Don’t forget the most important part They let namor keep the pointy ears

Definitely, the issue is that The Rock can't be a villain in a movie and Black Adam needed to be bad.

They gave Namor the pointy ears, winged ankles, and just in underwear and still made him cool and menacing

Namor was by far my favorite character in BP2. He had such a presence whenever he was on screen, and his actions backed up what he was saying.

Namor's an excellent anti-hero. We need more like him in superhero films.

Namor's airborne fighting style was so cool and so original

I’m just so glad they portrayed Namor respectfully

That Talocan scene with that music was just, beautiful. Like, wow. In just one scene, we understand why Namor cares a lot about his home and why he would do anything to help it.

Namor's line to Suri after killing Queen Ramonda: "Bury Your Dead. Mourn Your Losses. You Are Queen Now." felt really unnecessarily brutal. It was refreshing to feel that watching a Marvel movie where usually nobody of note can actually die. Before that, when he's showing Suri Tulakan and stated to her point blank what would happen if she chose to fight him.. goosebumps, man. I was rooting for them both in the final fight.

i need black adam to be a villain, and the rock "not losing" policy is going to harm the character stories in long term

Honestly was so happy with Namor’s portrayal. Not only was he fleshed out well, he also had a very effective screen presence. Really one of my favorite Marvel antagonist thus far. The adaptation isn’t exactly super faithful, but I still think it was awesome. Giving his people a culture rooted in real world culture was so cool, and mirrored the Wakandans in that way.

15 year old me would never have believed that anything on this earth could simultaneously 1) Make Namor a household name and 2) Make Namor a likable, empathetic character while ALSO 3) Staying true to what made Namor, Namor. I underestimated Disney. A fatal flaw indeed.

I agree Namor is so much better than black Adam because he was genuinely a hero to his people and villain to everyone else like how Namor is in the comics plus tenoch huerta is just a better actor with more range than the rock

I feel like with Black Adam they tried to make him more of a hero with few disagreements with other heroes causing them to battle. For Namor by the end he's a hero to his people but villian to other people because of how he does it for the better of his people. The Fast and Furious problem brought up is mainly because of how outside of Superpets and Moana each Dwayne Johnson action adventure film feels the same thing everytime. Dwayne Johnson isn't an awful actor but most of his films are just the same thing every time

Yea, Namor was written far better than Black Adam was. Namor had that real-world complexity of a leader that would commit great atrocities for the love of his people. Black Adam is basically Roman Reigns, he’s trying to be so pretentiously edgy but them kids just wanna play with him lol.

In the movie, I can't help seeing The Rock more than Black Adam while I see Namor as just Namor in Wakanda Forever...

Namor was such a great character. I thought he was an amazing leader, he was afraid for his people, and that’s why he was willing to do anything to protect them.

watching Tenoch Huerta bring Namor to life was really magical, he's been one of my favorite characters and favorite characters to get angry at for so long and seeing him in a movie after all this time was awesome. really looking forward to seeing the future of the characters within mcu

Ryan Coogler really writes the best anti-heroes and their motivations are clear and poignant. Moreover Tenoch Huerta is just a fantastic actor, you believed his love for his people and his rage against the surface world.

I mean...Namor's speech to his people was...really interesting and powerful. Huerta really delivered.

That point about Val actually makes a lot of sense. Hadn't heard that POV before

Tenoch Huerta did a fantastic job in portraying Namor. I’m so glad they changed the origin story of comic Namor!

However you think Namor was portrayed, I think we can all agree that he was very hot.

More than anything I love the Mesoamerica/Mayan design. Really wish to see Wakandans/Talokans interaction.

I really love how they gave Namor a modern/original take with him being from Talokan an his name being derived from El Niño Sin Amor

Pointy ears and ankle wings: Black Adam 0 Namor 1

I never thought I'd be able to sit through a Namor portrayal where I actually feel for the guy. I know he's a beloved character, but I always get so frustrated with him in the comics. Grumpy shirtless universe killer.

So glad to see more people see Namor as an anti hero. I don't understand why Namor gets labeled as a villain. Sure, he's an antagonist, but even if his methods are ruthless, his motivations and core values are identical to those of the heroes.

Nailed it. BA never does anything morally questionable. The audience doesn’t flinch when he kills bad people because th eyre bad people. Bad people get killed in movies all the time. Namor was killing our heroes.

Namor does what black Adam only flirt on being

I think the difference all comes down to what Dwayne Johnson wanted v. anything else. His interviews about Black Adam were exhausting to listen to as he talked about powerful he thinks Black Adam is and how he alone will destroy the world or save it. That's why Black Adam needed 50 different variations of "I'm not a hero" and "you aren't a hero" lines in the movie.

My jaw kinda dropped when you started mentioning the similarities between these two movies 😭

Tbh Black Adam was more of a reluctant hero than an anti-hero. They tried to put Hawkman as contrast but Hawkman just came across the world's most dogmatic virtuous man not the "normal" hero.

I LITERALLY just came back from watching Wakanda (absolutly loved it) found Namor so interesting and yeah, this video perfectly explains why. I hate what he did, but I totally understand why he did it.

Does anyone else want MCU Namor to eventually meet another mutant who shares his views? Maybe one with a very magnetic personality?

Imagine if they kept Hawkman's resurrection powers and used that as license for Black Adam to keep killing him in progressively hilarious ways. Obvs they'd have to change Fate's whole B-plot, but just imagine the movie that could've been.

Finally someone understood Val’s purpose in the movie! Val Riri and Ross all had purpose is really a top tier movie

Having a personality that is not just an extension of the actor helps

Easily. Rock did fine, but Cougler is an excellent writer and director. Turning "Namor" into synonym for No Love, was just brilliant. In the comics it was just Roman in reverse. Sorry but this Namor is better than the comic book character ever was. As for the Rock - Love him, but his ego wrote a check his acting chops couldn't cash.

That was my main gripe with Black Adam: they REALLY wanted to sell him as a morally grey hero who's willing to do what others aren't, but he never goes beyond a kinda grumpy demigod.

Thank you for mentioning the importance of the scenes with Val. I've seen too many people dismiss the importance of those scenes to the larger story. Without them we'd only be able assume that other nations would attack. It'd remain an uncertainty if Namors warning would come true or not. But those scenes very clearly show Namor is right.

The Submariner was amazing in this film. Can't wait to see more of him.

Huh, we don't talk enough about how as a kid, Namor killed the Spanish Inquisition

Namor feels like the only time I have seen an antagonist in a Marvel film rather than a Villain. Too many times Marvel films just feel like the 3 categories are: Hero, Villain, and obvious Hero that just doesn't know it yet, but once they punch the hero a few times they will switch sides.

Con la brisa is one of the best scenes in movies period.

It's funny that two such similar characters should appear in movies at about the same time. The other thing I kept thinking about is how much the comics versions of Black Adam and Namor physically resemble each other. Seriously, they look like the same guy but with a different costume and powers

As a Spanish speaker, I thank you for pronouncing Namor's name correctly. In the movie they named him in like three ways XD.

The rock is just the rock in all his movies now. There may be some fatigue to seeing that. That's why The Rundown to me is his best work. As for Namor in the MCU? Best character to come out of phase 4. Huerta really delivered. That scene where he descends to his throne and does the Kamehameha greeting with the ominous blaring horns soundtrack? So sick

Black Adam should have been introduced as the antagonist of the next Shazam film.

finally, FINALLY! someone mentioned that cap CLEARLY killed that guy without a doubt in probably one of the most brutal ways I've ever seen

Not only was he a better Black Adam than Black Adam, he's a better Killmonger than Killmonger. Their plans were roughly the same, but it's a lot easier to buy into Namor's logic (I think you're right, because of the presence of Val and the CIA plotline in addition to the so we'll done flashback scene).

I am excited for more Namor.

I was SHOCKED when Namor started killing people in the opening scene of the movie. Like, he MURDERED people with no mercy. I was also shocked when Black Adam started gruesomely killing people, during which our food arrived and we were eating cheesy mozzarella sticks while burnt bodies and entrails appeared on screen. The Black Adam deaths were brutul, but you're right. Namor's deaths were better and more shocking. I was SO confused as to why they kept on showing us Eternum weakening Black Adam when that never actually amounted to something. you'd think they were gonna use it on him. But they don't even use it when he's sent to prison!

Tenoch Huerta is a type A actor. He will be nominated for an Oscar in the future. Plus for an actor that is Mexican of Mayan descent.

Someone needs to compare how Marvel fleshed out Talakon way better than DC did Atlantis in Aquaman again with those horrendous CGI.

So the rock basically has a plot armor contract

Doesn’t Black Adam supposed to have pointed ears, also?

I’ve been saying this since I saw black panther. Everything I wanted in a Black Adam movie can be found in Namor from Wakanda Forever

Man I would love to see the Rock actually portray a villain. I believe he could do it if he ever took those "coolness" clauses out of his contract.

The problem is guys like The Rock and Will Smith cannot play bad guys. They won’t let themselves been seen in a specific light. Even in film.

I'm wondering if it has anything to do with how long Black Adam was in production? I feel like pre Avengers he would have worked as a more solid anti-hero on the basis of fighting the other heroes, but now that's basically just how superheroes say hi in these things.

Specially if you consider that, traditionally, Black Adam isn't an Anti hero, he's a straight up villain

"...an animal person, a wise older mentor with a cool hat, flying technology girl and big guy" had me rolling 🤣

I think an even better argument for an anti hero than Namor would be Erik Kilmonger. Half the audience chose Chadwick's BP, and the other half that understood the truth, sided with Kilmonger. The same argument can be said over Professor X and Magneto.

Nando whatever u do keep talkin that talk my boy!!!!! U are the voice the community needs sir

How Namor was portrayed in Black Panther is what should have been the portrayal of Black Adam. I like The Rock but he didn't gave justice to his character

Not to mention they let Namor run around in underwear, awesome lol

Yeah it felt like they were trying way too hard to froce this idea that he's an 'anti hero' but he honestly just seemed like a pretty decent guy. I actually felt like the JSA were the ones who kept constantly antagonizing him and pushing his buttons.

I knew he was going to do amazing since the show Narcos Mexico. His passion shows on screen.

I never looked at Val's role like that until you pointed it out. Now I have a better appreciation for her character. Excellent point, Mr. Nando v Movies! (Not to be confused with Mr. Sunday Movies!)

That's because it wasn't black adam it was Dwayne Johnson playing Dwayne Johnson in a superhero costume

Dr. Fate being reduced to "a wise older mentor with a cool hat" makes me sad. I haven't seen Black Adam yet but is that how he's portrayed in it?

Namor is more of a centrist a person who’s motivation is based on self interest. He has teamed up with other Marvel heroes but he’s also teamed with villains like Doctor Doom. Namor is just in it for himself and what he wants.

The Rock is too high on himself to be able to make himself "look bad". That's why he's not really an actor, he's an action hero. It's like Stallone or Schwarzenegger.

Quite a spectacular analysis, makes me fear that when a namor movie comes out they will remove all the features introduced in Black Panther 2 because "that's not something a protagonic hero does"

Apparently Namor's people are called the Talokanil

I knew the rock was gonna pull this stunt turning black Adam a villain into a antihero more so hero. Everyone was on his hype train and it backfired. Same thing happened with Mystique and Harley Quinn.

Namor was a far better villain than Killmonger, because unlike Killmonger, Namor's goal, motivation, backstory are all in accord and consistent, he never hates the world, he just has no love for it From begining to end he has always been someone who wants to protect his people, and ever since Wakanda compromised Talokan by revealing vibranium to the world, Namor plans to wage war on the surface world before they invade Talokan over vibranium first, which the movie even shown that Wakanda was attacked by the rest of the world multiple times for the same reason It makes perfect sense that he will give Wakanda the ultimatum, because if Wakanda denied the alliance, then Talokan has no chance winning the war against the surface world with Wakanda be on the other side, so the only tactical decision that makes sense is to destry Wakanda first, then the rest of the world pose no threat without Wakanda's support In the end his goal is still the same, but after the truce now his plan is to wait for the surface world to eventually wage war on Wakanda, so they will come to their only ally Talokan for help, then he can destroy the world together with Wakanda under a just cause

The thing is that instead Dwayne was jus playing himself instead of Black Adam

A fascinating comparison! I loved Namor, and I love the little nuances that Wakanda Forever showcased.

BRUH THEY MADE THE FEET WINGS WORK

3:04 actually this makes a lot of sense.. black adam and namor have a lot in common.. they are heroes to their nations but their nation relation to the rest of the world is rather complicated.. if done correctly this could be very relevant to today world.

Love your video! I’m so looking forward on seeing more Namor!!!

I think Namor held back a lot with Wakanda and Shuri because he eventually wanted them as an ally. His whole intent was to work with Shuri and not Ramonda so I doubt he feels any guilt over removing her. He probably felt that she was the obstacle to a would be union between Wakanda and Talokan and at the end we find this to be true. I think he waited to see what Shuri would choose and chose not to attempt fighting back. Seeding his mom in her was a sign to him to accept her terms.

Black Adam has the attitude of an anti-hero but doesn't actually do the things that an anti-hero does

There's an argument going around that Namor is actually an "anti-villain," which is basically a villain with a moral code (rather than a hero that lacks one). Thoughts on this seemingly new classification?

One of my favorite characteristics of Namor was when he would come out of the water, he would slick his hair up. Idk, it just looks asthetically cool, and you know he does it to show off because whenever he gets out of the water during a fight, he doesn't do it.

It's definitely an interesting comparison. It's a shame black adam was so disappointing

I was excited hearing superman would be back and reprise his role in black adam. But after the credits rolled and made it back to my house I was struck by overwhelming grief as the reality of the situation hit me. The Rock is playing Black Adam. The same rock who derailed and split up a franchise because he couldn't be punched one more time than another actor. The same rock who can't lose a fight because his "brand" has become a "macho man". Suddenly the concept of a Black Adam/Superman movie where they go to toe to toe has died as quickly as it was born. The Rock kills any excitement I had moving forward because if he was in a JL movie I'm sure he would have a whole scene where he either flat out stomps Darkseid or Darkseid "beats him" (knocks him out or some bs) and then at the end Black Adam comes back and finishes it. It's really worrying

I LOVE Namor. He really is the perfect anti hero. In BPWF you really feel the threat level that the Submariner brings especially when he invades Wakanda twice. But I feel like Namor cares about his people more than Black Adam. (My opinion) I see Namor as a king that is actually scared to loose or fail his kingdom therefore he will do ANYTHING to protect them.

Ever since I saw this movie like 2 days after it came out I've been saying exactly this, I usually phrase it like "Man Black Panther 2 really went and gave us a better adaptation of Black Adam than the Black Adam movie did."

Idk man, Namor didn't change the hierarchy of power in the MCU like Black Adam did for the DCEU.

My favourite anti-hero is Arthur Morgan.

“Hey come on now! Thanos has rights!” 🤣🤣🤣

Namor was scary in BP2

Boiled down to three words that every creative probably knows: show, don't tell. Black Adam exposits A LOT (Rashoman style story-telling or not), Wakanda Forever does not (at least, when it comes to Talokan. Namor's backstory on the other hand...).

namor was so cool in bp2. i hope he keeps the same swag in future movies

Black Adam really had the potential to be great if his objective was more interesting and clear. He didn’t even seem to care about his home.

Tenoch was super hot as Namor. Perfect casting. The way he delivered those lines on point. He is Namor

Great video and love the points you made