Superman (2025)
Post-watch discussion of the new Superman was Jord and I loved it, and E did not, so I was expecting a higher score from Jord and a lower score from E. Interesting to see they both landed in the same spot. I for one, loved our new Superman. For those of you that don’t know, James Gunn has been given the reigns of DC Comics, and given his track record, that’s been a widely praised move, but there’s still been a lot of doubt as DC’s own track record is quite the opposite of Gunn’s. Gunn decided to reboot the DC universe entirely, and make Superman the first film in that reboot, which of course sets the tone for the entire universe, and in my opinion, he absolutely nailed it. Not only is Superman a great film in its own right, but Gunn fundamentally understands the character of Superman in a way that Zac Snyder never did. Superman is not a dark, brooding, hopeless character, he’s an aww-shucks Kansas farmer who sees the best in everyone, and saves everyone. He’s optimistic, and inspires hope, and this film completely delivers on that in a way Snyder’s Superman never did. David Corenswet also was a perfect casting in that he embodies this concept perfectly, and has a much more innocent puppy-dog vibe that other Supermans have struggled with, in my opinion. Because of this, he also portrays the best version of Clark Kent that I’ve seen. Mind you, this is all coming from someone who has always hated the character of Superman, for being too overpowered, but I can’t deny that seeing him in his full glory on the big screen is a treat, and I cheer on the success of James Gunn’s new DC. That said, my favorite part of this film is Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor portrayal. Lex Luthor’s schemes are just so deviously fun and insane, that you can’t help but get swept up in what he’s cooking, and I absolutely loved that manic energy of his plotting. Nicholas Hoult is a national treasure in my opinion, and completely understood the assignment here. The new Superman is a must watch if you’re into comics, superheroes, or good movies.
-Z
This was a good Superman movie, I just don’t think I’m the audience for this style of superhero movie - sorry! Example: while it seemed like everyone else in our group loved the Lex Luther character, watching a crazy man continuously leading his followers to ecstatically cheer for the harm of a person who is doing undeniable good feels so…insane, it really takes me out of the story. The characters all feel cranked up to level 10 instead of people who might actually exist in our world. But I’m in the minority, I get it. I am excited for where James Gunn goes next, and there is unquestionably a lot of promise here. Very cool visuals, a creative take on the character and story, it still gets a recommendation from me for anyone asking.
-E
“My point is I question everything and everyone. You trust everyone and think everyone you've ever met is, like... beautiful.” - Lois Lane
“Maybe that's the real punk rock.” - Superman
An exciting time for the superhero world as James Gunn takes over the DC universe! To be honest, Superman isn't one of my favorite superheroes, so I was initially very indifferent. However, as the release approached, my excitement did grow. The best part is that James Gunn remained true to himself. Sadly, this did cause a slight issue in my opinion. I felt there was a bit too much "Guardians of the Galaxy" influence, which occasionally made it feel a bit too familiar or "played out." Additionally, while I loved the casting of both Superman and Lois, they seemed surprisingly absent for significant portions. Despite this, James pushed the Gunn (pun intended) in many excellent ways. I'm genuinely excited for the future of DC, even more than the MCU (pending Fantastic Four). Overall, this is a fresh take on Superman that you absolutely need to see.
-J
