Superman, as a character, was developed to stand for hope. Over the years, various movie adaptations have lost that vision and potentially caused audiences to forget Superman’s purpose. With James Gunn’s recent adaptation of the character, however, he was able to reinvigorate the message of hope with new meaning and kickstart a new era of DCU movies, dubbed “Gods and Monsters,” as DC Studios’ new director. It is clear that this adaptation was handled with care. Gunn captured all the elements integral to the hero while keeping things fresh with experimental and bold decisions. This summer’s “Superman” was stellar, and it is wonderful to see the effect this movie had on people and their views of the character as he finds his way back into the cultural conversation.
The movie immediately set itself apart from past depictions by opening with a worn-down Superman. This choice helped effectively emphasize Superman’s vulnerability from the start. Following this shot, the audience is pulled through an adventure story where Superman maintains his morals – almost to a fault at times. From saving squirrels and super-dogs to making sure citizens are okay, Superman’s value of all life and its sanctity burns true. The film also throws the audience right into a world with existing superheroes, of which Superman is a relatively new member of. This framing works well for the film because it makes watching it feel similar to picking up a comic book and seeing other familiar heroes, even if it is not their story. Their appearances do not hint at an upcoming sequel or spin – off, but instead, they exist because it is their world too. Gunn successfully built Superman’s world in the film to reflect that of a DC Comic book.
Of the many heroes featured, Edi Gathegi’s performance as Mr. Terrific was a standout. Gunn’s vision and Gathegi’s swagger worked in tandem beautifully to bring a lesser-known character into the spotlight. The energy that came off the screen after seeing a tech-hero be so tactful with his inventions while holding his own and uplifting the rest of the cast was—despite being a background character—wonderful. His interactions with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane were especially fun to watch. Even while navigating a world of superheroes, Rachel brought to life the spunk that is historically characteristic of Lane’s character. Her regular back–and–forth with Kent was another aspect of these characters that this adaptation brought to life. David Corenswet as Superman was fantastic to say the least. He committed to every moment. Corenswet was a great pick to highlight the wholesome qualities of Superman. He gave a warm performance that was meant to be kid-friendly in order to contrast his indestructible skin, laser eyes and titanic strength. The cast all around was wonderful. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor was as cruel and spiteful as he needed to be, and the Daily Planet’s motley crew helped cement Superman’s community.
All in all, “Superman” is a wonderful piece of cinema that honored and emboldened a character whose legacy echoes through the decades. In a time where “superhero fatigue” is a common sentiment, this adaptation offers a promising look into what superhero media could be and will hopefully continue to be. Movies that handle these figures with appropriate care and with more freedom to break away from conventions tend to be more successful than the repetitive adaptations of recent years. Every movie genre can benefit from taking traditional stories and making them into a more creative work of art. With projects like a Clayface horror origin story and a Batman film with the Bat family on the horizon, it is safe to say that James Gunn has the DC corner of the superhero landscape in good hands.