Matt O’Connor
In recent years, the concept of “superhero fatigue” has been thrown around to describe how general audiences have become bored with the oversaturation of superhero films. Ten years ago, franchises like the MCU were thriving with each of their films providing cinematic experiences unlike any other. But now (outside of a few exceptions), the idea of a superhero blockbuster is nowhere near as exciting as it used to be. This idea can be prominently seen with DC’s output during the DCEU era of movies. While some of their films were successful, the majority of general moviegoers and hardcore fans felt that this universe wasn’t accuarate to the source material. But when it was announced that James Gunn would take over as the creative head honcho at DC Studios, a lot of fans hoped that DC would finally get back on track after their last attempt at a cinematic universe. With the release of “Superman”, those hopes were fulfilled.
The Castings
James Gunn has always been great when it comes to bringing characters to life from the page to the big screen, and Superman is no different. David Corenswet is the spitting image of both Clark Kent and the Man of Steel. He delivers a standout performance that really captures the spirit of the characters and the hope that he gives the people of Metropolis. Rachel Brosnahan nails the tenacity and snarkiness of Lois Lane. She has great chemistry with everyone she interacts with, especially during the heart to heart scenes with David Corenswet. Nicholas Hoult IS Lex Luthor. James Gunn’s villains have always been a highlight in his films, and Lex steals every single scene that he’s in. His rivalry with Superman is a big plot point throughout and it feels straight out of the comics. Outside of the main cast, the supporting characters are also casted brilliantly. With Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Isabella Merced as Hawkgirl and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner being just some of the highlights.
As with any James Gunn superhero film, the casting is nearly perfect all around.
The Story & The World
Taking a look back at Zack Snyder’s “Man Of Steel”, that film depicted the world of Superman very differently compared to James Gunn. The colors were washed out, there wasn’t any complexities or depth from the characters, and Superman caused an unnecessary amount of destruction and is treated like an emotionless god. But in this new Superman film, everything is much brighter and feels much more like how a film based on DC Comics should. What James Gunn gets right compared to Zack Snyder is how he portrays Superman as someone who cares about the people around him. Henry Cavill’s Superman feels like a living weapon rather than a beacon of hope. David Corenswet’s Superman is the perfect representation of hope. He literally saves a squirrel during the first big fight scene of the movie. If that’s not an example of why James Gunn is a great fit for Superman, then I don’t know what is. The story of this movie feels like your classic Superman adventure. The comedy lands for the most part and the emotional moments hit you like a truck. Superman is such an important character to get right, and James Gunn proved many naysayers wrong.
The Message
James Gunn has never shied away from including meaningful messages in his films, and Superman is a perfect example of this. Before the film was released, Gunn referred to his characterization of the character as “kindness in a world that sees kindness as old fashioned”. The other heroes present in the film are sponsored by a company called LordTech and are portrayed as people who aren’t entirely in it solely to help people. But when we meet Superman, it’s clear that he is an exception to this mentality. By the end of the film, it’s Superman who inspires the other characters to change themselves for the better and to bring back the kindness that was lost. James Gunn’s Superman is a game changer for superhero films as a whole. With its heartfelt story and the most comic accurate depiction of these characters we’ve seen, DC’s cinematic future is in good hands.
