Superman 2025 Review

DC Studio's Superman 202

It's just after midnight here in London, and I've returned from Olympic Studios Cinema where I watched the latest version of arguably humanity's most iconic superhero, Superman 2025.

We are undoubtedly in the era of superhero fatigue. That's the reality. Honestly, I might be experiencing it the most. After consuming so many films with formulaic patterns, I feel like I can predict every single plot point. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand that these movies need to follow a certain formula to generate revenue and recoup the massive investments. But I am exhausted of superhero films. Unfortunately, James Gunn's Superman is no exception.

D.C. giving James Gunn the reins for a complete overhaul of their projects was met with great positivity and fanfare, as Gunn is one of the most successful and influential comic book movie directors of our time. He's mastered what makes a successful and entertaining superhero film that stays true to the source material without being too cheesy. That's why there was so much pressure on Superman to succeed.

The Superman movie presents the legendary hero in a new, hopeful perspective, bypassing the usual origin story and jumping into a scenario where Superman is already a well-known figure. The film centers on Clark Kent (David Corenswet) as he manages his role as Earth's guardian, balancing his extraordinary abilities with his human upbringing and the intricacies of global politics.

The main conflict emerges when Superman's well-meaning involvement in an international dispute leads to unexpected outcomes, jeopardizing his public image and the world's trust in him. This brings him into conflict with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who takes advantage of the situation to sway public opinion against the Man of Steel.

In addition to his journalism career at the Daily Planet, especially his dynamic relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Superman begins to question the moral implications of his actions and discovers what it truly means to inspire humanity. The film also introduces several other metahumans, some supporting Superman and others adding to his challenges, including his faithful super-dog, Krypto.

This film was packed with numerous plots. In the end, this worked against the film because I wasn't invested in most of them or their conclusions. Gunn attempts to introduce us to a plethora of characters (likely to set up future projects), but none of them receive the time and attention needed to truly stand out.

The VFX is inconsistent, with some great moments of pure Superman action spoiled by cheap, video game-like effects soon after. It felt very inconsistent and didn't match the gravitas of a blockbuster film of this magnitude.

The scenes with Kent and his family felt like the most generic and AI-generated scenes I've ever seen. It literally felt like the most stereotypical family bonding scene you get in superhero films. We barely spent enough time with Clark's family to truly feel the impact of these conversations. Sure, these are characters with a rich and long history in pop culture, but I couldn't help but feel let down and unmoved by these moments.

David Corenswet's portrayal of Superman was okay. I can see why Gunn chose him; he has that look of the gentle giant who wants to protect and fit in with humanity, but his performance won't define the role in the future. His portrayal reflects the entire film: it's a decent superhero movie and a decent Superman film, but it isn't brave and bold enough to make a significant impact on the rich cinematic history of the Man of Steel.