Superman Review: A New Hope for the DC Universe

The DC Universe is back, and we have a new Superman in the form of David Corenswet.

Still trying to find his place in the world of metahumans and Earth, this Superman must also contend with Lex Luthor and his goons to become the hope everybody in the world needs.

Check out our Superman review below, and remember, spoilers ahead!

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Superman Review – Breaking Down Plot, Setting, Characters

Plot

Superman has a lot to contend with.

After being sent to Earth, he was raised by adoptive human parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, in Kansas. Gaining incredible powers from the Sun, Superman announced his presence to the world as “Superman” three years ago. He is the most powerful metahuman on Earth.

Unfortunately for him, this draws the attention of billionaire Lex Luthor, who is hell-bent on destroying Superman. With the help of the Justice League (Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Guy Gardner), Superman must battle against Lex Luthor and his cronies (the Engineer, Ultraman, etc.) to protect his image, especially when the full message from his parents is released, and Superman was meant to control the human race.

I enjoyed the entire plot of this film. There were constant twists and turns on what was going on, and how deep Lex Luthor’s drive to destroy Superman went. The final battle was big and across the world, employing all the heroes and villains in a punch-for-punch battle that is synonymous with a true superhero movie.

I would have liked to know a little more about the whole Boravian deal, or perhaps about metahumans in general, but since this is my first true exposure to DC, I’m sure it’s covered in many other media I could explore.

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Setting

There are a few main settings in the film: Metropolis, Kansas, Antarctica, the Boravian-Jarhanpurian border, and a pocket universe. Each setting had its own strengths and added depth to the film.

While Metropolis is the main focal point where Superman fights crime and works at The Daily Planet, Kansas is his true safe space where his adoptive parents raised him.

Visually, the coolest setting was Superman’s lair in Antarctica. The towering ice structure appears seemingly out of nowhere in the barren tundra. Between the Superman robots and the sun glinting off the ice, I wanted to see it on the big screen again and again.

I also really enjoyed the visuals in the pocket universe, which had a black hole and a neutron river that could rip normal people apart. Of course, the most important setting is Metropolis, as it’s the main stage between Luthor and Superman, and where many of the battles occur.

Just like the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, each setting is a feast for the eyes thanks to James Gunn. If anything, I wanted to live in the universe longer than the two-hour runtime.

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Characters

The characters won this movie for me.

Superman is the epitome of hope, power, trust, and the belief to help those in need, no matter who they are. His naive nature, coupled with his immense power, is such a sight to see, and the fact that he can get hurt and have emotions lends perfectly to comparing heroes to humans. Superman may be from Krypton, but he is quite human, too.

I also loved how Hoult portrayed Lex Luthor. With the world at his fingertips, with his money and technological advancements, Luthor should be completely content. However, his envy for metahumans, specifically Superman, is so great that it blinds him to everything else. I love how deeply his hatred lies, so much so that Lex is willing to destroy the world through a pocket universe tear than let Superman win.

This dynamic throughout the movie was amazing to watch, and all the lending characters just leaned right into it all.

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Prominent Actors in Superman

The cast of Superman comprises established and up-and-coming actors who have appeared in numerous hit films and TV series. Check out some of the main stars below:

• David Corenswet (Superman) – Twisters, Pearl, Look Both Ways
• Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Amateur, House of Cards
• Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) – Nosferatu, The Great, X Men: First Class
• Milly Alcock (Supergirl) – Sirens, House of the Dragon, The School
• Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner) – The Rookie, Castle, The Suicide Squad
• Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) – The Last of Us, Alien: Romulus, Madame Web
• María Gabriela de Faría (Engineer) – The Exorcism of God, Deadly Class, The Trip 2
• Bradley Cooper (Jor-El) – A Star is Born, The Hangover, The Guardians of the Galaxy
• Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific) – Twilight, X Men: First Class, The Harder They Fall

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Superman Review: Final Thoughts

This movie is not only for superhero fans, but for those who need a little hope in the current world. I loved every moment of the film, and enjoyed how human Superman can be. It gives weight to the character that some other iterations might have missed out on, and raises the stakes of every punch.

The characters, plot, and setting melded into a two-hour masterpiece, and prove once again that James Gunn knows how to create a superhero blockbuster that I am sure to watch again.