Superman

Surprisingly satisfying to watch, and an all round good film, which hasn’t been the case for many superhero films lately. The plot brings the audience along for an emotional rollercoaster, the highs and lows are compelling and riveting. This iteration of Superman (David Cornsweat) from James Gunn is not scared of hurting and placing its godlike protagonist in a difficult predicament, raising the stakes and dangers that makes the tension and suspense just that much more intense and engaging. This just plays with the audience’s emotions, it’s not easy to see heroes with a genuine moral compass in an overly complex and morally grey world fall and become so vulnerable. Yet this vulnerability is what creates this sense of empathy and relatability for a character that usually seems impossible to relate to. James Gunn foregoes the very familiar backstory of Superman and Clark Kent, taking on the assumption that majority audiences already know the general gist of what Superman is all about, so might as well move onto an already established, world saving, adult Superman, whose alter ego Clark Kent is working in Metropolis as a reporter at the Daily Planet, dating colleague Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) who also knows Kent’s secret identity. There’s quite an ensemble cast that launches quite a variety of new characters like the metahumans in Justice Gang. But what’s especially unexpected is how a blockbuster mainstream film could have such an underlying very much pro Palestine position, this I find worthy of applause. Furthermore is the underlying anti trump immigration laws through the exploration of the identity of Superman, the alien who also happens to be the saviour of human kind, more human than alien, moral exemplar of what it means to be human if anything. The main antagonist Lex Luther played by Nicholas Hoult seems to be an unusual casting, appearance wise, but the demeanour and attitude of contempt he brings to his role is intense and perfect for the role. A thrilling, gripping and delightful surprise of a film, looking forward to James Gunn’s future projects with DC.