Superman (2025) - You'll Belive in Human Kindness

 

"We love our superheroes, because they refuse to give up on us." 

-Grant Morrison

    A common misconception about Superman as a character is that he doesn't align with modern sensibilities and expectations, facing arguments such as "he's too powerful and therefore unrelatable," or "he's not realistic enough," and my least favorite, "what if he was evil?" As a long-time Superman fan, these statements and questions have always baffled, bewildered, and frustrated me; not because they weren't worthy of examination or discussion, but because they spawned from a place of disinterest and apathy. Rather than seriously explore what makes Superman the most relatable and, dare I say, human of all superheroes, too many people brush him off as not interesting enough or no longer relevant. In the modern age, it's upsetting that this mindset feels too easy to fall back on, however understandable that may be given recent events. 

    However, the most fundamental and essential aspect of Superman, which too many people either forget or deliberately ignore, has nothing to do with his abilities and everything to do with his choices. Superman is, among other things, a beacon of hope, kindness, and choice! He chooses to do good because it is good, plain and simple, and the real conflict is not with that idea itself, but rather people's inability (again, understandable) to recognize and accept that notion. This is why the animated Superman film, Superman vs. The Elite, is my favorite Superman story: it tackles this exact idea and delivers a compelling argument for why Superman is a relevant, relatable, and reliable character, not just in the realm of fiction, but also in our reality. 

    I have been waiting for a brand-new movie about Superman to come along and remind audiences of this fundamental truth for so long that I was prepared to give up on it ever happening, fearing that too much modern cynicism would prevent any talented storyteller from having such an opportunity. And then Warner Bros., struggling to find its footing in the modern age with its superhero library, finally gave the reins to James Gunn and said, "Please do something with this, we don't have a clue anymore!" I had hope beyond hope that James Gunn, a proven and worthy storyteller, would not only understand Superman as a character, he would also take this opportunity to remind audiences of everything I mentioned earlier regarding Superman in the modern age, why he (and by extention everything he stands for), is more relevant now than it ever has been before, and where the real problem that needs fixing lies. 

    My expectations were not only exceeded; they were validated beyond my deepest hopes. James Gunn's Superman is not only a fantastic film, but it is the exact kind of superhero movie (let alone one about Superman) that we needed now more than ever. Finally, we have a new Superman film that reminds us why Superman lives in all of us! 

    This iteration of the character and the world he inhabits will be familiar to fans while also being accessible to newcomers. The story begins in a world already familiar with "metahumans" (as the film calls superheroes), who have been actively saving the day for quite some time. Superman is the newcomer to the story, having only been introduced a few years ago within the narrative. Superman is the odd one out this time around, being an alien from another planet, causing people to question his intentions and actions. This becomes especially amplified when Superman finds himself dealing with the fallout of preventing a war on foreign soil without consulting any government officials, leading to a series of uncertainties, questionable moralities, and genuine confusion about why simply being good and doing good for goodness' sake is so foreign to people. 

    This, along with a series of other related events, leads Superman and his friends down a path of genuine introspection and uncomfortable discoveries that not only reflect the character's reality, but also our own, as many of the conflicts rise from unmitigated hatred of "forigen" people, corporate greed, evil dictatorships, and the internet itself. The film conveys a profound underlying message about the issues that threaten our freedoms, our sense of identity, and our apparent inability to recognize, appreciate, and accept kindness. All within the structure and framework of a superhero movie that still delivers the goodies one might want from such a film, including incredible action scenes, without diminishing the narrative's intention or talking down to the audience. It's not telling us we suck as a people; it's reminding us that we always have a choice. 

    As you have likely noticed, I wholeheartedly loved this film! The few nitpicks I had during my viewing far outweighed the overall beautiful experience. It felt refreshing and invigorating to finally have a brand-new Superman movie that's actually about the Man of Steel. It's not a failed adolescent attempt at a deconstruction, and it's not a fool's errand to try and make the character more "realistic;" it's just a movie about Superman and everything that makes him fantastic, relatable, and yes, human! 

    Make no mistake, Superman is a powerful and tough-to-takedown character, but he is not as invulnerable as most people assume. This movie does not shy away from demonstrating all of Superman's strengths, weaknesses, and especially his flaws. The idea of Superman being totally invincible was more a result of lazy comic book writing, which often added additional powers and abilities out of the blue to resolve situations that might have required more nuanced effort. It's the same problem that plagued many Batman comics over the years; you can only get away with saying "because he's that good" or "because he planned for this unique situation in advance" so many times before it becomes self-parody, and not the intentionally funny kind. Keep in mind, I do also love Batman; just not as much as Warner Bros. and D.C.'s marketing department wants me to. 

    David Corenswet is phenomenal as Superman/Clark Kent. He delivers everything the character is and needs while still making his performance his own. I knew he was the right man for the role when I discovered he insisted that his costume keep the red trunks. 

    Rachel Brosnahan is a firecracker as Lois Lane. Her energy, playfulness, determination, and chemistry with the rest of the cast make her the perfect companion for the Big Blue Boy Scout, serving as both a challenge and a source of comfort simultaneously. 

    Nicholas Hault is, hands down, the best iteration of the villainous Lex Luthor I have ever seen, mainly because the movie remembers that he is evil: he's not interesting because of his intellect, he's not necessary because of his inventions, and he's not superior because of his business mindset, he is an evil, meniacal, cruel, pathetic excuse of a human being. You know, like most of Congress! 

    The MVP Award with honors goes to Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific for not only giving the long-time working actor the big break he was long overdue, but also for playing the best supporting character in the whole film, and for becoming the true friend to Superman he needed and deserved. I hope Mr. Gathegi gets to have more fun with this excellent character in the future and that he gets to enjoy as much more work as he deserves. 

    Of course, I would be remiss to not also mention my love and appreciation for the cinematography. Photographed by Henry Braham, who has collaborated with writer/director James Gunn on Guardians of the Galaxy 2 & 3 (not to mention the holiday special), the images of the film are beautifully bright, vibrant, and colorful, and I mean COLORFUL! Additionally, the artistic choice to utilize bright settings with occasionally blown-out highlights, mostly emanating from windows, lends the film a sense of brightness that reflects the bright tone and personality of the main character. It's also a style reminiscent of most Anime films, which I enjoy incorporating into my own style. It's a film that wants to be seen and isn't ashamed of itself. 

    James Gunn's Superman is the shot in the arm we all need right now. The film does not shy away from tackling several modern political and sociological issues that are causing us to forget and ignore basic human kindness. It is a film that reminds us of the true meaning of Superman, both as a character and as a symbol, and why we need him in our own way now more than we ever thought possible. It doesn't apologize for telling the truth; it saves you with it!

    Please give this movie your time and money; it will be worth it. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

    Look up! 

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/