The DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) has been navigating a turbulent flight path for years. From shifting creative visions, a lack of cohesive storytelling and frankly some terrible stories, the franchise has struggled to achieve the consistent critical and commercial success of its rival Marvel.
Enter James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have been tasked with the monumental undertaking of revamping the entire DCU. Their grand plan, “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” kicks off with the simply titled “Superman,” a deliberate choice that signals a back-to-basics approach for the iconic hero.
Superman’s cinematic journey is as storied as the character himself.
From the foundational charm of George Reeves in Adventures of Superman to Christopher Reeve’s definitive portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) that set a benchmark for superhero cinema, and more recently, Henry Cavill’s brooding and powerful take in the Zack Snyder-era films, the Man of Steel has evolved with the times, reflecting prevailing cultural sentiments.
Each iteration attempted to capture the essence of truth, justice, and the American way, often grappling with the challenge of making an invulnerable hero relatable.
Gunn’s “Superman” stands distinct from its predecessors in several key ways.
Thankfully bypassing the origin story we have been fed far too many times, the film instead plunges viewers into a world where Superman (David Corenswet) is already an established hero, though still navigating the complexities of his dual identity as Clark Kent. For a start the opening shot shows his first ever defeat in battle.
When Superman gets drawn into conflict, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good.
This isn’t a story about how he got his powers, but rather how he uses them and balances his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing in a world populated by other super-beings. It’s a lighter, more hopeful tone than Caville’s dark portrayal of the man of steel.
We love that this world feels more full of other super beings than previous films. For starters there is a Green Lantern and a bunch of other interesting characters.
With big shoes to fill after the Caville’s Superman, David Corenswet embodies the duality of Clark/Superman with ease, charm and a bit of humour. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is also perfectly cast as a sharp and independent journalist who doesn’t bow down to this invincible man.
There’s no super hero film without a good super villain, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor tries his hardest as the tech billionaire seeking an end to our hero. Luthor’s motivation for ending Superman remains one of the weakest points of the film, but if you can get past this aspect and just enjoy him for being a generic evil villain, then there is a lot of fun to be had.
The stakes for “Superman” are incredibly high both on and off screen.
This film is the foundational block upon which James Gunn and Peter Safran are building their ambitious new DC Universe, and from what we saw it’s a pretty solid start with plenty of room to expand.
While this film isn’t anything we haven’t experienced before, and suffers from having a villain who doesn’t feel like more than a generic evil guy, it is a whole lot of fun and a really nice change of tone for the DC Universe which has some of the best superheros in the world.
“Superman” is a great blend of classic heroism and modern sensibilities, and we think that the troubled skies of the DC Universe may finally clear.
– The Plus Ones
