All eyes are on James Gunn and his Superman movie this week, as the flick is now showing with the Tuesday Amazon early screenings.
My First Reactions to Superman
I just got out, and as I said in my reaction video, James Gunn comes through with a fun superhero movie. Everybody clapped at the end. Go see it.
Superman Starts Fast With No Previews
Before we dive in, you may want to get to the theater on time, as at least for my Amazon screening, there were no previews, so the film started right on time and there was no 20-minute delay. No idea why. I actually missed the opening scene as there were long lines for popcorn and food.
My Superman Experience: 3D and 4DX Review
I also chose to see Superman in 3D, as I think all that were available were IMAX or 3D Amazon screenings. Well, the IMAX theater in my area bites as peoples’ heads are in the way and the screen is grainy. Little did I know what I was in for as my 3D screening also happened to be 4DX. Bruh! I was getting hit with air, water and I almost fell out of my seat! LOL.
I recommend skipping both the 3D and the 4DX. I think the 3D really cuts down on the color aspect. The 4DX is pretty wild, it feels like you are on a roller coaster, and I’m told it was more active than Twisters.
How the Audience Reacted to Superman
The audience loved the movie. They laughed a lot. There were people wearing capes. There was one lady in particular who couldn’t get enough Krypto. Honestly, I found her annoying at times, but hey, the movie likely made her feel like a kid again. That’s James Gunn’s Superman.
Update: I went a second time on Thursday. The audience was quieter, but the hardcore fans seemed to like it and were vocal and laughed a lot.
Post-Credit Scenes in Superman: Are They Worth It?
There are two post-credit scenes, but honestly, you don’t need to stay for them. They don’t tease what’s next. The actual tease happens at the end of the movie, and it got a mixed reaction from the audience and me.
Superman’s Standout Characters
Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern
The favorite and the stand-out for me is Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern. Despite the goofy haircut, I loved his character and Fillion played him perfectly. I think if you are a James Gunn fan, you understand why Fillion is perfectly written. The good news is that Fillion is returning in Peacemaker Season 2 and I believe the Lanterns series.
Mr. Terrific and the Justice Gang
Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific is another favorite. The whole Justice Gang is written well. I want to see more of them, including Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, who does something surprising at the end.
Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and the Villains
Rachel Brosnahan makes a great Lois Lane. Skyler Gisondo shines as Jimmy Olsen. It’s the best Jimmy we’ve ever had.
María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer and Ultraman are solid villains. The action works, and the special effects looked good (even though I watched in 3D).
Update: VFX looked solid in my second viewing on a Regal RPX screen.
Lex Luthor: A Mixed Bag
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is good but inconsistent. Sometimes he’s the confident, powerful Lex, which reminded me of Michael Rosenbaum’s Smallville version or from the Justice League cartoons. Other times, he flies off the handle like a spoiled brat. I also thought Gunn doesn’t clearly explain Lex’s motivations, why he wants to take down Superman—ego, maybe?
Update: With my second viewing, Lex’s motivations are more noticeable. Lex views himself as the upper echelon of humanity, but Superman rains on his parade as he is a super man.
David Corenswet’s Superman: My Least Favorite Part
Honestly, Superman himself is my least favorite character in the movie. Gunn writes Clark and Superman as pouty, almost like a big baby, as the trailers showed. He’s weaker, gets his a– kicked a lot, and doesn’t really shine until the third act.
I like Corenswet as Superman, but he doesn’t have much to work with. The character needed a build-up that never happened. No goosebumps. You could argue Krypto feels more like Superman than Superman.
Update: With the second viewing, I still didn’t see that big build-up leading to a goosebump moment. A couple of scenes come close but don’t particularly deliver. Corenswet also does a great job of acting with the other actors and characters. It’s actually very subtle, but it’s there. Also, with my second viewing I thought Gunn took Cornswet and Hoult on opposite journeys. At the start, Lex came off as strong and confident, but toward the end became more like Superman at the start of the movie, a big crybaby. However, Superman goes from a big crybaby to more confident. Pretty interesting.
The Superman Music Doesn’t Hit
I wasn’t a fan of the music score. I wish they had created something new instead of using John Williams’ theme. This isn’t Christopher Reeve. Not even close.
The Politics in Superman
Yes, the rumors are true, but it’s subtle, not in your face. Gunn mirrors present-day times but keeps it light. There’s a funny scene with Sean Gunn (of course). I laughed.
And no, Superman is not woke. They don’t trash the character or replace him. A lot of characters do look better, but I didn’t take it as Gunn pushing an agenda, though the message is loud and clear (immigrant vs billionaire).
Superman’s Humor and Goofiness
The movie is on the goofy side. There’s Krypto, another dog, and even a baby. It’s a bit much, especially the baby scene. Metamorpho also felt over-the-top. This isn’t the Zack Snyder DCEU, but it didn’t ruin the movie for me.
Update: With my second viewing, I still felt Metamorpho and the baby scene came off goofy. However, if you really watch the end of the scene, Superman shines.
The Verdict: Superman Is a Fun Ride
Overall, James Gunn delivers a great superhero movie. It’s a lot of fun—probably the most fun we’ve seen from a superhero movie in years. Fast-paced, full of action, and a big comic book adventure. A popcorn flick worth seeing more than once. Have fun!
Superman gets a 8/10.
