Chante JVR

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I’ll admit it upfront: I’ve never been the biggest Superman fan. I haven’t even seen Man of Steel yet, so I went into Superman (2025) with no particular attachment to the character. I’m more of a Marvel girl myself if we’re laying it all on the table. And yet, James Gunn completely won me over. He breathed new life into the Man of Steel in a way that felt hopeful, grounded, and genuinely fun, a side of Superman I didn’t realize I was missing.

Synopsis:

This re-imagined Superman, directed by James Gunn, skips the origin story and dives straight into action! Clark Kent (David Corenswet) has been flying the skies for three years now. In a world teetering on the edge of misinformation and geopolitical tension, Superman faces his greatest challenge yet: navigating a manipulated international crisis engineered by the tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). All while trying to stay true to his moral compass. Along the way, he’s helped by Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Krypto the Superdog, and a colorful cast of heroes like Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced). All told through a vibrant, comic-book lens that balances sincerity and spectacle.

What Works:

🦸‍♂️David Corenswet’s Superman is earnest and relatable, embodying an optimistic hero grounded in humanity rather than alien detachment.
🦸‍♂️Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane brings depth and chemistry, giving emotional weight and sharp dialogue to the hero’s world.
👨‍🦲Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is menacing and intellectual, an excellent counterbalance to Superman’s sincerity.
🦸‍♂️Gunn’s vibrant tone brings hope and humour, reviving DC’s flagship hero in a way that feels hopeful and contemporary.
🦸‍♂️Krypto the Superdog and side characters like Mr. Terrific and the Fortress-of-Solitude robots add charm and energy, allowing you to care for each side character despite there being so many.
🦸‍♂️Visuals & action sequences are bright, comic-inspired, and fun, particularly during the solar-powered comic-book moments.

What Doesn’t Work:

👓Cluttered plotting bogs the film down with multiple plot threads and cameos sometimes get messy.
👓Tonal disparity, particularly between goofy sequences and serious stakes, can feel jarring to some.
👓You’re thrust into the action due to the fact that the movie doesn’t start with your typical, overdone, Superman origin story. This leads some to feel like “it’s the second movie in a trilogy”.

Final Thoughts:

Superman (2025) isn’t perfect by any means, but I believe it’s a worthy take. It reframes the Man of Steel not as an untouchable icon, but as someone trying, failing, and ultimately striving for hope in a cynical world. It’s fun, frequently touching, and leaves me optimistic for where the new DC Universe might go next.