James Gunn’s Superman premiered this past weekend amidst great expectations and controversy by fans and detractors of the newly rebooted DC Cinematic Universe. Did the movie live up to the hype?
Like it or not, this is NOT the Jack Snyder Superman. James Gunn’s story serves as the “other side” of the Superman coin. Whereas Snyder’s version of Superman is dark, Gunn’s Superman is bright, both in palette and tone. Man of Steel introduces Superman as a brand new hero who struggles with his place on planet Earth, while his main antagonist is a fellow Kryptonian who matches his power. Superman, conversely, introduces an established Superman who is secure in his place on Earth, while his main antagonist is a human who undercuts his power with intellect and manipulation. They are two very different Superman movies telling very different stories, so much so that comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges. It’s a question of personal taste rather than quality.
The casting is done exceptionally well. David Corenswet channels a strong Christopher Reeve vibe when he stands in the Superman suit. He balances the regal presence of a powerful being with the warmth and familiarity of a superhero for the people. Nicholas Hoult perfectly portrays the egotistical Lex Luthor, conveying the arrogance of a man who truly believes in his superiority and has the influence and intelligence to back it up. My favorite casting in the movie is Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. She perfectly acts out Lois’s hard-hitting search for the truth, no matter the cost, but is self-reflective enough to see when she crosses the line. She’s not an infallible woman, and her character makes mistakes in handling her relationship with Clark, but those mistakes make her relatable and lovable. The way she corrects those mistakes makes her one of my favorite portrayals of Lois Lane ever.
As an aside, I didn’t realize how perfectly suited Nathan Fillion is to play Guy Gardner until I saw this movie. I’m a little angry at myself for not realizing it until now. Also, Wendell Pierce, with a cigar sticking out of his mouth, is a quintessential Perry White.
Some people have complained about the CGI in the film. Honestly, none of it was so terrible that it took me out of the film. Could it have been better? Possibly, but it wasn’t bad enough that I regretted seeing the movie in 3D. It may not be worth the IMAX experience for some, but it’s comparable to what’s available today.
As far as messaging and preaching agendas, you take out of the movie what you bring to it. There were some story elements and dialogue that, if looked at through a specific lens, could be interpreted as making a political point…maybe. However, if anyone were to watch this film in 10-15 years outside today’s political climate, they wouldn’t even pick up on it. If you don’t like politics in your movies, don’t think about politics when you watch this movie, and you won’t be bothered by it.
I have some more specific points that I would like to discuss, but they are best saved for the following article. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and am glad that I got the chance to see it. If you’re a fan of Superman in general, not a specific iteration, but the character as a whole, you’ll enjoy it. I highly recommend it.