A Fanboy’s Review of Superman *No Spoilers*

The sun rises on a new age of superhero films.

I’ve been looking forward to this movie for a long time. James Gunn has a strong track record of comic book movies. All the trailers looked extremely promising. The stars seemed to be aligning.

Even so, I kept my expectations moderate. I wasn’t expecting this to be a cinematic masterpiece that changed Hollywood for the better. All I wanted was a decent, fun film with a likable Superman.

Which is exactly what I got. That and so much more. Walking into that theater, I was excited. Walking out, I was positively beaming.

This is exactly what I wanted from a Superman movie. Lovable heroes, loathsome villains, and comic book silliness. I laughed, I cheered, I even got misty-eyed a few times! The more I think about it, the more I love this film!

But that’s not to say it’s perfect. Let’s get my complaints out of the way. Don’t worry. This won’t take long.

Firstly, the movie gets off to a somewhat rocky start. We get an opening text block explaining the world, some history, and the events leading up to the film’s story. Then we’re thrown straight into things. It feels like jumping into a TV show in episode three.

Secondly, the visual effects aren’t great. I wouldn’t say they’re awful, but I also wouldn’t call them good. All the practical effects look phenomenal, but the CGI is rough around the edges.

And… that’s it. Those are my only two complaints, and both are fairly minor. Once the movie reaches the fifteen to twenty minute mark, the story becomes absolutely engrossing. So much so that I stopped caring about the bad computer effects entirely.

Now, onto the good. Buckle up, because the six-year old Superman fanboy inside me is about to go balistic.

The story feels lifted straight from the comics in the best way possible. It strikes a perfect balance between heavy dramatic moments and genuinely funny comedy. No obnoxious MCU quipping here.

I love how the world is already established. Superheroes, aliens, monsters, all of that has existed for hundreds of years before Superman showed up. During city emergencies, you can see many denizens of Metropolis going about their day like it’s business as usual. It makes the setting feel so much more vibrant and alive. A perfect framework for a new cinematic universe.

Aside from the lackluster CGI, the movie looks amazing! The set design is amazing, with locations ranging from beautiful to strange to disturbing. Many shots are framed like comic book panels. The action is fast, exciting, and easy to follow.

Best of all is the music. John William’s Superman theme makes its glorious return, making for an extremely powerful motif. The rest of the score fits perfectly, building tension and excitement or sorrow and dread. There are a few licensed songs, but this is no Guardians of the Galaxy; they’re good, but don’t expect many.

The cast is where this movie really shines. Each character is written brilliantly. But it’s the actors who elevate the material into the sky!

David Corenswet is Superman. He gives the character such genuine humanity while losing none of the gravitas behind the Man of Steel. Gone are the days of cold and godly Superman. Here, we get a Superman who is gentle, emotional, compassionate, and most importantly of all: who saves everyone he can. From the civilians of Metropolis to the squirrels in the park.

But a hero is only as good as their villain. Luckily, Nicholas Hoult is absolutely brilliant as Lex Luthor! I haven’t wanted to see an antagonist get punched in the face so badly in ages! He’s smug, condescending, self-agrandizing, sadistic, and above all else: petty. But he has all the power and intellect to back it up. Every scene he’s in, with or without Superman, is utterly gripping to watch.

Rachel Brosnahan makes for an incredible Lois Lane. She’s got all the confidence, determination, and fearlessness the character needs. This is the woman who asks Superman the hard questions and supports him whenever he needs her. Their chemistry together is genuine in a way no other Superman movie has captured. While they love each other, there is still strong friction between them that offers some engaging conflict.

Really, I could go on about how solid the whole cast is. Everyone is giving it two hundred and ten percent. Nathan Fillion is perfect as Guy Gardner. Skyler Gisondo is absolutely hilarious as Jimmy Olsen. I would kill to see more of Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific. Isabela Merced gives us a badass Hawkgirl. Anthony Carrigan gives an incredible performance as Metamorpho. Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell present some of the most loving versions of Pa and Ma Kent to date. They’re all so good that leaving anyone out feels like an insult.

Finally, we have my favorite part of the entire movie: Krypto. This little pup is equal parts adorable and hilarious. But my love for him is much more personal. See, this Krypto is a terrier mutt. Having grown up with terriers, I couldn’t help but see my own childhood pets in him. He brought me straight back to my childhood, when they were still rambunctious pups wreaking havoc around the house. Personal biases aside, he’s still a wonderful addition to the film.

Superman is everything I had hoped it would be. A fun, engrossing movie about hope and kindness. A film that puts the man back in Superman. As a longtime fan of the character, this is all I could ask for.

It’s got plenty for general audiences, too. A fact I saw for myself. I brought my family along to see this with me. None of them care much for Superman, but they indulged my childish excitement and watched it with me. When the movie ended, all of us were buzzing over how good it was. So if you’re not a Superman fan, I’d still highly encourage you to check out this movie. It might just change your mind.

Who can say where this new DCU will go. It’s off to a promising start, but will it keep up that momentum? Only time will tell.

Me? I’m just glad to finally have a truly good Superman movie. Solid proof that my favorite superhero isn’t lame and boring. Whatever happens from here on out, that will be enough for me.

Thank you very much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Until next time: stay safe, and keep looking up.