I recently watched the 2o19 Shazam film, again, because the first time I saw it… I didn't know what to make of it. I’ve read a lot of the original Bill Parker/Otto Binder/C.C. Beck Golden Age stories, some of DC’s 1970s revival by Denny O'neil and Elliot Maggin et al, Paul Dini/Alex Ross’ Power of Hope, Jeff Smith’s remake of the classic Golden Age story, The Monster Society of Evil, Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam!, Judd Winick’s Superman-Shazam: First Thunder, and Grant Morrison's Thunderworld #1. Originally, the Captain Marvel character was a vaguely separate identity from Billy, though sometimes they shared thoughts and were implied, at times, to be the same person. In the 1980s, the underwhelming and poorly received New Beginning storyline—by Roy and Dan Thomas with art by Tom Mandrake—made Billy and the Captain a single person. Jerry Ordway’s wonderful reintroduction of the mythos in 1994 followed suit. Billy Batson is Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel is Billy Batson.
On a technical level, 2019’s Shazam is a beautiful film. The special effects are perfect. The lighting and the set design is stellar. The wizard SHAZAM looks incredible, as does the Rock of Eternity. I would have preferred Captain Marvel's costume to be closer to the 18th century Prussian soldier uniform that he has worn in a lot of the comics, as opposed to a big red onesie. Still, this film is a visual feast! The soundtrack (at least the main orchestral title by Ben Wallfisch) is fitting of a 1940s Parker/Binder/Beck story and is absolutely inspiring: one of the better superhero themes of modern cinema.
The overall story/plot is engaging and a relatively tidy 21st century update on the Captain Marvel/Shazam mythology. Where the film suffers is in characterization… they have renamed Captain Marvel into Shazam! The legal difficulties with Marvel Comics DO NOT technically forbid DC from calling the character Captain Marvel inside a work (comics, cartoons, books, films, etc.). All comics, films, packaging etc. must dub ONLY THE TITLE: SHAZAM! Because DC owns the Captain Marvel copyright... Marvel owns the Captain Marvel trademark... And trademark is a brand, not a copyright. So, why they didn’t call Billy Captain Marvel in the movie while marketing the film as Shazam! is because DC has decided (since 2o11) to play it safe and rename the good Captain, Shazam! But that’s the wizard’s name. It kinda defeats the purpose of the whole concept, in my opinion. Again, DC DOES HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT to call the character Captain Marvel as long as the title/branding of the work is Shazam!
This film is based on the 2o11, New 52, comic book run by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, which reinvents and reboots the Marvel Family completely… as an adaptation of those comics, maybe this movie works… I never read those stories. I don’t think Geoff Johns understands Captain Marvel’s character. Nevertheless, I was entertained when I watched this movie. Warners made a funny, charming adventure flick… however, a lot of the window dressing has changed. There is no Fawcett City in this universe; it's placed in Philadelphia, PA. Characterization of Billy in his Cap (sorry, Shazam!) form is rather obnoxious and resembles very little of the Captain Marvel character or the Marvel Family. Captain Marvel is supposed to have the Wisdom of Solomon. IF the adult hero must have a mind of a 14- or 16-year-old boy, make him a mature 14- to 16-year-old boy. The whimsy and humor of Captain Marvel stories is not supposed to come from the characters themselves, but from the situations. At any rate, the point of this film seems to be that unheroic characters (like Billy Batson) learn to become heroic. Fair enough. But they don’t really get Sivana exactly right either. He's more of a genius tycoon, rather than a thwarted scientist. Oh well! And why does Captain Marvel (Shazam!) have lightning powers? I do remember him having hypnotic powers in the Golden Age, briefly… but I don't think he could ever shoot lightning from his fingers. Weird!
There’s a lot to love about the general tone and plot. The foster kids (Freddy Freeman/Captain Marvel Jr., Mary Bromfield/Mary Marvel, the other foster kids) are all adorable and charming. The film is well acted. I just think the characterization of Captain Marvel/Shazam is not what a Captain Marvel/Shazam movie should be. I’m a little sad because I’m a fan… somewhere in my head is a Captain Marvel movie that has the reverence and verisimilitude of Richard Donner’s Superman! Maybe the sequel will improve things? Fingers crossed!
Agree entirely, with the possible exception that I think Cap and Billy were ALWAYS presented as the same person: "When Billy Batson says the wizard's name SHAZAM he BECOMES Captain Marvel." There was always an assumption of distinct perspectives between the two; someone commented once that that difference was summed up in Billy's wide-eyed expression of innocence and Cap's all-too-knowing, worldly squint, suggesting Billy as Captain Marvel might have been bequeathed a bit of Solomon's knowledge of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men.
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