Superman (David Corenswet) has been active for three years and has been in a relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) for the past three months. Superman previously intervened in a geopolitical crisis that could have escalated into a war, which prompts billionaire mastermind Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) to attempt to take down Superman by any means necessary. With the help of his trusty dog Krypto and the ‘Justice Gang’, Superman has to take down Luthor and save Metropolis.

After the depressing, Jesus-like ‘saviour of humanity’ that was Zack Snyder’s version of Superman, it’s a breath of fresh air to have James Gunn’s version, which feels a lot more like reading a comic, juxtaposed with Snyder, who always felt like you were reading the most serious graphic novel. Gunn’s Superman is not afraid to crack jokes and have a little fun; he feels like the most human Superman we have had since the days of Christopher Reeve. He consistently shows his humanity and his ethics, and you know precisely the reasons why he is so good-natured. This character development immediately puts the audience on Superman’s side and maintains their support throughout the film. 

It’s fascinating how pro-Palestine this film is. Superman doesn’t want the predominantly white and well-armed country of Boravia to invade the mainly poor and Arabic country of Jarhanpur. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the film is referencing what Superman would do if he were present during the Israel-Palestine conflict. I commend the film for this plot line, when it could have sidestepped the controversy altogether.

David Corenswet was put on this planet to play Superman; his mannerisms and the way he brings this character to life just scream Superman to me. His interactions with all of the other characters are a joy to watch; the combination of Gunn’s writing and Corenswet’s acting creates what will be an iconic iteration of this character. Furthermore, the casting of this film is exquisite. Brosnahan is a wonderful Lois Lane, never feeling like a useless character just here for Superman/Clark Kent to love. She feels strong and able to handle herself in her own way, and her costuming reflected that, too. Hoult as Luthor is another inspired piece of casting. He brings the energy and the authority that Jesse Eisenberg was never given, and he runs with it. The true highlight of the film was Krypto the dog; every single time he was on screen, it was an utter delight, and you feel like you still didn’t get enough of him.

Visually, it was very well-crafted. The wide-angle lenses with the vibrant colour grade create a film that feels like it harks back to the 1970s rather than the drab and moody colour scheme we had to endure during the 2010s. The score also incorporates the old Superman theme, which adds to the nostalgia for a time when I was not yet born. The film feels modern, yet at the same time, it feels like something you’ve seen before. There were some visual effects issues that, for me, were a little distracting, such as the scene in which Superman’s robots get destroyed; it was hard to see past the CGI there, and in a few other additional scenes as well.

Overall, Gunn has done what at times felt impossible: he has created a Superman film that feels fresh, optimistic, and upbeat. A film that actually reflects how good and kind the character truly is. In doing so, he has filled it with some of the best actors possible for the roles. I can’t wait to see where this character goes next.