene from “Days of Future Past”
Warner Bros./Fox Film Corporation

Yes, the Flash and other heroes have provided slowed-down moments in superhero films to demonstrate how the world seems from their perspective, but “X-Men: Days of Future Past” set the standard for a slow-motion hero sequence.

In the 2014 picture, Quicksilver humorously donned headphones and raced around a Pentagon room to save a young Magneto, Charles Xavier, and Wolverine from a hail of gunfire.

In less than two minutes, Quicksilver deflected each bullet with care and amused himself by arranging the security guards to hit each other or knock themselves unconscious. When he completed his antics and time returned to normal, everyone dropped to the ground instantaneously.

Not only is it the best sequence in that picture, but it is also one of the best scenes in any superhero film.

Therefore, it was a bit tiresome to witness one of the best scenes in “Black Adam” execute a similar slow-mo routine with a sinister twist. In an early scene set to the music of “Paint It Black,” the antihero is given the opportunity to demonstrate how quickly he can move.

Instead of utilizing his abilities to simply annoy some mercenary bad guys, he employs them to purposefully murder his rivals. He even slips a grenade in the mouth of one of them. As the slow-motion scenario concludes, we see a lot of mercenaries being slaughtered.

It would have been cooler if the moment didn’t feel like a remix of a scene from an X-Men film that did it better.

The JSA ship’s departure from Hawkman’s home seemed identical to the X-departure Jet’s from Xavier’s school for gifted children in the “X-Men” franchise.

A scene of the X-aircraft Men’s departing Xavier’s school may easily be substituted for the Justice Society of America’s withdrawal from Hawkman’s house by a ship that emerged from the earth.

Warner Brothers

In a sequence depicted in “Black Adam” teasers, Hawkman’s ship emerges from the soil of his Louisiana home.

The scenario appears to be readily interchangeable with the X-Jet taking off from Xavier’s school.

Last year’s “The Suicide Squad” did a better job of delivering a clever message about US interference in foreign affairs than “Black Adam.”

Waller requests various squads in “Black Adam” and “The Suicide Squad” to save the globe from an international menace.

Warner Brothers

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) dispatches a disparate crew to stop a powerful creature that threatens the destruction of the world.

This line could be used to describe either “Black Adam” or “The Suicide Squad” by James Gunn.

In Gunn’s 2021 film, the very same figure, Waller, dispatches the aforementioned Suicide Squad to a South American nation under the pretence of protecting US interests and rescuing the planet.

In “Black Adam,” the Justice Society of America is dispatched to the fictitious city of Khandaq to seize the title character on the basis of her assertion that he poses a threat. Those who know Waller are aware that she only sends out other groups to meddle in international politics when the United States is in danger.

Hawkman gets a scent of reality when a Khandaq civilian asks him where the United States and its superhero teams have been for the past 27 years, during which they have been under military occupation. As a result of being caught off guard, he has no reaction and never asks Waller about it.

In its final act, “Black Adam” abandons this subplot in favor of an enormous CGI antagonist.

The message was conveyed more effectively in “The Suicide Squad” because, in that film, the squad questioned Waller’s authority and turned against her when they realized the United States was employing them to perform its dirty work.

Amon’s first encounter with Black Adam is a less memorable version of Tony Stark and Peter Parker’s initial encounter in “Captain America: Civil War.”

The exceedingly chatty and eager-to-assist Amon resembles Peter Parker, albeit without superpowers.

Warner Brothers and Marvel Studios

Peter and Amon both encounter their idols in their bedrooms, leading to awkward first encounters.

The relationship between Black Adam and Amon resembles the one that Mr. Stark developed with Peter. Unlike Tony, who immediately empathizes with Peter upon learning his motivations and living situation, Black Adam is unaware of the hero-obsessed child. Instead, he destroys his home by smashing through the walls like the Kool-Aid Man.

Doctor Fate and Hawkman have a conversation similar to that of Doctor Strange and Tony Stark.

Both sorcerers share an emotional moment with the respective heroes’ group leaders.

Warner Brothers and Marvel Studios

In both “Black Adam” and “Avengers: Infinity War”/”Avengers: Endgame,” a sorcerer informs the team leader that he will let him know when it is his time to die.

Strange gives Thanos the time stone in “Avengers: Infinity War” after analyzing over 14 million possible outcomes for how the Avengers could defeat Thanos. Strange apologises to Stark by obliquely stating that there was no other way, alluding to the fact that they have only one chance to save the world, which will ultimately result in Stark’s demise.

In the next film, “Endgame,” during the film’s major hero battle with Thanos, Strange merely indicates to Stark with a finger that this is their only chance, and Iron Man understands silently that he must sacrifice himself to save everyone. Strange never informs Tony that he will die. It is intuitively understood.

Fate also has the ability to predict the future in “Black Adam.” Unlike Strange/Tony, Fate straight-up tells Hawkman, the Justice Society leader, he’s seen his death and says, “When it’s time for you and I to say goodbye, you’ll know.”

The main difference is that Fate decides to find another solution to save his dear friend, and the world, from a demon. Strange, a narcissist who barely knows Tony, allows Iron Man to sacrifice his life to save the world.