A personally-handcrafted vision of the world’s most popular superhero soars into theaters this weekend. Director James Gunn takes on the task of bringing “Superman” to the big screen for the hero’s first solo film in 12 years. I was fortunate enough to watch an advanced screening of this on Tuesday, July 8th, thanks to Amazon Prime, and sitting dead center in a jam-packed IMAX theater on a Tuesday night wasn’t something I’d ever experienced.
With “Superman” shirts scattered throughout, the fan base was eagerly anticipating the arrival of our “Man of Steel.” For the most part, it’s safe to say nearly all were happy with the result.
“Superman” (2025) Review | A New Look for Our Symbol of Hope
Forget the Origin & Dive In
James Gunn drops us into the world of a Superman in his early 30s. As stated in many of Gunn’s interviews, he doesn’t need to recreate an origin story the world already knows. Clark Kent is a full-blown reporter at The Daily Planet and the relationship between him and Lois Lane is already established. The city of Metropolis is well aware of Superman’s existence and our villain, Lex Luthor, is hot on the heels of bringing down the man in the cape.
That’s where we are in the lore of Superman and it works out well because, as Gunn said, we don’t need the origin of DC Comics’ most popular character. He creates an already-established plot and introduces the main story as the opening scene begins. The plot itself is simplistic and easy for all to follow and accept. Yes, some holes didn’t get filled and it becomes a bit chaotic in parts of the film, but overall, it was very enjoyable and satisfying to watch come to a head.
Personally, I’m not a massive Superman fan or follower. That doesn’t mean I don’t like him, because I most certainly do. But I can tell you that this fan base is incredibly passionate about “Supes” and from the reactions I gathered during and after the film, they were content.
Donning the Cape
The big question that circled this production was whether our lead, David Corenswet, has what it takes to bring this titular character to life. From what I gathered, Corenswet is about as much Clark Kent/Superman as he is himself. That’s the tricky part though. A lead for this needs to establish and execute not only Superman, but also the alter ego of Clark Kent. Corenswet does both flawlessly. He does a great job portraying the kind, nerdy, farm boy turned big city reporter as Clark. Then the suit comes on and he’s filled with an aura resonating with justice, compassion and hope. Pretty much sums up Superman, right? He is the future of the character and he’s the best to don the cape since the late Christopher Reeve.
However, the connection that Corenswet has with his character doesn’t just end there. The chemistry displayed between him and Rachel Brosnahan, playing Lois Lane, was top dollar. Firing on all cylinders, their scenes together displayed great dynamics. As far as Brosnahan goes, her take on Lois Lane was tenacious, fearless and smart as can be. She was a delight on screen and I really enjoyed her performance.
Nicholas Hoult Rips the Seams
But how about the arch nemesis, Lex Luthor? Coming from a guy who absolutely loves Gene Hackman, this may be a bold statement, but I think Nicholas Hoult might have just won me over for the best portrayal of the character. People wanted an evil villain and they got one. Hoult is resentful, mean, brutal and filled with envy. It pours from him and dominates the entire film while the veins on his bald head pulse so hard they look like rivers on a topography map. It’s brilliant work and my favorite performance of the film.
Gunn Doing What He Does: For Better or Worse
If you’re familiar with and enjoy James Gunn’s writing and directing style, then you’ll enjoy this. It’s not his best work in the superhero genre, but it definitely has some of the same good energy as his biggest hit, “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The cheesy humor, the major action sequences, it’s all there with the Gunn formula. A lot of it works for the film, but of course, some jokes and sequences just don’t hit. Gunn tends to be his own worst enemy at times and that shows up here as well.
The vibrant tones and colors were a great piece of the film. If you’re familiar with the animated Superman series from the mid-to-late 1990s and “All-Star Superman,” you may recognize many of the plot points. Much of what unfolds is pulled from those, but they’re portrayed well on the big screen. Top that off with the original score from John Williams and we have a victory. One of the most iconic scores in film history makes its way back to 2025 and it’s just as incredible.
“Superman” is a heartfelt, goofy, action-packed first entry for James Gunn into the DC Comics Extended Universe. Many fans have waited a long time for this and they received the payoff they’d hoped for. It’s filled with likeable characters, good humor, great action and a message more relevant than ever. I believe it’s safe to say that “Supes” is back and I’m fine with handing James Gunn the keys to the DC films of the future.
“Your choices, your actions, that’s what makes you who you are.” – Jonathan Kent
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