Superman
By Sioph W. Leal
Director James Gunn has stated this iteration of Superman is about basic human kindness, but his message extends deeper than that. Coming out of the press screening, there’s a deep joy felt after the end of the second end credits but a feeling not just about kindness but about how limiting apathy is for humanity and how those in power will use it to further their own interests. Most of all, there’s a comforting joy in this version of Superman. It’s an emotion-led, character-driven story that feels like a much-needed reminder of what the superhero genre should be. Not gritty and exhausting but fun and allowing itself to be corny at times.
It's not so much a reinvention of Superman but a reclamation of the character who is unashamedly idealistic and hopeful and stands up for what he believes in even when those he loves opt for caution. He is the ideal, and with David Corenswet stepping into the trunks, there was no better actor to be the face of the new DC Universe. There’s charm, of course, from him, but it's played in a sincere way that comes across like Clark/Superman doesn’t quite see it himself. The best thing about him isn't his handsome face or his superpowers but that his heart and character are so open throughout. Fight scenes, arguments, vulnerability, or when the people turn on him—you feel it all from Corenswet’s performance. Superman isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. He isn’t afraid to cry when an innocent life is killed right in front of him and he’s helpless, which adds to the emotional gravitas of the character, connecting you more with him on an emotional level. And that’s where the strength is, not just from the performance but from the film in its entirety. You see his physical strength, but that’s not something an audience can connect to, so Gunn has written a superhero that bares his emotions, doesn’t hold them back, and shows that his empathy is his greatest strength and what drives him. From the very start, it’s a celebration of Superman’s values that’s shown throughout a fleshed-out world that Gunn has perfectly created.
For the past three years, Superman has been active and beloved by all. Things start to change when he takes a stance against the powerful nation Bavaria, and they are backed by billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who claims the country Jarhanpur is for the taking and has some propaganda against Jarhanpur to justify taking it for themselves. Superman does not agree and actively tries to stop the illegal occupation and the slaughter of its people. With who Superman is, he finds it frustrating that he is being persecuted because he doesn’t want people to die. A bold move from writer and director James Gunn, but a core value that is echoed throughout the story and given weight when empathy vs. apathy is shown through the characters.
In the current age of apathy, having a Superman so vocal about his emotions and unwavering in his beliefs is refreshing. Even Lex as a villain, what drives him (like Superman) is his emotion. Real change can be made on either end of the spectrum with this, but if only the bad guys are allowed to express it, they’ll win. Superman showing his emotion and acting on it inspires hope, and you see this when the children of Jarhanpur are calling out for him as the illegal occupiers, Luthor-backed Bavaria, take aim at the children. There’s a sense of dread at the cruelty and violence of the world, knowing that we see that in our reality, but when they are saved by characters who relinquish their apathy and help, a flood of relief comes over and reiterates that is what Superman is about.
Where Superman is led by his heart and justice, Lex Luthor is led by his ego. Nicolas Holt will stun everyone with his fresh perspective and performance as the billionaire where you can see this man as someone who appears collected but manages to showcase someone who is teetering on the edge of destruction; all he needs is a gentle push for full-scale destruction. Lex knows his worth without any doubt; his intelligence is unmatched, and he refuses to feel inferior to anyone or anything. Both Superman and Lex are unapologetic within their very different flaws, but it’s their approaches that help set them apart. Here Superman tries to confront and heal; Lex is consumed by his own superiority and refuses to change. What is refreshing about Holt’s Luthor is that he doesn’t need a tragic backstory or some maniacal breakdown to stand out. He delivers everything with purpose, and as the movie goes on, Holt will treat you to one of the best downward spirals I’ve ever seen in any superhero movie.
Lois Lane is a brilliant addition to the story and Rachel Brosnahan is flawless. She has Lois’s vulnerability perfectly while she delves deeper into the world. In this movie, Lois feels as though she is her own character, without being defined as Superman’s girlfriend. She has agency and compassion but questions everything around her which is an interesting conflict to Clark’s unwavering trust and naivety with those around him.
What is a superhero movie without fight scenes? Well, James Gunn shows us how entertaining they can be. Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) delivers one of the best fight scenes of the movie, flawlessly choreographed and shown in a way that had the entire screening cheering. It was a treat for the senses, from the actual fight to the music used. Of course, Gathegi has cemented himself as a superhero to watch and will leave you wanting more of Mr. Terrific and the others. As for Lex, while he proves that brains can be stronger than brawn, he shows that he is a worthy villain of Superman. Superman’s godlike strength struggles against Lex’s intelligence and planning. There are times, with Lex, that certain scenes felt like a well-directed game, but he was still immersed so deeply in it that you couldn’t help but be captivated by anything else.
James Gunn uses this Superman as a masterclass in heart, empathy, and humour. Having a Godlike man be so vocal about his emotions and not the stoic, detached versions we have been watching the past few years is refreshing. Superman is unwavering in his belief to help people; to not let even a squirrel be caught in the crossfire without losing anything of his physical strength or conviction will remind people why the love for Superman and Clark Kent has passed through many generations. The only downside of James Gunn’s Superman is that it ended.
Superman releases in cinema’s world-wide on July 11th 2025