A Superman for the People, and a Story Worth Watching

Look. I walked into the theater with a healthy amount of skepticism. It’s been a rough road for superhero movies lately, and I’ve felt it like everyone else. But James Gunn did something with this new Superman film that honestly knocked me sideways. I walked out with a grin on my face, heart full, and about eight new hyperfixations locked and loaded.

First off, every character outside of Superman was fully realized. Clear in their motivations, easy to understand, and absolutely locked in to who they were. It was actually refreshing to sit in a theater and instantly know what every character stood for. You could tell these actors were chosen for a reason, and every single one of them showed up knowing exactly who they were playing.

And listen, I have a brand new problem and his name is Mr. Terrific. Consider me obsessed. I will absolutely be spending the next few weeks on a full Mr. Terrific deep dive. I want comics, interviews, fan theories, anything I can get my hands on. I knew the basics, but now I need the whole story.

Hawkgirl was phenomenal. Easily one of the most accurate portrayals of her character spirit I’ve seen. She was raw and direct and unapologetically herself in every scene. Lois was the same way. She had intensity and heart, she was grounded but tough, and she absolutely demanded respect. The women in this movie carried so much of the emotional weight, and they brought the exact level of fire and determination needed to balance Superman as a concept.

Visually, it was everything I wanted. I saw so many of those James Gunn signatures I’ve come to love, like the spinning action shots that actually feel exciting instead of annoying, and the super tight close-ups during flying sequences that force you to focus on the emotion of the moment. It struck a perfect balance between action and character.

Lex Luthor was the icing on the cake. A villain who was just evil. No tragic backstory to soften him, no grey morality. Just jealousy, spite, and brutal intelligence. Exactly the kind of true rival a character like Superman needs. Someone who is ruthless, calculating, and refuses to see the humanity in Superman, even though the audience can.

Now David. David was incredible. This was one of those performances where you could see every choice, every movement, every moment was carefully thought out. Every shift in his voice, every flicker in his expression, all worked together to show how thin the line was between David the actor, Clark the person, and Superman the symbol. You could feel the complexity underneath the costume.

If I had one real complaint, it’s Krypto. Krypto was a little too chaotic. Cute, but definitely distracting. That being said, I’ve owned enough difficult dogs in my life to fully understand the terror of a dog with superpowers. I get it.

And then there’s the message. Heavy-handed in the best way possible. A story about hope. About believing in something. About standing tall in the face of injustice and fighting for what you know is right. My Superman believes no immigrant is illegal. My Superman believes in a free Palestine. My Superman fights for the people.

This is easily the best superhero story I’ve seen in years. I walked in with doubt and walked out fully committed. I am so excited to see what the new DC universe becomes under James Gunn’s leadership.