Watch the trailer
Written by: James Gunn (written by), Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (Superman created by)
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Alan Tudyk, Wendell Pierce, Frank Grillo, Bradley Cooper
Rated: PG-13
Plot
Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice, and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.
Verdict
It's a big movie. It wants to capture the exhilarating Superman moments and also a broad audience with many characters and plenty of comedy. There's a lot of extra to this movie like characters and plot points, but the core of the story is who Superman is; both who he thinks he is and how others see him. That depth can be obscured with the dog, the other superheroes, and some of the logic leaps of the plot, but every time Superman does something amazing and the theme song begins to play, it's such an exciting moment.
Watch It.
Review
This is the first movie of Gunn’s new DC Universe. He became co-CEO of DC Studios, leaving Marvel after directing the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise for Marvel and DC's The Suicide Squad before becoming CEO.
I like the text introduction that quickly covers Superman's (David Corenswet) beginnings, rise to prominence, and jump starts the story. This smartly skips over yet another origin story.
Superman's goal, as inspired by a message from his parents, is to protect humans and Earth. When the movie begins, he's already stopped an invasion by Boravia into a weaker country, Jarhanpur. He didn't consult with either country or the U.S. His goal was to save lives and he did that with no casualties. The government questions whether he should have and whether he did that as a representative of the U.S. The Boravia incident results in Superman's opening fight in Metropolis. We see his goal to save everyone and limit collateral damage. The lengths he goes seems like a direct reference to Man of Steel where that version of the hero destroys much of the city and ostensibly injures hundreds of people.
 |
| David Corenswet plays Superman |
Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is at the center of the plot. He wants to bring Superman down, and he's involved in the failed Boravia invasion. Luthor manages to steal the recorded message from Superman's parents, finding a hidden second part where the parents direct Superman to rule over Earth since the entire species is weak. We're left wondering whether Luthor doctored the message. Superman is stunned. Could it be true? If so, what does that mean as he's dedicated his life to following the message he knew - acting as a symbol of peace and hope. Attacking Superman's very understanding of himself and origin is such a great concept.
I wonder how quickly public opinion would turn. In the movie, the world is instantly against him. I don't quite buy it but I do understand the fear people would have of someone so powerful.
This movie is extra. It feels like Gunn got a big budget and wanted to use all of it. Superman's dog Krypto is a distraction. While fun, the dog is always comic relief. It's hard not to like the dog and that also seems like the exact reason we get a dog with no explanation as to how a super dog even exists. It adds something cute to broaden the audience base. If you remove Krypto, it only accentuates Superman's strength and his range of powers.
 |
| Frank Grillo, David Corenswet, María Gabriela de Faría play Rick Flag, Superman, Ultraman, The Engineer |
Lex Luthor's selfie obsessed girlfriend seems completely out of character. Why does Luthor need a girlfriend? She's an obvious security issue, constantly taking selfies in Luthor's command post. She exists just to further the plot as needed. He doesn't seem to even like her. Also, why are there so many Daily Planet reporters featured in the movie? They serve no point. All of this seems like story creep.
There's also the Justice Gang. Their inclusion seems primarily to test out new characters for future movies. While the Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) is welcome comic relief and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) has great attitude and presence that steals every scene he's in, Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) is just tagging along. Then there is Luthor's downfall which is completely unearned. For all the smart moments in the story, that's a big whiff. Also, see the completely unnecessary cameo at the end that only generates more questions.
The casting is spot on. Every main character not just works, but feels like the perfect choice. While Clark Kent and Lois's (Rachel Brosnahan) relationship is only a few quick scenes, it does everything necessary to establish the dynamic.
Despite all the extra, I still enjoyed this and the story arc has some great moments. Whenever this centers on Superman as a representation of hope and the reimagined theme song plays, it's always an exhilarating moment. Superman's fight with Ultraman and The Engineer is also really good, with smart tactics and even a few surprises. I was curious how Gunn's comedic style would work with a character like Superman. The answer is that he shifts those stylings to side characters and builds on the essence of what Superman represents.
No comments :
Post a Comment