From the opening images backed with a hint of John Williams‘ infamous score, you are instantly transported to the original Superman from 1978. The movie begins amid a battle, and we are presented with text that recounts the story up to that point. By doing this, James Gunn’s Superman saves time from repeating his origin story and gets straight into the action of the movie.
If you’ve seen the trailer with Krypto jumping all over Superman, then you have already seen the first few minutes of the movie. Superman (David Corenswet) has been beaten badly and needs to be healed. Again, everything we see until he gets to the Fortress of Solitude is from the trailer, and once healed, he returns to the battle. During this battle, we see Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who is more sinister than in other versions we have seen before. Hoult is over-the-top campy, and other times, he is just plain scary.
This is one of many battle/action scenes we see in the movie, and while they are spectacular, they are a small piece of the story. Luther is hellbent on doing anything he can to destroy Superman and tries talking to the government about arresting him. He goes on to what can be an equivalent to a propaganda show to spread lies about Superman and try to get the country to side with him. A lot of this feels relevant to what is going on in this world, but the script was completed in 2024. Luthor’s maniacal disposition feels like those in power who just want to gain more power.
The world James Gunn has given us is a lived-in world. The people of Metropolis have experienced big battles before, and you can tell from the way they react to the fights going on in the movie. The people are what drives Superman to do what he does. His humanity comes out in the scenes of him interacting with the people and you can just feel the goodness in those moments. Superman was told he was sent to Earth to do good, and he lives by that motto every day. At one moment in the movie, he gives a speech about doing his best every day and taking things one step at a time. Moments like this show the relatability of Superman and how he is like us, in a way.
Superman would not be able to protect the city alone without the various characters that work with him in the movie. We meet the Justice Gang (working name), which consists of Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), HawkGirl (Isabela Merced), and the scene stealer Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Mr. Terrific is given more screen time, and the partnership between him and Superman is fun to see on screen. I will say that this version of Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) is bold and fearless and does not rely on Superman to save her. In some ways, it is the other way around in this movie.
I do wish there were more moments with Pa and Ma Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell) because those moments were touching and beautiful. Seeing how they cared for him and loved him just made you want to spend more time with them. They were cute, quirky, and just great parents. I do love the conversation between Clark and Pa Kent. I think that conversation will stick with me for years to come.
Final Thoughts: James Gunn has a spectacular vision for comic book movies, and it continues with Superman. The film is nostalgic and still feels relevant in this day and age. David Corenswet is as fantastic as Clark/Superman and brings about a humanity that resonates with the audience. Mr. Terrific is the standout from the Justice Gang, and Lex Luthor is almost campy at times. Krypto will be a hint with the kids! Lots of Easter eggs, a few cameos, and 2 after-credit scenes. Superman is a hit!
Kid-Friendly: The movie is rated PG-13, and there is a lot of cursing in it. Parents might want to see it beforehand, if possible, to see if the cursing is too much. There is nothing in this that is too scary, but if they have seen Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, they should be ok with this.
Violence: Superman has a lot of fantasy violence in it. Some of the characters do get bloodied up, but it is nothing over the top. An attack on an eyeball made me wince, but that was about it. Superman’s fight with Ultraman is brutal and worth watching!
“Superman,” DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor, and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.