Superman Review: Gunn Takes Big Swings That Pay Off Spectacularly

Making statements with art is not a new concept; the art of filmmaking has always been synonymous with taking a stand on hot issues of the time. Superman takes that a step further by making sure that the statement they are making isn’t subtle at all.

There are multiple instances throughout where director James Gunn makes it explicitly clear what he’s trying to say not only about current immigration sentiments and policies in America but also our hand in the conflict in Gaza.

The characters in the Superman universe have been part of pop culture for decades, but never before has the well-known fact that Superman/Clark Kent is a transplant alien just trying to do good been a major talking point of the plot. If you are here to argue that Gunn’s statement that Superman is an immigrant is besmirching the lore of this character, I urge you to go and re-read the comics.

Yes, it’s never been stated so bluntly, but the implication has always been there that Clark Kent knows he’s not like everyone else, despite looking like everyone else, living similar lives to the people around him, and has always been judged unfairly for that.

Lex Luthor Has Evolved (Negatively)

The character of Lex Luthor has always been a fun antagonist for any iteration of Superman out there. In fact, one of the best versions of him was portrayed by Gene Hackman in Superman: The Movie back in 1978.

Since then the character has taken on many different forms with the backbone of him centered in his complete disregard for the “little people” in pursuit of more money, fame, and the destruction of Superman. In the early 2000s the show Smallville did its best to flip this on its head and make Lex a bit more sympathetic, thanks in large part to Michael Rosenbaum’s performance.

That’s what makes Nicholas Hoult’s turn at the iconic character so captivating. He truly gives Lex Luthor a 2025 makeover. Instead of him just being an apathetic billionaire, Luthor is now a tech billionaire who creates problems just so he can solve them and come out on top.

Sound familiar? If it does, that’s the whole point, and we applaud Gunn for having the gall to go there. There is a moment in the film when Superman comes face to face with Lex in his pocket dimension and is told that Lex has created monkeys who’s sole purpose is to spew lies on the internet.

Lex Luthor created mindless monkey internet trolls just to push his own narrative and gaslight the people of the world into believing that Superman is a threat to their safety. All the while he is secretly arming a country with massive military grade weapons so they can invade a smaller country and take over the land by killing all the current citizens.

Hoult does such a good job of making us hate his character that even his face, which fans have loved for decades, becomes extremely punchable. Even Luthor’s tears when he realizes he’s been defeated and later when he’s arrested evoke no emotion in the viewers.

We’ve seen the destruction he has inflicted on the rest of the world. We don’t have any sympathy for him and his billions of dollars.

The Stance on Palestine vs. Israel

Even if you aren’t sure where you stand on what is happening to the people of Palestine, which I would argue the time for that has long passed, you can’t deny that another country indiscriminately killing citizens of another country just to gain land is wrong.

That’s what makes Superman such a strong film. Gunn takes a well-established hero, one who stands for goodness and helping your fellow man no questions asked, and chooses to make a statement that needs to be heard the world over.

Much like Superman, we should care that a group of people just trying to live their lives is being slaughtered just for existing. This anti-Israel stance in a Hollywood film could have easily cheapened the movie and made it feel very preachy, but Gunn does so in a way that makes sense.

He doesn’t have Superman swoop in and save these people, instead the plot shows the people who support Superman rising up and stepping in to help out this small country. It’s a statement that in war a bigger impact is made by the collective than by just the actions of one man.

Even the plot in which Superman had stepped in previously and told Bavaria to stop harming Jarhanpur drives this home. Superman naively thinks that his quick conversation was enough, and so he stepped back, only to be vilified by the media for his interference.

There is a moment in the film where we are shown the two countries on a map and even that isn’t subtle in the real world connections. These countries have similar land shape and mass to Israel and Palestine.

Once again, there is a conversation between Superman and Luthor where he accuses the billionaire of only doing what he’s doing in Jarhanpur and Bavaria to earn more money. And Luthor quips back that it isn’t about the money, it is about the power and his desire to get rid of Superman.

Even the Subtle Changes Don’t Affect the Film’s Strengths

Some Superman loyalists might not be happy that James Gunn altered his origin ever so slightly, but I would argue that it allows a stronger stance to be made about immigration.

The message from his parents that he’s listened to his whole life is very in line with what we’ve always known about the character. However, the added element of having a “harem” is a bit over the top, but it works well to further drive home the overall message of the film (that we can do good things and there will still be people there to judge and vilify you with false accusations). All in all, this change serves a purpose.

A: It is fodder for Luthor and the media to vilify Superman, turning his supporters against him. It’s a very strong message about the power of propaganda.

B: This slight change in intent allows Superman/Clark Kent to have that conversation with his adopted parents about his own goodness. This negative message provides fuel for the stance that parents might have intentions for their children but we are all free-thinking individuals who can make decisions for ourselves.

Add these changes to Luthor’s added layers of villainy, and you have a modern take on a classic tale that proves this superhero has always been an everyman, here for the little guys, not the tech billionaires.

Stray Thoughts

• Krypto reminds me of a dog I once had who was always getting into trouble, but ultimately just a good boy.
• The humor the super dog adds to the plot can’t be understated.
• Lois Lane has always been a strong character, and this film is no different. Only this time, she gets to be the voice of reason in a world gone mad; we love to see it.
• The Justice Gang…that’s it. That’s all I need to say. Thank you, Gunn, for adding them in.
• A Pocket Dimension where the leaders of the world pay Luthor a fee and he imprisons dissenters, opposition, or people who might cause problems. Where have I seen this before?

 

 

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