This past summer was filled with Superman excitement—the most popular the character has been in over a decade. Filled with flying dogs, talking robots, and giant monsters, the man of tomorrow has flown back into the hearts of millions across the world.
“I did like the film, I feel like it really captivated the presence of Superman and the approach of this film,” said OH alumni Jack Beaudette.
The creative cinematography, the masterful performances by David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult (among many others), and the brilliant story written by Gunn himself all come together in one of the best comic book movies of the decade.
“I think the film is really well paced, the humor isn’t too abundant, and the action scenes are really imaginative,” said OH senior Daniel Valentin.
One point was easily the highlight of this movie: its tone. It seems like every single element of this movie works to further an uplifting, hopeful message meant to inspire viewers, and I’m not alone in thinking this.
OH senior Lea Ramirez felt similarly, saying that “With how bright the movie is, it’s so much more visually appealing compared to past DC movies.” And this is clear through many aspects of the film.
The soundtrack, including “Punkrocker” by Teddybears and “5 Years Time” by Noah and the Whale, uplifts the viewer.
There are also the actions of Superman himself, who goes out of his way not only to stop villains but also to save lives and prevent property damage.
All in all, this entire movie seems dedicated to returning Superman to his roots as a lifesaver.
“He is for the working people, and despises people who oppress the weak, and doesn’t hesitate to punch out people who do wrong,” Valentin said.
This couldn’t have come at a better time for the character, as, for over a decade, Superman was seen as a cold, emotionless husk.
“My main issues with the other adaptations are what I previously said, they dwell on one aspect of Superman and lose sight of the other,” commented Valentin.
The film replaced bright optimism with muted tones, intense action scenes, and a conflicted hero struggling with identity and morality.
In 2013, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel stormed onto the scene. “I’ve seen other DC movies in the past and they’re very… dark and didn’t have… the nostalgia of the original DC comics,” said Ramirez.
The character was losing his hopefulness and core identity. Throughout the film, Clark is reckless—destroying buildings, flying the villain through skyscrapers to defeat him. He’s indifferent, and he’s muted, completely missing the point of the character.
“Superman felt like it was more for the people and had Superman more relatable to people than other Supermans like Cavill or Reeve.”
After many years, we’ve come to today. Following an optimistic summer, Superman is finally showing people that the big blue boy scout can be a compelling character without turning into an emotionless god-like entity.
“The other movies made Superman act like he’s done this before and everybody loves him and all that,” Beaudette said, “but this Superman had to deal with other worldly things like the negative side of the news and the people with how they felt about Superman.”
In a world like ours, where pessimism runs rampant, inspiring a new generation with the idea that kindness is cool is incredibly valuable. Because when hatred is the norm, kindness is the real punk rock.
“James Gunn’s Superman delves into aspects of the character that other adaptations were scared of, or didn’t flesh out,” Valentin said. “He isn’t God, he’s a man – a super man.”
I'm a senior at OHS and it's my first year as a journalist. I hope to go to school for directing and screenwriting. I plan on mostly writing about movies and video games, and most nerd stuff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
