The official Film Threat review of Superman has already sparked plenty of debate, but some of our writers aren’t done talking yet. Can James Gunn’s bold new vision truly save the superhero genre, or is it just another colorful distraction in a fading cinematic universe? Here’s what a few more members of the Film Threat team had to say.
CHRIS GORE: Great cast! David Corenswet is a fantastic Superman. Authentic and unapologetically comic book-inspired — like a live-action cartoon. Unfortunately, James Gunn’s Superman feels like a recap video of season one of a Superman TV series on MAX. This is a Gen Z Superman for the TikTok generation. The hyper-fast pace is both a strength and a weakness. Everything about this Superman is the polar opposite of Zack Snyder’s darker, far more serious, and epic vision. There is a terrible lore-breaking story element involving Superman’s Kryptonian heritage that was truly awful. I hope that gets fixed somehow in a future film. Superman will be divisive and create the kind of conversations I’ve had so many times in a comic book store. I have so many nitpicks, and strangely, I’m looking forward to seeing it again. It’s also refreshing to see women allowed to be sexy in a modern Hollywood movie (heels, skirts, cleavage). Kids and families will love it. 6/10
DAVID CORENSWET as Superman in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “SUPERMAN,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
“This is a Gen Z Superman for the TikTok generation.”
BOBBY LEPIRE: Superman is overstuffed and bombastic but fun. Solid acting from everyone and a very effective third act, which overcomes too many plot threads (this could be 2 movies at least) and sometimes an awkward tone (90% of the time the humor, drama, and action work well, but sometimes the humor feels forced). But the biggest issue is that so much of the story rests upon a majaor plothole: A linguistics expert could not have verified the recording of Superman’s parents because only one being on the goddamn planet knows the Kryptonian language. This distracted me for the entire film, after it was brought up around 30 minutes in. 7 out of 10. Still better than most of the DCEU flicks though (not first Wonder Woman, first Aquaman, or first Shazam. But better than all the rest handily)
“Superman is overstuffed and bombastic but fun.”
BRAD GIBSON: Gunn gives us the perfectly imperfect Superman movie we need, one that shines a glimmer of hope like a candle in this dark world. Corenswet IS Superman, vulnerable and flawed, alongside powerful performances from Hoult and Brosnahan. 9/10
JASON DELGADO: Superman is good, not great. James Gunn, at the same time, is both the best and worst thing about it, adding his quirky punk rock style that misfires at times (with non-stop gags and not enough real emotion). The cast and reimagined John Williams score is top-notch, but Krypto is the real star. 7 out of 10.
