It’s been a while since a Superman film landed on the big screen, the last one being Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel that debuted back in 2013. 12 years later, the iconic superhero returns, this time under the direction of James Gunn, who is leading the DC Studios as co-CEO together with Peter Safran since 2022. It is interesting to see what they will create for this era of the DCU.

The new Superman film explores the identity crisis between Kal-El, the last son of Krypton, and Clark Kent, the guy from Smallville, Kansas. In a world where kindness is overshadowed by cruelty, Superman stands as a beacon of hope, truth, and justice, looking for a better future.

A Familiar Origin With a Fresh Twist

Let’s do a short recap on Superman’s origin. I think everyone knows the story: a baby born on the doomed planet Krypton, Kal-El was sent to Earth by his parents, Jor-El and Lara, just before the planet’s destruction. He crash-landed in Smallville, Kansas, where Jonathan and Martha Kent took him in and raised him as their own, naming him Clark. Now an adult, Clark works as a reporter at the Daily Planet, and yes, he’s clumsy and awkward, the complete opposite of his Superman persona.

In this film, we follow David Corenswet’s iteration of Superman, where he explores his Kryptonian roots as he learns of the weight of his powers. It’s not just about saving the day; each move he makes has global consequences. Naturally, someone as powerful as Superman draws unwanted attention, and that’s where the arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, comes in as the story’s main antagonist. The plot revolves around the fallout of Superman’s actions and how those ripple effects shape the conflict of the story.

The plot is fairly straightforward, but the audience might need to focus more on the dialogue to understand and learn more about this new DC world. The action sequences felt great, as we get to see Superman in action, saving civilians whilst taking on the bad guys. Even though the fight scenes in Man of Steel (2013) were good, with the Kryptonians fighting each other head-on (Superman and General Zod), James Gunn gave us something different, yet it still feels like a Superman fight, with some of the comic book charm.

Overall, the movie’s pacing is solid other than the plot that might leave some audience confused. As I said before, the audience might need to focus more on the dialogue to understand more about world-building. The movie also introduces a few other characters that comic book fans might know, but the casual fans might not, as they don’t really explore these characters’ backstories, which, in my opinion, is a good thing, as it is a Superman movie after all.

That being said, this is still a good movie for casual audiences to enjoy as James Gunn brings the essence of Superman and what he embodies, hope, truth, and justice to the silver screen. I enjoyed James Gunn’s iteration of Superman, as it gives me the same feeling I had when I read a Superman comic book as a kid.

Perfect Casting Choices

As I praise this version of Superman, David Corenswet deserves all the credit. He brings out the essence of not just Superman, but also Clark Kent. His performance as both personas really impressed me, and among all the Superman actors, David Corenswet’s Superman stands out with his quirkiness and naivety, yet still believes in true justice.

His counterpart, Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, also did an excellent job in portraying the villain. As we all know, Lex Luthor really hates Superman, and some might say he is as petty as he can get (especially in the comic books). In this movie, he sold it being Lex Luthor as Superman’s villain and will do whatever it takes to get Superman out of the picture. His acting is very convincing and the closest to what I expected of Lex Luthor as the antagonist.

The power dynamics between these two characters are so enjoyable. The last time we got to see Superman and Lex Luthor together was in Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. Even then, the dynamic between Superman and Lex Luthor isn’t quite like the comics, where Lex Luthor only manipulates events that led to Batman fighting Superman, where this movie shows the pure hatred and envy Luthor had towards Superman.

Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, did surprisingly well in depicting Superman’s love interest. She succeeded in bringing out Lois Lane, the tough-as-nails reporter who was rarely in need of rescuing and very strong-willed and opinionated. It is very refreshing to see that this version of Lois Lane is portrayed.

Amazing Visuals

Visually, it is very refreshing to see a colourful superhero comic book movie, especially for DC. Zack Snyder’s vision for Man of Steel and DCEU was more realistic and dark-toned, especially with the monotone colour grading. James Gunn brings out all the colours to match the old school science fiction vibe, just like his previous work, The MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy series. I think he did an astonishing job carrying over the same vibes and feels for the Superman movie. To some people, the CGI might be too obvious and out of place for some scenes, but to be very honest, that is what makes this movie unique to me.

Verdict

James Gunn’s Superman is a refreshing and heartfelt return for the Man of Steel. It balances classic superhero charm with modern storytelling, giving us a Superman who feels both larger than life and deeply human. While it may not answer every question or flesh out every side character, it captures the core of what Superman represents: hope, kindness, and the belief in doing what’s right even when it’s hard.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just jumping into the DC universe, there’s a lot to appreciate here. It may not be perfect, but it’s a solid step forward for Superman’s cinematic journey and a hopeful signal for what’s to come in the new DC Universe.

If you are going to watch this movie, make sure to stay till the end, as there is a mid-credit and post credit scene that you might not want to miss out on.