Superman, 2025 - ★★★★
Friday, July 11, 2025
This sincere and kind-hearted tone suits Superman so well, I'm glad they finally got that right; he now truly embodies a symbol of hope.
The story is very fast-paced and plot-driven, which might feel a bit too packed. This is just my opinion, but I would have preferred a character-driven narrative to introduce a new universe like this. Nonetheless, it's a well-crafted action-hero film.
The score is amazing. The production is excellent. The cinematography is TERRIFIC, with many impressive framing choices. (I'm not sure if it was because I watched it on a standard screen, but some shots felt slightly cropped. But it's no big deal).
The cast is perfect, each bringing their own charisma and personality that fit their characters flawlessly. I especially loved Lex Luthor's portrayal! I'm a bit annoyed, though, that they didn't let him fully elaborate on his plan or finish his side of the argument. He also was nerfed so heavily at the end that it felt like they just wanted to wrap up the story quickly at that point.
It's unfortunate that, despite such a fantastic cast, the script didn't give them enough room to truly shine. The film skips over much of the world-building and character introductions, which might make it difficult for newcomers to connect with any of the characters. I understand the desire to avoid rehashing origin stories, but there should have been a better way to develop the characters. (Calling out names a few times and showcasing—but not explaining—powers already feels generous for this film, lol.) At the very least, more scenes with the Kent family should have been included, so the audience could grasp why Superman, despite his god-like powers, is filled with heart, humility, and profound love for humanity.
Don't get me wrong—I believe Superman is a great superhero film. It's just not the story I would personally choose to introduce a new universe, as I doubt this will make newcomers fall in love with this world or with Superman as a person.
I imagine they made this movie to reignite love for superhero films in general, rather than focusing specifically on Clark Kent. If that's the case, then I'm already looking forward to all the upcoming movies in this new DC Universe. It's just a shame, because Clark Kent/Superman is such a fascinating character! At a time when true goodness is so rare like this, this film could have been the perfect vehicle to showcase the spirit of a flawed yet earnest man dedicated to becoming better, by constantly pushing himself to grow and (literally and figuratively) uplifting those around him. They could have saved some storylines for future films and allowed the central themes of Superman/Clark Kent to resonate more deeply with the audience, which might have resulted in a stronger and more powerful film, in my opinion.
Overall, I think this is truly a Superman movie in comic-book style, and I enjoyed it more than I expected. All my nitpicking comes from the many missed opportunities that could have brought the film closer to perfection.
But hey, for anyone still on the fence about this movie, let me just say that our Superdog, Krypto, is absolutely adorable! I could watch this little cutie with a huge smile and say it's well worth my money and more.