Film Name: 超人 / Superman
It’s a done deal! To say that there was no concern whatsoever about James Gunn’s (or as he’s more commonly known, “Gunn”) new version of “Superman” would be impossible, given Gunn’s distinctive personality and the fact that the DCU reboot is a hot potato…
As long as “Superman” doesn’t flop, it’s a victory, and it has many commendable highlights. In short, Gunn has won again.
In this film, Gunn balances his personal style with the “unique narrative of DC’s Superman” quite well. It features his signature irreverent humor and light-heartedness, as well as more serious exploration and reflection. For a two-hour popcorn movie, it’s a real value.
The film presents us with a Superman who is not traditional and certainly not mature. His innocence and sincerity are certainly endearing, but they also bring their own set of challenges. The villain Lex Luthor further deepens this duality, making me both yearn for the light and understand the darkness.
[Friendly reminder: The following text contains spoilers.]
When discussing the director’s version of “Superman,” it is best to begin with the director’s area of expertise.
As a maverick who dislikes conventional approaches and often takes unconventional paths, I am very satisfied with the director’s narrative style this time—instead of starting from the beginning in a formulaic or repetitive manner, he jumps straight into the middle of the story. Audiences already familiar with the Superman setting can quickly get into the groove, while new viewers unfamiliar with the IP can gradually catch up on the details later. This approach opens up a lot of narrative space, making the storytelling crisp and efficient.
Additionally, this “Superman” focuses primarily on the young Superman’s formative years, without much “baggage,” making it more accessible to casual viewers.
In such a relaxed atmosphere, many of the director’s strengths come naturally.
For example, after Superman is questioned and despised by the world, he hides in Lois’s house to rest. Colorful lights slowly appear outside the window. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the Justice League is fighting a fifth-dimensional creature that is causing trouble. Superman, who is giving up, calmly says, “They can handle it…”
Louise (the audience) had already been curious about the commotion outside the window, and Superman’s response immediately heightens the stark contrast and dry humor.
Additionally, there are always one or two characters in the director’s works who insist on causing trouble and acting silly regardless of the situation. In this film, “Superman,” that role falls to the mischievous dog, Krypto.
The inspiration for Little Kryptonite in the film comes from the director’s real-life adoption of an old, disobedient dog. From the film’s opening scene, it repeatedly harasses Superman, bringing misfortune to anyone it touches, and contributes a wealth of humor and light-hearted moments.
However, if he were only mischievous, that wouldn’t be enough. At critical moments, Xiao Ke uses his mischief to provide Superman with crucial assistance: for him, chewing up all of Lex Luthor’s remote surveillance cameras is just a game of grabbing toys.
In terms of action sequences, to accommodate Superman’s bold and aggressive fighting style, the film primarily focuses on direct, forceful attacks. However, the director’s signature “flashy techniques” are fully integrated, and my favorite scene is when Mr. Marvel bravely charges into Lex Luthor’s teleportation zone.
Before the battle begins, Mr. Marvel casts a protective shield over Lois, and the audience follows Lois’ perspective, dynamically tracking Mr. Marvel’s counterattacks from every angle. His elusive, unerring spherical attacks evoke the style of Yondu’s arrows from “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
By the way, I have praised the director’s excellent taste in music in my long reviews of works such as “Peacemaker Season” and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, and “Superman” maintains the same standard.
That scene can be said to be completely within the director’s comfort zone, controlling the volume of the music while watching Mr. Excellent kill everyone, and the audio-visual experience is pure enjoyment.
I rarely praise the casting in films or TV shows, but “Superman” deserves a special mention: while there are no big-name stars in the cast, it features many actors with distinctive looks and personalities, which adds a lot to the film.
For example, Nathan Fillion, who plays Green Lantern, is someone who can play both handsome and clumsy characters, and in the film, he sports a mushroom haircut, which is simply perfect.
Skelly Gissando, who plays Jimmy, is also a very reliable actor with a natural comedic flair. Even though he doesn’t have many opportunities to shine in the main film, he still manages to deliver a solid performance (incidentally, both of these actors also appeared in the high-rated zombie comedy “Santa Clarita Diet Season,” which explains why they’re so funny). .
The main characters in “Superman” are particularly standout. David Corenswet’s Clark is tall, handsome, and sunny, with a touch of innocent charm that perfectly aligns with the film’s portrayal of Superman. I felt confident about this casting from the trailers and promotional materials, and after watching the film, I’m even more convinced.
Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is sleek, smart, and quick-witted, often maintaining a confident, composed smile that instantly makes her likable.
The key is that when you put this attractive young couple together, you can’t help but believe they’ll have chemistry.
Because they are young and brimming with youthful energy, full of ideals and aspirations, that unique radiance is bound to draw them to one another.
As for the most successful character in “Superman,” it has to be Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. After all, many of the roles Hoult has played since his debut have been those of sunny, handsome young men, so this time, shaving his head and becoming Superman’s “two sides of the same coin” villain makes the role all the more compelling.
With the casting successful, the film’s core narrative naturally becomes more effective.
Superman’s “divine nature” is fully established from the start. The film tells the story of his gradual descent from divinity, exploring his humanity and common traits: he is pure, kind, honest, and brave. These noble qualities make him a hero who saves humanity, but they also lead him to rashly intervene in politics, causing trouble for many and giving Luthor an opportunity to exploit the situation.
My greatest takeaway from watching “Superman” is that “Superman is right, but Luthor is not wrong either.”
Superman, who possesses divine power beyond human capabilities yet also has the emotions and desires of an ordinary person, is a natural idol and deity. People love Superman, admire Superman, and even depend on and idolize Superman—Luthor recognized early on the toxicity that accompanies Superman’s “greatness, glory, and righteousness.”
The most direct evidence of this is the scene toward the end of the film where the oppressed people of the invaded nation raise Superman’s flag in hope. In the simplified political and military context of “Superman,” such an act has its romantic side, but it also has the foolish aspect of abandoning self-rescue… The film doesn’t fully address this point, but even saying half of it is enough.
This version of Lex Luthor is a rare successful villain in recent years. He can see the truth but is obsessed with fabricating another set of lies. He opposes idols but wants to turn himself into a new god. This contradictory mindset, combined with his arrogance, brutality, ruthlessness, and final tears, makes Lex Luthor powerful and tragic.
That said, the movie we’re watching is “Superman,” and Luthor’s fleeting glimpse of “darkness and cruelty” is intertwined with Superman’s story. Being able to see such a thoughtful expression amidst the chaos leaves nothing to be desired.
Once again, thank you, director, for setting a solid foundation for the new DCU with “Superman.” It may not be perfect or outstanding, but it is entertaining and reliable, enough to carry the story forward. Let us look forward to future works with anticipation.
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