Superman

Thirty years after landing in Kansas as an infant after his parents Jor-El ("Guardians" alum Bradley Cooper) and Lara (Angela Sarafyan, HBO's 'Westworld') sent him in a pod from their exploding planet of Krypton, Superman (David Corenswet, "Pearl's" projectionist) is facing backlash after having stopped Boravia from invading Jarhanpur without having engaged in any kind of diplomacy. Back in Metropolis, he is beaten for the first time by the Hammer of Boravia, presenting tech billionaire and arms dealer Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) with a chance to finally get rid of "Superman."

Laura's Review: B+

Writer/director James Gunn's ("The Guardians of the Galaxy" series) fingerprints are all over his refreshingly new take on Superman, one which sees the kind and innocent hero labelled an 'alien,' his reputation sullied on social media. Thankfully Gunn's antennae were out while watching Ti West's "Pearl" in noting David Corenswet, who gives the Super Hero a more naive and vulnerable take, claiming his place within the human race.

Heralding journalism, the Daily Planet has an outsized role in revealing the truth behind Luther's support of Boravia and investigative journalists Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan, TV's 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel') and Jimmy Olsen (kyler Gisondo, "Booksmart") both know who Clark Kent really is. Meanwhile both Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi, TV's 'For All Mankind') and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced, HBO's 'The Last of Us') hate begin labelled 'The Justice Gang' by Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion, TV's 'Firefly'). There is a goofy looking beast let out of a crate as a distraction which grows as tall as a skyscraper and Superman has a dog named Krypto that his Superman Robots in the Fortress of Solitude label 'unruly.' Lex Luther runs his empire from a control room bridge spanning two spires, directing jabs at Superman with commands like 'A1' and 'G4,' labelling what he has studied as the Superhero's own moves.

We are introduced to those robot aides nursing Superman back to health, soothing him with the beginning of the video message from his parents that accompanied him to Earth, the second half of which was destroyed upon his ship's landing and which, when restored later, will have Superman questioning his own identity. Right now he is still reeling over public perception of what he only sees as having saved lives. After being kidded by Lois over Clark's interviews with his alter ego, he allows her to interview Superman in her apartment, an interview which grows contentious. Things deteriorate further after Luthor convinces U.S. Defense and Intelligence officials that Superman is a danger and he is marched off in cuffs with no reading of his rights by soldiers under the command of General Rick Flag (Frank Grillo, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"). He ends up jailed in Luthor's 'pocket Universe, held in a cell with Elemental Man (aka Metamorpho, Anthony Carrigan, HBO's 'Barry') who is forced to turn himself into kryptonite because he is separated from his infant son, held in another cage. Back in Metropolis, Jimmy Olsen has a secret contact called 'Mutant Toes' on his phone who is ready to dish info on Luther than will blow the villain's scheme apart.

Gunn has exceeded any expectations in rebooting D.C.'s superhero universe in so many ways. His screenplay is chock full of his goofy brand of humor and visual gags while also grounded in themes relevant to today's political environment. To see a man flying has never felt so visceral, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" cinematographer Henry Braham making us feel the force of the air rushing past at supersonic speeds. Special effects are top notch, from the exuberant Krypto (modelled on Gunn's own rescue, Ozu) to the nanotechnology that allows The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) to change her form like a magnetic Wooly Willy. A 'throwaway' alien referred to as an intergalactic nuisance looks like a fireworks display outside Lois's window during a romantic interlude, made more comical by Green Lantern's attempts to constrain it. David Fleming and John Murphy's score includes the iconic Superman theme while Gunn's eclectic soundtrack selections include offbeat choices like the Teddybears' 'Punkrocker.'

Casting is exceptional, from the relatively unknown Corenswet and every member of the Justice 'gang,' with Fillion's bowl cut worth the price of admission alone, to "Triangle of Sadness's" Zlatko Buric as Boravia's uniquely coifed Vasil Ghurkos. Other notables include Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Ma and Pa Kent, Wendell Pierce (TV's 'Elspeth') as the Daily Planet's Perry White, Sara Sampaio as Luthor's selfie obsessed bimbo of a girlfriend Eve and Dinesh Thyagarajan as the food cart guy Mali who suffers for his kindness to Superman. Alan Tudyk voices the most notable of Superman's robots, Number 4, and Milly Alcock (HBO's 'House of the Dragon') makes a late-breaking appearance as Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. The only actor who doesn't quite nail the assignment is Hoult, the controversial casting of Jesse Eisenberg in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" having given us a much more interesting Luther.

From Internet troll farms manned by 'rage' monkeys to Superman's poor taste in pop music, "Superman" delights with unconventional choices while also adhering to such classic concepts as the Man of Steel holding back buildings while people (and a squirrel) escape catastrophe. "Superman" is a hell of a lot of fun and deserves to be seen on an IMAX screen. Now, bring on the Justice League.

Robin's Review: B

The Man of Steel is facing a life crisis. His birth on Krypton, and being an outsider on Earth, is placing him in danger at the hands of the notorious billionaire Lex Luthor. Then, things get worse for "Superman."

I have openly not liked superhero movies after, maybe, "Thor (2011)" for a number of reason – not the least of which is they bore me to tears with their repetitiveness of story and way too many characters. Yes, I know the Avengers are MCU world and Superman is in the DCEU but they are all superhero movies.

Then, I attended the screening for the new "Superman" movie and, to my great and pleasant surprise, I actually liked it! Knock me over with a wet noodle! I think that is due to what the far right calls wokeness. If, by that, they mean that the story shows an understanding and rejection of the hate permeating our nation and the good of people – all people – then "Superman" is woke.

David Corenswet is the latest Superman and the actor puts a different, more sensitive spin on the man from Krypton. The Man of Steel faces seemingly insurmountable odds at the hands of the evil Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who is bent on starting a war between Boravia and its peaceful neighbor, Jarhanpur, to carve out a kingdom for himself.

In the Meantime, the ruthless Luthor uses his money and evil talents to wreak havoc on mankind. Of course, it is up to Superman to stop the fiend's wicked plans, but he has a little help from the Justice Gang – Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion stealing all his scenes), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) and Hawkgirl (Isabella Merced).

It would be dumb for me to tell the "story" of this installment in the Superman franchise. It is your job to find that out. What we do have are the old, familiar characters (with new faces) like Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan, much better than Margot Kidder), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Perry White (Wendell Pierce), Jor-El (Bradley Cooper( and Lara (Angela Saroyan). And we get a bevy of new characters and creatures to entertain us.

Foremost, though, is David Corenswet as Superman. He harkens back to the character from the comic book` - and, to me, to the original TV Superman, George Reeves. Except, now, it is not "truth, Justice and the American way," it is "truth, justice and the human way," Now, that is woke.

Warner Brothers releases "Superman" in theaters on 7/11/25.