Superman: A Triumph for fans of Comic Books Movies, a Bit Confusing For the Average Movie Goer
BY JOEY SCHNIEDER
MOVIE CRITIC
Superman has finally returned to theaters with Director James Gunn leading the new DCU. Gunn previously directed 2021's The Suicide Squad and spin-off Peacemaker television series. Gunn found success at Marvel Studios with The Guardians of the Galaxy volumes 1, 2, and 3, which is some of Marvel Studios best work in my opinion. Gunn has a knack for taking comic characters that are more obscure and lesser known and giving them heart, soul, and humor, making you care about each character, bringing them into the limelight.
This being the first movie in DC's new Universe, James Gunn is tackling one of the hardest superheroes to get absolutely right in Superman. Superman has had so many stories, versions, comic runs and movies, that the character is something different to everyone.
First and foremost, the casting is tremendous. Gunn hit the ball of of the park with the stars of the movie. New Superman David Cornswet is fantastic as the "Man of Steel". He brings a different almost boyish charm to the hero. Which is needed considering he is a younger Superman. Rachel Brosnahan who won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her role in the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has taken the role of journalist and Superman love interest Lois Lane. This version of Lois Lane is more driven and doesn't always share the same views as Superman or Clark Kent. It's a breath of fresh air for the character she is both cocky and unsure of herself at the same time. Brosnahan really takes the reigns and makes Lois Lane her own. Finally Nicholas Hoult rounds out the main cast as Lex Luthor. Superman's main antagonist in both the comics and movies. Hoult was truly menacing and despicable at times, other times obnoxious, and even sympathetic in one particular scene. Hoult in this way plays the part perfectly. Luthor knows he can never be as strong as Superman, but he has the brains and the wealth to bring the hero to his knees, and makes it his mission to show the world Superman isn't a man of the people, but a time bomb waiting to happen, and its in this way that Luthor will always be one of Superman's greatest villains.
The story seems to take a lot of inspiration from the Superman comic series "All Star Superman", which saw it's run from November 2005 until October 2008 and was written by Grant Morrison among a few other comic runs.
It can be hard to distinguish whether a reboot is good or not because most will always compare it to the movies of the past. Christopher Reeves had four superman movies. The first reboot staring Brandon Routh was in 2006 to many negative reviews. He looked the part, but the film fell flat. Next up was Zack Snyders' Man of Steel in 2013 with Henry Cavill in the lead role. This seems where people have not been able to get over the fact that Snyder's so called "Snyder-verse" is over. Cavill was a fantastic Superman, maybe even the best, but it's over. You need to go into Superman (2025) with fresh eyes, not looking in the past but toward the present and the future.
Superman starts off the film doing something he has never done before in the three years since he has become the "Man of Steel" (something the credits let you in on during the opening scene), he loses his first battle. It's not the first of the film either. As a matter of fact Superman gets beaten pretty badly for most of the film. Yes he is Superman, but he does have weaknesses. He can be outmatched and he can be out thought, which happens more times than not throughout the movie.
The dynamic between Clark and Lois lead to some great scenes and dialogue in the film, both where they are just having a conversion in an apartment, and also when Lois decides to get her hands dirty and help Superman.
The film introduces the lovable Krypto the Superdog in the film and it makes for some of the funniest and heartwarming moments of the film. Krypto is much less obedient in the movie than he is in the comics, and it leads to some extremely laugh out loud moments.
The Justice Gang which is a team of heroes that is corporatly sponsored with funding from Lex Luthors competitor Maxwell Lord and his company LordTech. The group consists of Guy Gardener's Green Lantern who is played by Nathon Fillion, Hawkgirl which was brought to life by Isabel Merced, and one of my favorite lesser known heroes Mr. Terrific played by Edi Gathegi, who did such a wonderful job in the role that he seemed to steal any scene he was in. The Justice Gang helps where they are needed and there is even a point in the film where Clark and Lois are having a conversation with a fight between the Justice Gang and a giant interstellar monster in the background, showing that Superman isn't needed everywhere all the time.
Clark's parents Johnathan and Martha Kent are portrayed in the film as extremely simple folk. Extremely thick southern accents. Clark even calls them "Ma and Pa". They were almost too simple. The first time you hear Martha Kent you think "is this really the way they want to portray Superman's parents"? The payoff was well worth it however. Yes they are just simple people living on a small farm in the middle of nowhere, but they know what Clark needs to hear at the time he needs to hear it most.
The film has such heart and humor that it almost helps you forget some of its faults. The movie feels a bit bloated at times. You are trying to remember who everyone is. Between the stars of the movie you have the crew from the Daily Planet, The Justice Gang, Lex Luthor's group of bad guys who honestly besides the main two, Ultraman and The Engineer, there are so many you find it hard to remember everyone that is stuffed into this two hour nine minute movie. Not to mention the monsters that are being fought at any point. It felt like some fights were going on to add to something else to a scene or dialogue that didn't need the background noise and just made things seems confusing.
While the film has some truly funny scenes in it, sometimes it feels forced or even trying to be funny just for the sake of being funny when a certain scene maybe needed a more serious or heartfelt tone. As much as I loved Krypto, nearly all of his onscreen appearances were him just being a disobedient funny dog, which in some cases were perfect and hilarious, while other times just felt like they were trying to get a laugh when it wasn't needed.
Verdict:
Superman had so much going on at all times. For a comic book fan who knows all of the characters, like myself, I left the theater with a smile on my face. Laughing at my favorite funny scenes. Remembering some of the more heartfelt ones. If I took anything away from James Gunn's Superman it's that being a good person doesn't cost anything, and to always remember who you are, not who anyone wanted you to be. Isn't that what Superman is supposed to be all about?
4 out of 5 STARS
POSTED 07/15/2025 14:52
Lake County Sentinel
