Writer and Director James Gunn sublimely reinvents in Superman (2025). James based his screenplay on Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Sans Superman’s origins story, his parents Jor-El and Lara, played by Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan, had sent their son Kal-El to earth on a spaceship from their dying planet Krypton.
Superman, played by David Corenswet, poignantly shared why his parents sent him to Earth with his girlfriend Daily Planet Journalist Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, “They sent me here to serve humanity and to help the world be a better place… They sent that message along with me. That message is why I do what I do.”
Superman’s archenemy Lex Luthor, played by powerful calculated Nicholas Hoult, sent the Godzilla-like Kaiju monster to battle Superman as the diversion to destroy his Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica. Lex’s nanotech creation The Engineer, played by singular focused Maria Gabriela de Faria, reconstructed Superman’s parents’ incomplete message. They sent their son to conquer Earth for Krypton. Lex released that message to the world and rebranded Superman as Earth’s Super Villain.
Lex was driven by his hatred for Superman. Although he’s the billionaire genius, he’ll never be stronger than Superman, who’s revered for his physical strength. In the telling narrative arc Lex said, “Envy is my calling!” Lex used his company Luthorcorp to invent the atomic collider that he used to create pocket universes, sort of like black hole gateways to different dimension.
One pocket universe was a prison. Lex forced imprisoned shape-shifting Metamorpho, played by tragically sad Anthony Carrigan, to kill Superman with kryptonite. Otherwise, he would kill his son. Metamorpho could alter his body to form any compound, including radioactive kryptonite from Superman’s home world.
Powerful Meta Human, Mr. Terrific, played by charismatic cool Edi Gathegi, and Lois used his ship to travel to the pocket universe to save Superman. Metamorpho saw the profound good in Superman, who promised to save his son; thus he spared him. A man of his word, Superman saved Metamorpho’s son. Mr. Terrific and Lois rescued all of them. Mr. Terrific was part of the Justice Gang, the group of super powered Meta Humans: Green Lantern, played by Nathan Fillion, and Hawkgirl, played by Isabela Merced.
Lois returned Superman to Smallville, Kansas, to his adoptive parents Ma and Pa Kent, played Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince. He’s their son Clark Kent. There in Earth’s yellow sun, Superman healed from kryptonite poisoning and regained his superpowers: strength, flight, vision, and virtual invulnerability. Krypton had a red son. The yellow sun and Earth’s lesser gravity gave Superman his superpowers.
In the touching narrative arc, David Corenswet’s Clark ate cereal on the Kent farm porch. He tearfully told his Pa, played by gentle loving Pruit Taylor Vince, “I don’t know who I am.” His birth parents were not who he thought they were.
Pa Kent said to his Boy, “Your choices, Clark. Your actions. That’s what makes you who you are. I could not be prouder of you.” They hugged. That’s what James Gunn’s Superman is about. David Corenswet is Superman. Yeah, David is 6’ 4”, handsome, and gained 40 pounds of muscle for the role. Making Superman a good, vulnerable, kind man is his authentic gift.
As Superman opened, bleeding Superman crashed to the ground in icy Antarctica. Lex’s powerful Ultraman defeated Superman for the first time in his life. Superman was vulnerable. He could be hurt. His wild playful dog Krypto, that possessed his same powers and a cape, dragged Superman to the Fortress of Solitude, where loyal Robot 4, voice by noble Alan Tudyk, healed his massive internal injuries with magnified yellow sunlight. I loved Krypto, he’s awesome. So did Superman. They protected each other unconditionally.
In the aftermath of Lex’s villainous reveal, Superman returned to his apartment, beaten and sad. In their touching narrative arc, Superman said to Lois, “I should have told you sooner. I love you.” Rachel Brosnahan is amazing as Lois Lane. She’s beautiful, smart, and strong. Despite her doubts, her Lois was deeply in love with Superman. As the intrepid reporter, Lois questioned everything. Trusted little. Lois had poignantly argued, “You think everything and everyone is beautiful.”
Their quiet scene reminded me of Casino Royale (2006) when tuxedo clothed James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, silently sat with Vespa, played by Eva Green, under the running shower. Kindness is true strength. Daniel Craig became James Bond for me in that moment. Although Christopher Reeves was iconic as Superman in one era, David Corenswet will be the iconic Superman in this era. Everything changes.
Iconoclast Director James Gunn boldly defines kindness and love as Superman’s superpower. Superman, is his great love story of Lois and Superman. That was sublime when Lois and Superman kissed in midair in the train station. Lois said, “I love you, too.” I cried when Superman healed up while watching images of his real family. Mad love and respect to James Gunn. He gets it right with Superman. Superman is about love, kindness, and family. That can be the American way. Superman is my favorite movie of the year so far.
