“SUPERMAN” – A HEROIC JOURNEY SOARS TO NEW HOPEFUL HEIGHTS

Truth, Justice & A Better Tomorrow. It is a phrase synonymous with an icon. Since 1938 fans have read, watched, and been inspired by a fallen planet’s last son. The saga of Kal-El from Krypton has transcended comic pages into pop culture. There have been various animated projects, TV shows, and motion pictures. All bear the same message: A hero can inspire hope into the masses when it is needed most.

When in Oct. 2022 James Gunn (and Peter Safran) took the reins of DC Studios, expectations were HUGE. Knowing Gunn’s resume with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, fans watched what he could do. Gunn helmed the “Guardians Of The Galaxy” trilogy. He made pop culture care about characters that weren’t household names. Most didn’t have any buzz behind them except for die-hard comic fans.

The fact that he turned the “land of misfit space toys” into a thriving franchise spoke volumes. This energy carried into his plans for DC‘s live action films.

Many wondered what his first directed film would be. He wasted no time in making a loud statement. Gunn announced in December 2022 that he was taking on The Man of Steel himself. His first project was SUPERMAN.

Since that point, fans have been waiting with bated breath about who would fill the famous roles. David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) were announced for the film. More comic character roles were added. Casting was winning over a crowd clinging to guarded optimism. Coming off the heels of the distinctive take of the “Snyderverse”, there was a question of how this would all work. There was no room for error. Missing the mark on this film would have been catastrophic.

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Luckily, all fears have been put to rest. “Superman” is a love letter to fans that need to be reminded of heroes and eternal hope. The film embraces the quirkiness of stories like “All Star Superman”. There’s no shying away from this. It is pure vintage superhero storytelling with a modern look at the world at large. Its impact and timing couldn’t be more perfect for the world we live in now.

*** WE’RE TALKING SPOILERS – YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ***

Gunn is very aware of the audience not needing a retelling of the origin for the umpteenth time. A simple crawl to begin catches up viewers on all they need to know. From the start, you have timelines and a rough blueprint for this new “DCEU”. Viewers also get introduced to a surprising, but more impactful character, than assumed. After Superman is decimated by “The Hammer of Boravia”, he is rescued by Krypto, the Superdog. It is a moment that will win over the pop culture fans as it progresses a deeper story.

At its core, “Superman” deals with how Hope and Heroes are interpreted in the world. After intervening in a conflict between Boravia and Jarhanpur, Superman is called into question for his actions. Stopping a country’s invasion is frowned upon when dealing with political allies. This also opens the door for one of the film’s stars to steal the spotlight away from Big Blue.

Hoult’s Luthor is absolutely perfect in his villainy. What starts out as a simple business endeavor spirals into a look into jealously’s clutch on his soul. Every action he takes comes with a connection to this thought. It also steers his plans into the more “Silver Age” plots of years past.

There are plenty of moments where his actions take a weird but effective turn. None more wild than an unstable pocket universe used to his own means. It’s an effective plot that captures his beautiful madness. Hoult commands the screen with each line. He makes you feel the blinding rage of his envy towards the world’s chosen hero.

To Luthor’s devil on Supes’ shoulder, he does have an angel. Brosnahan’s Lane is a strong-willed counterpart that embraces her fearlessness. This is evident when she has her “first” interview with Superman. The bold questioning mirrors DC’s most famous reporter. Viewers watch as her demeanor leads her into being a true hero in rescuing Superman from real peril. Their classic love story is portrayed with many familiar moments, yet finding its own path. Brosnahan’s performance shows what most comic fans know: Lois is Clark’s true strength.

A SUPERMAN MUST HAVE SUPER FRIENDS, RIGHT?

Superman does find strength in numbers. It could also be looked at as “Friends in Low Places”. The “Justice Gang” is complied of Edi Gathegi (Mr. Terrific), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) & Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner). Each bring their own spin on their fan-favorite characters. Gathegi takes first place with his “Terrific” performance. Forget the “Arrowverse” — THIS Terrific is the one fans adore from the comics.

This “Gang” also shows a conflict in ethics, much in the vein of “Kingdom Come.” There are moments of grey with this team where their actions don’t fit molds. Granted, Gardner is his own entity but surprisingly more pleasant than some would like. The same can be said for Anthony Carrigan‘s Metamorpho. Each performance works but ultimately shows why Superman is THE hero that inspires hope. The fight at Jarhanpur has prime examples of this (more than the Kaiju attack).

As for Corenswet in the title role, Gunn legitimately couldn’t have cast better. His Clark Kent oozes the eternal optimism that resonates with fans. Fans of the Christopher Reeve performance will be amazed at the similarities. There are many emotional ranges covered in this performance. This Superman shows vulnerability in failing others, but more importantly, himself.

After a bombshell is dropped on him, Superman finds himself lost in a false belief. The outcome shines with a tender moment with his human parents (Neva Howell & Pruitt Taylor Vince). Their heartfelt support becomes the backbone of his refocused mission. The effect is felt all over this film right to its closing. Hope sprung eternal, indeed.

IT’S NOT ALL PERFECT….

The biggest flaws with this film are minor but stand out. There is a very drastic change to his origin story. The classic recording of the Els from the spaceship has not been accurate. It is allegedly true that Superman was sent to Earth for a mission very similar to “Invincible”. He’s not here to protect, but to conquer. This becomes a driving factor in the film and Superman’s motivations. Had we not seen this in that project, it would have made more of a shock. It is rectified in the ending with a twist.

While enjoyable, the amount Krypto is thrown into key situations as a solution takes a bit away from Superman’s wins. There is a moment where Superman confronts Lex early in the film and loses it about the dog’s disappearance. In one fell swoop, Clark goes from normal boy scout to “John Wick” during this scene.

There are other key moments where the Superdog becomes more of a forced troublemaker than a needed factor. The escape from the pocket universe prison pops right to mind. His screen time here felt more of an unnecessary addition where there were already way too many moving parts. The character works but truly felt like it was a forced push instead of natural progression for story.

Maybe it was to add more impact when we see his real owner? Just wait for that scene with Lobo, I guess?

But in all honesty, those are truly minor gripes to what will eventually become a superhero benchmark film.

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

This is the Superman film fans absolutely must see! James Gunn swings big with nods to classic comic eras while driving home hope in a very opposing time. Corenswet brings magnetic humanity to a character’s internal struggles. Hoult brings a terrifying cool to the dastardly antics of Luthor. Brosnahan excels in being a driving impact of the fight for good. The overall cast take fans into an era where they can only leave a theater and say “Look Up”.

Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on “Superman”. Thanks for reading! CLICK HERE FOR MORE CONTENT FROM KEN