Before I saw the new Superman movie, I didn’t have super high expectations. I’ve always been a fan of DC, mainly for their comics. I’ve seen several interpretations of Superman and Clark Kent, but I don’t think any hit as hard in recent years as this did. 

It’s important that I give props to the amazing filmmaker and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. I’ve grown to appreciate just how much effort it takes to make a good project worth watching. Every little thing matters: the lighting, the symbolism, the soundtrack, the color palettes. It all means something, even if we as viewers don’t immediately catch on. Especially the soundtrack, given I’ve been singing “Punkrocker” throughout my day ever since seeing the movie. He sure knows how to pick a signature song. James Gunn made a movie that was a true reflection of what it meant to be Superman, and he did it while making it entertaining for people of all ages. Even if you knew nothing about Gunn or Superman, it didn’t matter because he made it so entertaining that it couldn’t dampen the experience. That is what it means to be a true creative. 
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One of the first things I admired about this version of Superman is that he’s truly a dork in and out of the suit. He doesn’t seem to like cursing, he’s considerate even when he’s trying to conceal who he is, and he always wants the best for everyone. We get to observe how Clark Kent interacts with his family and how different he is in comparison to his alter ego. Nothing about David Corenswet’s character is one-dimensional. We get to see just how important it is for him to live his life amongst people that he loves. He is an extremely hopeful individual, and not even having a city he cares about hating him could deter him from helping in a time of need. After having gone through all his troubles, he’s still more concerned with how he makes Mr.Terrific feel than an unevenly placed building.

This is someone I can see kids looking up to. Someone they would be able to trust without feeling less than. I mean, honestly, his entire world was falling apart—literally—and he still found time to keep Krypto safe. He sees the good in everyone, even if he’s not given the same grace. 

Another thing I admire is how Gunn subtly discusses the political problems going on in our lives right now. There was a specific scene where a child is on his home planet holding up a homemade Superman flag during a war. To me, this felt like a reflection of the tragedies going on in Palestine. It’s a reference to how the people there have managed to become their own superheroes in such a terrible genocide. They remain hopeful that one day peace will come. They continue living without the security of somewhere to lay their heads or food to eat. They protect one another and hold their hands together, knowing danger could be just a foot away. The key to a good film is to open the eyes of others. Even though this scene may have been “subtle” to some, it projects a serious issue that the world seems to be shying away from. And it brought tears to my eyes, knowing that Gunn was able to intertwine real-world events with what some would deem “unimaginable”. Because he knows that this is someone’s everyday life, and their stories are just as important as Superman’s. 

I could even argue that Lex Luthor’s anger towards Superman was an allegory for the unnecessary hate many immigrants have received. Luthor continuously refers to Superman as an alien and seems to hate him because he has a “cheat code” to life, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Superman has never denied where he comes from, and he makes that clear, much like immigrants in the real world. There have been so many hate crimes and violence towards people who come from other parts of our world, as if we aren’t all human. We all have emotions, we all breathe the same air—so why do so many people around the world find it so easy to disrespect someone out of prejudice?

Don’t even get me started on comic accuracy. All of the actors in this film felt as though Gunn shook the comic books, and they just fell out. Every conversation felt so natural and lighthearted, as if these were people I’d meet on the street. Considering I’ve been keeping up with Superman’s story throughout the years, I can say that I was very happy to see the relationship dynamics displayed. Lois and Clark tend to butt heads from time to time, but they always find their way back to each other. Lois was never shown as a ditsy woman who just follows along with everyone else; she challenges the narrative. She challenges how Clark sees the world, and that’s why they work so well together. Lex Luthor wasn’t made to be a redeemable character either, which I appreciated. There was no time when I felt like I had to sit through a cliché backstory. He wasn’t supposed to be sympathized with, which is why Superman still finding it within himself to be kind is such a good characterization. 


I loved the “Justice Gang” cameos as well. A lot of people don’t know much about Mr.Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Guy Gardner. Not one of them is the same, and none of them is boring either. Even Jimmy Olsen was entertaining to see. Every single character in this movie was enjoyable, and I can’t wait to see what else Gunn shows us.  

I’m not going to give an extensive spoiler because I want this to be more of a push for others to go check out this movie in theaters. However, what I will say is that this movie is exactly what the world needs right now. There’s negativity clouding our vision every day, and to know you can turn on a good movie and observe someone who always finds the good in people is a magical thing. It makes me want to make the best of my day, and it puts the youth in a mindset of doing the same. Superman is around to show that we can all be our own heroes. You don’t need a cape to show how strong you are; you just need to be yourself.
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That’s exactly what it means to be punk rock. 

ALEXANDREA SUGGS