Superman Review

~ my review of Superman (2025). Spoilers ahead.

“Superman is a friend.”
~ Christopher Reeve

It was Christopher Reeve, the original Superman in Donner’s 1978 adventure, that said a genuine love of people is the founding virtue of the comic book character created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. It is not his strength, his supersonic flight, or his alien origins that define him first or foremost. Superman is all about this *goodness*, this unselfconscious will to friendship, to do the right thing, to be a good man and to exemplify that constantly to the entire world, no matter what.

James Gunn’s 2025 Superman aims to not only revitalize interest in the DC icon otherwise known as Kal-El, but also resubmit this simple truth of his fundamental virtue. Superman does not just do the labor of superheroics for Metropolis, he actively participates in the community, enjoys the company of the citizenry, and oversees the truth as a journalist. The film showcases his absolute attentiveness to the well-being of everyone in the domain of his power, from dogs to ladies to squirrels (and even foes).

Superman wields something like Christ Consciousness; his behavior in most of his comics runs parallel to the Bodhisattva. Indestructible, incorruptible. Acting to save and to enlighten, Superman endures as a nigh unstoppable force of conscientiousness in a chaotic world. David Corenswet brings an earnest warmth to the role. He speaks with a strong, clear voice. He is eager to express his ideals yet struggling with the busy heroics of being the top metahuman on Earth. His relationship with Lois Lane (Brosnahan) further humanizes him with the kindling for a first love.

Clark’s humble origins on a Kansas farm, his raising done by the simpleton Kents and his truncated history gifted from his Kryptonian parents’ message of hope and heart, mark him for an open path unto heroics. The paragon presence of Superman asks the audience: What if every young man believed in the simple truth that they were sent here to Earth in order to protect people and be a good man? What fresh wonders might human society produce with such an ingrained ethos as a young Clark Kent dreams up from his birth parents’ half-spoken dispatch?

Lex Luthor, Superman’s arch-nemesis played intensely and efficiently by Englishman Nicholas Hoult, looms large over Gunn’s world-build. He starts out the film in firm control of the world’s board state, with quantum technologies, strategic advantages, and complex plots to rival Superman’s reign as strongest metahuman. Envious of his power, and moreso his attention-gathering as international superhero, Lex orchestrates a hot war in Eurasia (for Superman to intervene in out of compassion) to goad the U.S. government into supporting his designs to check – and takedown – Superman as a threat to global sovereignty.

Naturally, LuthorCorp’s machinations loom large over Superman’s superheroics. It is this monomaniac’s orchestra of opposition to Superman’s doings that wretchedly embodies the cynical notion of “no good deed going unpunished.” Lex’s spiteful stack of assets include hyper-powerful Ultraman, empowered by his strategic maneuvering, plus the nanite-infused Engineer and other various monsters and metahumans, alongside his hi-tech weapons and a pocket universe. They all become arrayed against Superman over the course of the narrative. His plan includes not only Kryptonite but also psych warfare, when Luthor reveals to Superman the tyrannical truth of his Kryptonian heritage deciphered before the world.

Something I loved about this film’s plot is how overmatched Superman feels. And how inventive Lex Luthor must be in combatting his overpowered status. Every scene in Lex’s command center was electric. We see the energy and results of intricate research into Superman’s combat style akin to a professional Tekken player. Thousands of combinations and counter-attacks pump into Ultraman in real-time, an exact clone of Superman’s physique and power. One begins to question how Superman can overcome Lex.

But Superman proves resilient, more than difficult to kill. Satisfying feats of survival and healing are on the menu throughout this film for Superman, to pair with every power fantasy aura-farming moment. Lex Luthor’s advantages fizzle as Superman calls in allies. No lone wolf, Superman in fact works well with others and soon cashes in every trusty alliance he has to defeat Luthor’s schemes and re-seal the tear in Metropolis.

At the denouement, Superman and Lex converse over the nature of humanity and their conflict. Superman says that he loves and gets scared and makes mistakes, and that means he’s human just like anyone else. Supes is right to believe this makes him stronger. // Lex does not care about Superman’s emotions and can only see his strength and the mission: the removal of Superman. One gets the sense that Lex can focus on nothing else, and could not ever go back to live a normal life with Superman out there. His obsession is so great that he even *admits* to envy being the driving force of his thermonuclear rivalry with Superman. Lex’s envy empowers his ascension to become the world’s most powerful man, able to engineer systems and enlist goons that can bring someone like Superman to the brink of death and defeat. (Of course, Lex seems fated to become more of a freakish hater in his downfall. Wonderful.)

Superman’s reliance on friends and his resolve to choose his own heroic path ring out as the final notes, as Clark smiles in his fortress surrounded by reels of home videos with Ma and Pa.

Overall, Superman (2025) was an entertaining and world-shaking slice-of-life encounter between year three Clark and his psychopathic hater Lex in a rather vivacious world of far-flung toons and techs. Enjoyed the score and flight cinematography, and especially Nathan Fillion as the irascible Green Lantern Guy Gardner. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Published by Zsoro