Review: Although It starts off a bit messy and quite bloated. Also something that happens towards the second act that is totally lore breaking for the Superman mythos, I won’t go into detail because it’s a spoiler, but you’ll know it when you see it.. eventually it becomes the type of Superman movie we have waited years to arrive full of truth, Justice, and above all hope. Krypto is also a major scene stealer throughout. His relationship with Clark is complicated and at times chaotic, but as someone who’s owned many dogs through the decades I can relate to Clark’s relationship with Krypto. Haha!
The cinematography is beautifully shot here. So many scenes feel like something straight out of a comic book. Long gone are the doom and gloom palette of the DCEU. Gunn fully embraces a bright and hopeful world full with an array of color. The choice in soundtrack is a bit of an interesting choice for a Superman film but something that is totally within James Gunn’s wheelhouse as a filmmaker.
As far as I can tell there were no miscasts here. If you’re going in expecting another Henry Cavill archetype you will be sadly mistaken. But that’s not entirely a bad thing here. Whereas the Snyderverse Superman of yesteryear marveled moviegoers with a display of incredible strength and near invincibility, David Corenswet‘s Kal-El is flawed. He’s vulnerable, he messes up, and at times a bit naive. But he also inspires hope and determination to do the right thing even when it’s the most difficult. It’s clear as day that Corenswet drew inspiration from Smallville star Tom Welling’s take on the character as there are moments in the film when it feels like I’m seeing Welling rather than Corenswet in the suit. Nicholas Hoult Is listed as the film’s highest paid actor in the cast and to be frank, he’s worth every penny here. Hoult gives us one of the most vicious, and pettiest incarnations of Lex Luthor on the big screen. Calling his version of Lex obsessive would be making light of it. He lives and breathes solely to end Superman in every single aspect. And here Hoult excels beyond expectations. Rachel Brosnahan‘s version of Lois Lane feels like a hybrid of classic meets modern. Prior to seeing the film I wasn’t so sure where I stood on the casting choice of Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, but I can honestly say he shined bright light a Dimond in the role especially alongside his fellow “Justice Gang” teammates played by Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner Green Lantern) and Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl). As a trio they play off each other in a fluid and charismatic way. I honestly cannot wait to see more of them in future appearances.
Final Verdict: James Gunn’s rebooted Superman isn’t a perfect film. It’s messy and disorganized. But it also feels right. It feels like the kind of thing we need right now.
Rating: 9/10
