'Superman' review: Soaring high into a new era for DC
A new cinematic era for DC superheroes is officially up, up, and away, as James Gunn's reimagined Man Of Steel soars to a high that DC movies have not reached in a long, long time.
If you like your DC superheroes gloomy, brooding and dark, look away now. For the rest of you, look up – the new Superman is more fun than he has been for years, and the new movie is arguably the best one since 1978's original Superman: The Movie , starring the late Christopher Reeve.
Speaking of the late Reeve, he finally has a worthy successor in David Corenswet, who embodies the strength, purity, and humanity of the character like never before.
Sure, Brandon Routh ( Superman Returns ) and Henry Cavill ( Man Of Steel , Justice League ) may have looked the part, but their takes as the Big Blue Boy were hamstrung by story and characterisation flaws in their respective movies.
It's the glasses that make me less super, man.
Well, there was no such problem with Superman , especially with James Gunn helming it. With the Guardians Of the Galaxy trilogy and The Suicide Squad already under his belt, Gunn certainly knows how to make a comic book movie.
Emphasis on the 'comic book' part, because the director leans heavily into the character's roots in this one, never once pretends that this is anything other than a fun, summer blockbuster based on a guy who comes from another planet, can fly, and wears his red underwear on the outside.
Reasoning that people don't need to see baby Kal-El crashing on Earth again, Gunn eschews the usual origin story and starts his movie with a fully formed Superman crashing onto Earth instead, the aftermath of losing his first ever fight.
Don't make Lex angry. You don't want to see him in Beast mode.
It's a, er, groundbreaking introduction to not just our hero, but also his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, whose arrogant confidence in his own brains is ably portrayed by a suitably dastardly Nicholas Hoult.
A great Superman deserves a great villain, and this Lex Luthor more than lives up to that. Hoult plays up the villain's arrogance and cold-heartedness with sociopathic relish – you can feel his resentment towards Superman keenly, and the cool way he executes his plans make him more than a match for the hero.
The entire movie is basically driven forward by this 'brain versus brawn' rivalry, as Luthor tries his darndest to destroy Superman with the help of the shape-shifting Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) and the mysterious 'Ultraman' (no, not THAT one).
Never fear, the Justice Gang is here!
Superman himself is a little oblivious to Luthor's plans though – he's too busy making sure Krypto the superdog doesn't destroy his Fortress Of Solitude.
At the same time, he is trying his utmost best to make the world a better place with everything he does, from little things like saving people from alien giant monsters, to stopping a war in a foreign country, an act that puts him in the bad books of the American government, who think he and other metahumans are supposed to be working for THEM.
Among the 'other metahumans' are the self-styled 'Justice Gang' – led by the abrasive Green Lantern Guy Gardner (a wonderfully jerk-ish Nathan Fillion) alongside the ultra-smart Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and the warrior-like Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced).
Trust me, this portal is a... terrific way to get around. Geddit?
With all the metahuman action going around, something had to give. As a result, the only gripe I have is that we don't really see the Clark Kent side of the character that much.
Beyond a five minute look at his bumbling reporter side and a touching detour to his parents' home in Smallville, Corenswet is in Superman mode for almost the entire movie.
This extends to his relationship with Broshanan's Lois Lane as well – the couple are already an item here, with Lois already aware of his secret identity.
On one hand, we are spared the awkwardness of another 'Lois guesses Superman's secret identity' scene, while on the other, it also deprives us of another way of allowing Corenswet's Clark to shine.
Sorry about the debris, I didn't have time to clean up the city before our date.
His chemistry with Broshanan is off the charts though, and a far cry from the limp Starro of a relationship between Cavill and Amy Adams previously.
One particular back and forth between the two, in which he agrees to being 'interviewed' as Superman, is especially electrifying, with Broshanan showing more of her journalistic side in that five minute exchange than in the entire movie.
This movie is meant to herald a new age of DC movies, and happily, Gunn has got it off to a great start. This is the closest a movie Superman has come to capturing the spirit and fun of the comic books stories since the first one.
It's fun, exciting, and full of colourful characters. Plus it's got Krypto the supercute superdog. What more do you need?
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New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Heroism takes flight in latest Superman film
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The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Who are the other metahumans in the new 'Superman' movie?
From the get go, the new Superman movie establishes that it is set in a world where metahumans have already been around for 300 years. Therefore, it is no surprise that there are plenty of these super-powered characters in the film. Much has already been said about the new Superman and his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor, but what about the rest of these metahumans? From the self-styled 'Justice Gang' to the element-shaping Metamorpho and the villainous Engineer, here's the lowdown on some of these characters. Guy Gardner Among all the human Green Lanterns that have been introduced into the DC universe, Guy Gardner has to be the one that stands out the most, mainly because of his abrasive, hot-tempered nature, and his tendency to do what he pleases with no regard for the rules. Still, while Gardner may not be the most likable hero around, he's proven over and over again that he is a true Green Lantern, worthy of standing alongside the likes of Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner in the Sector 2814 Hall of Fame. Co-created by John Broome and Gil Kane and played by Nathan Fillion in Superman, Gardner made his first appearance in 1968's Green Lantern #59, in which it is shown that when the terminally injured Abin Sur crash landed on Earth, his power ring identified two humans suitable to take over his mantle as Green Lantern – Gardner and Jordan. The only reason Jordan was chosen was because he was just miles closer to Abin Sur than Gardner! That wasn't the only time Gardner missed out on the Power Ring though – in 1971's Green Lantern #87, Jordan is getting ready to pass the ring to him, but Gardner's ascension is halted when he is hit by a school bus during a rescue after an earthquake! As a result, John Stewart is chosen as Jordan's successor instead. Guy Gardner may be hot-headed and abrasive by nature, but he has a heart of gold. — Photos: DC Comics His bad luck didn't end there – when his turn finally came to don the ring (1979's Green Lantern Vol. 2 #116), a faulty power battery got him transported into the Phantom Zone, and eventually left him with brain damage and in a coma. This experience also drastically altered his personality to the current hot-headed, arrogant version of Gardner. Gardner's highest-profile appearance came when he was inducted into the (then) newly formed Justice League International, a stint that is best known for him being knocked out by Batman with one punch. Despite his intolerable nature, Gardner is a complex character who has earned the respect of the Guardians, and even Superman (Gardner was among the first to fight (and fall) to Doomsday during the Death Of Superman event). Hawkgirl While Hawkgirl is one of DC's earliest super-heroines, the one in Superman (played by Isabela Merced) is actually the third version of the character. The first one, Shiera Sanders Hall, was created all the way back in 1940's Flash Comics #1, by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville. The second Hawkgirl is Shayera Hol, created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert, and first appeared in The Brave And The Bold #34 (March 1961). The current Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders, was created by writer David S. Goyer and artist Stephen Sadowski, and first appeared in JSA: Secret Files and Origins #1 (August 1999). She is the granddaughter of the Golden Age Hawkgirl's cousin, Speed Saunders, and has also made appearances in the live-action DC Arrowverse series The Flash and Legends Of Tomorrow. The Hawkgirl in the movie is actually the third one to bear that name, Kendra Saunders. While all the Hawkgirls have had almost the same powers and tools (flight, enhanced strength, healing factor, and a nifty Nth metal mace), the origins and past of the hero is quite convoluted, with numerous ret-cons over the years, going from being a reincarnated ancient Egyptian princess, to a warrior from the planet Thanagar. This was made even more complicated by the Crisis On Infinite Earths event, which drastically changed the entire DC universe back in 1985. While she is often seen alongside Hawkman, Hawkgirl has since grown into her own over the years, becoming a member of the Birds Of Prey, Justice Society, the Justice League and the Wonders of the World, among other super teams. Mr Terrific Though a character called Mister Terrific, real name Terry Sloane, actually made his debut in 1942's Sensation Comics, it is the second version of the hero, Michael Holt, who makes his big screen debut in Superman, played by Edi Gathegi. Holt made his first appearance in 1997's The Spectre #54 (written by John Ostrander and penciled by Tom Mandrake), and is a super-rich, super-athletic, super-smart genius who fights bad guys with his highly advanced 'T-Spheres'. These T-spheres are flying robot spheres that help Holt with all his superheroic needs - from passive functions like communications and reconnaissance, to weaponised ones like electric shocks and explosive charges. Misterr Terrific fights using high-tech 'T-Spheres' which have multiple powerful functions. Holt's origin story begins with him growing up in a poor family, and then using his intelligence, athleticism, and a lot of hard work to form one of the world's leading tech firms, and even finding time to win an Olympic gold medal along the way. However, when he loses his humanitarian wife to a tragic accident, Holt becomes depressed, until the Spectre tells him about Terry Sloane, the original Mister Terrific. From then onwards, Holt decides to take on Sloane's mantle, and dedicate his life to following his wife's footsteps and help people instead. While he hasn't been the most high profile of superheroes, Mister Terrific has nevertheless been part of some of DC's biggest events, and also been a member of the Justice Society. Metamorpho Called one of the 'world's strangest superheroes', Rex Mason, aka Metamorpho, is a shapeshifter who can transmute his body into almost any object that contains natural elements, from common stuff like water and sand, to complex chemical gasses, and even Kryptonite. Mason made his first appearance in 1965's The Brave And The Bold #57, was originally a handsome adventurer who was hired to recover an ancient Egyptian artifact. Metamorpho is one of the most understated heroes in the DC universe. However, the mission was actually a setup by his employer, who was against Mason marrying his daughter. However, the attempt to eliminate Mason backfired, and the artefact gave him powers instead. While he doesn't look like the stereotypical superhero, Metamorpho is nevertheless a selfless hero who has been on several superteams, including the Justice League and the Outsiders, and has even sacrificed his life to save his own teammates several times. Metamorpho is played by Anthony Carrigan in Superman. The Engineer Originally created for highly acclaimed superhero team The Authority, The Engineer in Superman (played by María Gabriela de Faría) is a villain instead. Created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch in 1999, The Engineer, aka Angela Spica, was a member of the anti-hero superteam The Authority, alongside the likes of Jenny Sparks, Apollo, Midnighter, Swift, the Doctor, and Jack Hawksmoor, The Engineer was originally a member of The Authority. In the comics, Spica is actually the second Engineer, and was a scientist who was researching technology that could fuse human beings with machines. The original Engineer (whose real name is unknown) was an expert in nanotechnology, and when Spica decided to replace him as the Engineer, she combined her research with his, and eventually decided to merge her body with nanotech, replacing her own blood with liquid machinery. This not only gave her a body covered fully in metal, but also gave her the power to create metal tools and weapons.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Cancer Diaries: On Superman — The ‘E' in Evil stands for ‘easy'
JULY 23 — Being in active treatment as a cancer patient means I try to avoid crowds when I can. Still, I couldn't resist watching Superman though it meant watching it during non-peak hours (mornings on weekdays). Like Superman I have dodged way too many bullets but while his were literal, mine came in the form of infections and injuries. Every outing now has a risk assessment after all my falls and near-falls. I couldn't possibly trip (again) sitting in a cinema seat, right? It was worth waking up early for the show as I got to enjoy a waffle in an empty café though I did have to wolf it down quickly to make the screening. I was thankful that the sound drowned out my ugly sobbing at parts in the cinema — yes, I am a marshmallow at the movies and cry very easily. Superman was the superhero of my childhood, the true poster boy for what a superhero should be and as an old school fan I think James Gunn's version of him was a lot more palatable than Zack Snyder's vision. Synder's films feel too much like they were made by a child who played with action figures by bashing them together, then grew up to be a film director. People who complain about the film being a bit too on the nose about do good-erism seem to forget that's what Superman films were made for. Director James Gunn attends a premiere for the film "Superman" at the TCL Chinese theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 7, 2025. — Reuters pic In an age where the actress who played Marvel's Black Widow proudly schills for Zionism, it's almost refreshing having a superhero film that states quite plainly targeting civilians in a land grab excuse of an invasion is bad, actually. Yet what stayed with me watching the film is how casually the people who work for the villains in the story go along with what their employers do. There is no hesitation nor remorse about just plain murdering civilians, whether unarmed children or a reporter investigating what is pretty much a war crime. I thought, right then, that the 'e' in evil stood for 'easy'. It is easier to go along with the flow, to keep taking the pay cheques, to obey directives, to work in Alligator Alcatraz than to say no, this is wrong. That's what superhero movies do well: they demonstrate that doing the right thing is the harder choice. Whether you're wearing a cape or working for a supercorporation, there will be consequences but, the movies argue, you should do the right thing anyway. Easier to leave a nasty comment, ignore a person who collapsed suddenly or is being harassed on a train or only sympathise with refugees if they prove themselves to be deserving by being the meek, grateful and downtrodden people you want them to be. If it takes a thousand superhero movies to convince people to take the harder road because it is the right one, then make them — I will watch them all. Another thought made me smile when I left the cinema; how as a child I watched superhero movies but I didn't want to be Superman or Supergirl. I wanted to be Lois Lane. No, I didn't want a superhero boyfriend. I believed then as I believe now that journalists do have a role in making the world a better place... though I don't think they should be put on pedestals for it, either. As that Foo Fighter song goes, so many of us are looking at the sky to save us. We forget that we can all be superheroes even if it means we can only be that hero for just one person, and even if it means we won't get an award, a thank you or even acknowledgement. The late Connie Francis who passed away last week comes to mind. Francis was a sexual assault survivor, and lost her brother when he was murdered by the Mafia for testifying against them. She grew up under a controlling father, struggled with PTSD and mental health issues and while she called her personal life 'a regret from A to Z', Francis was an advocate for rape victims and mental health awareness. By suing the hotel where she was assaulted, she helped improve hotel safety in general. She said in an interview: 'It was a struggle to reconcile all of the tragedies that had occurred in my life, and I'd like to be known for my music. I'm always honoured and privileged when people remember, and it brings back happy memories for a lot of people, and that makes me happy.' Francis had never had it easy throughout her life but she made the best of sometimes tragic circumstances. In her later life she worked with veterans, even helping create support groups for them as she personally understood the effects of PTSD, which is common among veterans. 'We all have it in us to make a difference in someone else's life. The more you help others, the more it enriches your life, too,' she said. May we all find our own inner superheroes. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
