Category: Action, Adventure
Written By: Shamar (Vibez) Binns Date: 07/11/25
Superman
James Gunn’s Superman is a refreshing and much-needed return to the hope, optimism, compassion, and vibrant color that have always defined the Man of Steel. While the previous DCEU interpretation introduced in Man of Steel presented a darker and more conflicted version of the character, this film embraces the idea that Superman’s greatest strength is not his ability to fly or lift impossible amounts of weight. It is his decision to remain kind in a world that often mistakes kindness for weakness.
This is not another origin story. We do not spend the first half of the movie watching Krypton fall, Clark grow up in Smallville, or Superman discover his abilities. Instead, the film immediately introduces us to a world where Superman is already established and superheroes have existed for years. Metahumans, advanced technology, alien creatures, and global conflicts are treated as normal parts of this universe. That choice allows the story to move forward while trusting that audiences already understand the basic history of Superman.
At first, I was nervous that the number of heroes appearing in the movie would make it feel like another Justice League film. Characters such as Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho all have noticeable roles within the story. However, James Gunn makes the smart decision to keep the emotional focus firmly on Superman. The supporting heroes help establish the larger DC Universe, but they never take away from Clark Kent’s personal journey. This remains Superman’s story from beginning to end.
As both writer and director, Gunn clearly understands that Superman should represent something greater than physical power. His version of the character is allowed to be vulnerable, emotional, hopeful, and occasionally uncertain. Superman does not always have the perfect answer, and he cannot solve every problem by hitting something harder. He makes mistakes, becomes frustrated, and struggles with the way the world perceives him, but he never stops trying to do what is right.
Gunn’s direction brings a sense of sincerity to the movie that has been missing from many modern superhero films. There is humor, but the film does not appear embarrassed by Superman’s goodness. It allows him to rescue people, protect animals, comfort the vulnerable, and believe that humanity is worth saving. The movie understands that Superman is inspiring because he possesses the power to rule the world but chooses to serve it instead.
What truly elevates the film is the message beneath the cape. Superman contains powerful commentary on immigration, power, prejudice, propaganda, and the fear directed toward people who are viewed as outsiders. Clark may have been raised on Earth and considers it his home, but he is still treated with suspicion because he was born somewhere else. His Kryptonian identity becomes something that others can manipulate and use against him.
Those ideas create clear parallels to the way immigrants are often treated in the real world. A person can spend their life contributing to a community, protecting others, and considering a country their home, yet still be told that they do not belong because of where they were born. Superman’s story has always carried that meaning, but this film brings it closer to the surface without forgetting that it is still supposed to be an entertaining superhero adventure.
Superman is portrayed as a protector of people, especially those who are vulnerable, powerless, or trapped within conflicts they did not create. He does not base the value of a life on nationality, politics, status, or whether saving that person will improve his public image. He helps because it is the right thing to do. That belief places him in direct opposition to Lex Luthor.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor represents greed, insecurity, manipulation, and the desire to control anything he cannot overpower. Lex does not simply hate Superman because he is an alien. He hates what Superman represents. Clark possesses extraordinary power without demanding worship, ownership, or authority in return. Lex, on the other hand, wants to control the people and systems surrounding him. He views compassion as weakness and power as something that should belong exclusively to him.
Hoult brings an intense and almost obsessive energy to the character. His Lex is highly intelligent, but that intelligence is poisoned by jealousy and entitlement. He cannot accept that someone as powerful as Superman might genuinely want to help humanity. Because Lex would use that level of power for his own benefit, he assumes Superman must be hiding the same selfish intentions. That contrast creates one of the movie’s strongest conflicts.
David Corenswet may have become my favorite live-action Superman. He brings the heart, humility, warmth, and physical presence needed for the character. His Superman feels powerful without appearing emotionally distant, and Corenswet allows us to see the person underneath the symbol. He can command the screen during a major action sequence, but some of his best moments come when Clark is simply trying to understand people or hold onto his belief that goodness still matters.
Corenswet also creates a clear but believable difference between Superman and Clark Kent. Clark is more reserved and awkward, but he never feels like a completely fake personality. Both identities are genuine parts of the same man. Superman is the confident protector the world sees, while Clark is the person shaped by his parents, his coworkers, and the human life he has built for himself.
Rachel Brosnahan is excellent as Lois Lane. She is intelligent, determined, skeptical, and unwilling to accept an easy answer simply because it comes from Superman. Her relationship with Clark feels like a partnership between two people who challenge each other. Lois cares about him, but she is still a journalist who understands the consequences of unchecked power. Their conversations allow the film to question Superman’s actions without turning either character into the villain.
The chemistry between Corenswet and Brosnahan gives the movie much of its emotional foundation. Their relationship is not presented as a perfect fairy tale. They disagree, question one another, and struggle with the complications created by Clark’s responsibilities. However, those challenges make their connection feel more believable. Lois does not exist only to be rescued, and Clark does not expect her to agree with every decision he makes.
The supporting heroes also help demonstrate how Superman is different from others operating within this world. Mister Terrific approaches problems through intelligence and precision, Guy Gardner brings confidence and attitude, Hawkgirl relies on aggression, and Metamorpho becomes part of the story in a more emotional way. Each character has a distinct personality, but Superman remains the moral center who encourages them to become something better.
Edi Gathegi is especially impressive as Mister Terrific. He brings intelligence, confidence, and control to the role without making the character feel cold. His abilities and technology are visually exciting, but it is his calm presence that makes him stand out. Even within a movie filled with colorful heroes and villains, Mister Terrific leaves a strong impression.
Krypto also adds chaos, humor, and heart to the movie. He is not portrayed as a perfectly trained superhero dog. He is energetic, destructive, and sometimes difficult to control, which makes his relationship with Superman even more entertaining. However, Krypto is still loyal when it matters, and his inclusion strengthens the film’s comic-book personality.
Visually, Superman feels like a comic book brought to life. The cinematography, costumes, environments, creatures, and action sequences have a bold and animated energy. Gunn embraces bright colors and unusual comic-book concepts instead of attempting to make everything look overly realistic. The film is comfortable being strange, fun, emotional, and larger than life.
The new Superman suit also fits the tone of this universe. It looks heroic and colorful while still appearing like something Clark can wear during a battle. Most importantly, the return of the red trunks helps restore the classic appearance of the character. The costume does not attempt to make Superman intimidating. It makes him look approachable, recognizable, and hopeful.
The action is creative and energetic, but it rarely loses sight of Superman’s main priority: protecting life. His battles are not only about defeating an opponent. He must constantly consider the people, animals, and buildings caught in the destruction around him. That attention to rescue and responsibility helps separate Superman from heroes who are mainly defined by how much damage they can cause.
The movie also understands that saving someone can be just as heroic as defeating a villain. Some of its most meaningful moments are not the largest battles but the smaller choices Clark makes when nobody is celebrating him. Those moments reveal his true character. Superman continues helping people even when the public questions him because his morality does not depend on receiving approval.
As the first live-action feature film in the new DC Universe, Superman carries the enormous responsibility of resetting the tone and establishing what audiences should expect moving forward. James Gunn handles that responsibility extremely well. The world already feels active and full of history, but the movie gives us enough information to understand it without stopping for endless explanations. It creates possibilities for future stories while still delivering a complete Superman adventure.
Most importantly, the film reminds audiences why Superman has remained one of the most important superheroes ever created. He is not outdated because he believes in kindness. That belief may be more important now than ever. In a world filled with anger, division, manipulation, and fear, Superman chooses empathy. He demonstrates that being human is not determined by where someone was born, but by how they treat others.
Superman is not only a successful beginning for the new DC Universe; it is a reminder of what superhero movies can represent. James Gunn delivers a colorful, emotional, and sincere film that respects the character while introducing him to a new generation. David Corenswet brings the heart of Superman back to the big screen, and Nicholas Hoult gives him a villain who represents everything he refuses to become.
This is hopeful without being childish, emotional without becoming overly dark, and connected to a larger universe without forgetting whose story it is. It is the Superman many fans have been waiting for and an exciting new beginning for DC.