It’s not every day that I get to see a movie before its official release, but ladies and gents I have been to the other side and it is GLORIOUS…ok I didn’t really go to the future but I did get to see Shazam two weeks early and I’m here to tell you it is MCU worthy.

BUT FIRST I should probably talk about Jordan Peele’s new film, Us, first. Us is the follow up to Peele’s 2017 film Get Out. Basic premise for this film is a family goes on holiday and end up getting terrorized by doppelgangers that look and in some ways act exactly like they do. It’s a basic premise yet terrifying and unnerving to watch. When I reviewed Get Out way back when, I said it was more of a creepy thriller than a horror movie, and that still holds true here. Granted, Us is much creepier than Get Out but it’s not exactly scary. It is at times but I don’t think Peele is really going for a traditional horror film. I’ve heard podcasts talk about this film as a glorified Twilight Zone episode and I think that’s an apt description, yet I’ll take it one step further. Us (and Get Out) is closer to The Shining than the Conjuring. It’s horror having a love affair with the mystery and thriller genres. In the end, this film is not as good as Get Out, however it’s still leagues better than most “horror” films out there. Plus, it’s lovely having a film with an original plot. Don’t get many of those in the comic book era of Hollywood. So go support

So with that out of the way, let’s talk about Captain Marvel…I mean Shazam! Shazam is the latest film in the DCEU and in many respects is the Guardians of the Galaxy of the DCEU. It’s coming during a time where the films before it are either too serious for its own good (BvS, Justice League) or muddled and all over the gaff (Aquaman). Furthermore, this film aims to be separate from everything else going on in the DCEU, again like Guardians. BUT the most important comparison to Guardians is that Shazam is first and foremost FUN. It’s so so so incredibly fun you can’t imagine it. I haven’t had that much fun in a comic book movie since…well I guess since Infinity War so you can see what I mean

Do me a favor. Think back to your childhood. Can you remember a time where you saw a movie and when you left, you couldn’t help but dance and jump about with excitement hoping you’d enter the film you just saw? For me, that was Phantom Menace. Watching Star Wars Episode I made me run around my yard looking for sticks that could be lightsabers and “fight” around the house. It was so great and it’s a feeling I rarely get nowadays. Yet, walking out of Shazam made me yearn for those times. To wish for the ability to drop all things and just be a superhero. Obviously, that’s not going to happen, but my inner child can still enjoy the fun that is this movie. And my critic brain can enjoy that for an ever so brief moment DC has a better movie than Marvel Studios. Sure, Endgame will blow Shazam out of the water when it comes out but until then, cheer on DC and the true Captain Marvel. You should go see this when it comes out in two weeks!

Well, that’s all she wrote folks. The Endgame is quickly approaching folks. Only a few more releases until it is upon us. And when it arrives, IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. Until next week!

I do not own any of the images used in this post. All copyright material used under fair use and for review purposes only.)

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