Continuing to honour the Superman franchise, James Gunn interweaves high-action sequences with a compelling narrative nestled with depth, humour, and emotion. The latest film secures a well-deserved spot in building the foundation of the new DC Universe.
Soaring to new heights, it’s time to welcome David Corenswet to the DC Universe as he plays the iconic Clark Kent/ Superman. Directed by James Gunn, the film stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. From DC Studios, the movie explores the tensions surrounding Superman and his place on Earth. Superman believes he serves a purpose to help humanity, however, tech tycoon Lex Luthor insists that Superman is a threat to all.
The opening sequence of the film is cinematically stunning, set in the cold depths of Antarctica, the desolate land is empty for miles. A wounded Superman is found buried in the snow, lying limp and injured. In the distance, a surge of snow comes flying into the air, catapulting in all directions, and a figure is shown amongst the debris. Superhero dog Krypto comes to Superman’s rescue and takes him to a fortress built from ice formations towering over each other. Immediately, we are met with Superman in a vulnerable situation and not as the hero in a winning position. With the plot of the film debating his intentions on Earth, this is the first indication providing evidence that he, in fact, has more human qualities than anticipated.
The landscape of the film grapples with the shifting public consensus surrounding Superman, all whilst tensions and conflict rise between the countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur. The Superman franchise has existed for over 40 years, and the latest movie very much shows life through the lens of the 21st century. Superman is not only perceived in real time by the residents of Metropolis, but social media and news outlets are also used as a way to change public opinion. A video of Superman’s biological parents is leaked, revealing that Superman is on Earth but not with good intentions, and the public reacts hastily to it and shuns Superman. It was a good way of reflecting the real-life concern of whether video is AI-generated or has been fabricated, and this modern-day problem also poses threats in the superhero universe. There was also a funny moment where it was revealed that mutant monkeys were among some of the keyboard warriors who were used as a device by Lex Luthor to create negative propaganda on social media about Superman, coining a silly viral phrase that Superman despised.
The running time of Superhero movies can topple into the three-hour mark, but Superman packs a punch and keeps it roughly just over 2 hours, without it feeling rushed. It felt carefully considered and covers multiple threats and topics, making it not feel one-dimensional. Often, movies just focus on finding the resolution to one large problem, but in Superman, it felt like there were a lot of subplots unfolding at once. Superman was dealing with rejection from his supporters in Metropolis, and he faced the threat of Lex Luthor. There were tensions of war between Boravia and Jarhanpur, and probably the biggest of them all was a pocket universe (created by Lex Luthor) slowly engulfing their reality. We’re also introduced to the Justice Gang, consisting of Mr. Terrific, Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl, who exist within the new DC Universe.
James Gunn did a fantastic job showing a side to Superman that felt human. From his bond and care for to his relationship with his adoptive parents, there was tenderness and substance to the character. This isn’t an origin story, and we don’t get to follow his upbringing and the challenges he grew up with. But there is a moment where we can see Superman’s memories in the form of flashbacks of his childhood. It felt authentic and sentimental and balanced nicely with the action-packed sequences, making Superman a great watch for this summer.
