Superman sees the iconic and original comic-book hero’s return to the big screen, in a two-hour epic action-packed movie fuelled by hope, colour and joy. The key takeaway from the movie being: hope and kindness is punk rock. Looking out for your friends is punk rock. Doing what you believe is right is punk rock. Superman is punk rock. This is the character of Superman/Clark Kent at his absolute best, portrayed by David Corenswet – who names it a dream role of his – with director James Gunn’s passion for the character shining brightly through the screen. Gunn stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “I completely relate to Superman because he’s everything I am… He’s somebody who is an outsider who feels like an alien, but also the ultimate insider, because he’s fucking Superman,” these ideas are reflected throughout the film in Clark Kent’s behaviour in The Daily Planet, how he is constantly ‘interviewing’ Superman, but no one else gets a chance.
As a journalist by day and superhero by night (and day, and whenever anyone needs help) Superman sees Clark at his most inquisitive, with a strong desire to do the right thing. He has grown up with a half-recovered message his late parents left him in his journey from Krypton to Earth, and that has allowed him to carry himself through life with an open mind and heart. In large contrast to Zack Snyder’s Superman, Gunn’s (which has since surpassed Snyder’s in the box office) is pure of heart, and more human than a majority of other characters in the film, despite himself. The film contains only two needle drops in the film – ‘5 Years Time’ by Noah and the Whale, and ‘Punkrocker’ by The Teddy Bear’s ft. Iggy Pop. Both of these songs are expertly selected and could not fit the film any better. They are nostalgic, hopeful and bright. They are earnest and warm, just like the tone of the film. There is a monologue towards the end, which sees Corenswet’s Superman bite back at Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, where he states: “I’m as human as anyone. I love; I get scared. I wake up every morning and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other and I try to make the best choices I can. I screw up all the time, but that is being human and that’s my greatest strength.”
The action in the film arises from Lex Luthor’s hatred for Superman, and the latter’s cause of stopping a war. The war, more or less, stands as an allegory for Palestine and Israel, Superman taking the side as those who pose as Palestinians. Some viewers and critics have found it too political for a comic-book film – mainly being unhappy that it is left-leaning. A republican reviewer wrote an exaggerated opinion piece titled ‘I saw the new liberal Superman and it gave me the woke mind virus,’ who goes on to complain that Gunn’s Superman is too kind, too woke and “not the kind of toughness I want to see in a fictional character,” which, though blatantly ironic, is the nature of some individual thoughts regarding this film. Out with peoples political outrage, some viewers have thought the film was not enough of a comic book film, in that there weren’t enough fight scenes, Superman was not angry/tough/bad enough, and there was too much romance.
However, Gunn’s take on the character is widely receiving positive reviews, particularly due to the sincerity of the film. The film see’s Superman take care of Krypto, his infamous pet dog. Since the film’s release, google searches of adoption centres, and dogs to be rehomed, have sky rocketed by 513%. This emphasises the hopeful and earnest impact that Superman has, and the necessity of it. Superman shows that superheroes do not only need to be action-fuelled and constantly in battle, but they can also indeed be heroic and caring. Unlike other depictions of the character, Gunn entirely holds Superman to his core values, both as a story and with the character. In upholding these ideas of passion, kindness, and optimism, David Corenswet’s Superman/Clark Kent shines through as a role model for young people, the way Superman was intended. In these uncertain times of war, Andrew Tate and social media misleading young people, Superman is a beacon of light and hope, and it helps that the character is iconic. Hope runs through the veins of James Gunns’ Superman. Hopecore is something that’s always seen floating around online, and that is the epitome of what Superman is. Hopeful, joyful, optimistic, punk rock. Despite the somewhat mixed reviews, this was released at a perfect time. Superman is in cinemas everywhere.
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