A Reel Review: SUPERMAN

Much like James Bond, Superman, the most iconic superhero of all time, is a character that is rich and large enough to earn a reboot/refresh/clean-slate every 10 years or so, with each era having its ups and downs. The late great Christopher Reeve started it all by playing Supes in 1978, followed by the good-but-not-great Brandon Routh in 2006, and most recently, the dour and joyless Henry Cavill era in 2013. Now, newcomer David Corenswet dons the cape and boots (and trunks) for a new flight in SUPERMAN. 

 

Superman/Clark Kent (Corenswet), has his reputation destroyed by the morally corrupt billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). As Superman struggles to gain favor back with the people of Earth, he also finds his relationship strained with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) while a possible world-ending threat looms. 

 

Directed by James Gunn of Marvel fame, SUPERMAN is the first film in a brand-new line of continuity for DC Studios. Despite being the first film in this new cinematic universe, SUPERMAN mercifully, and smartly, forgoes any A-to-Z origin story; there is no waiting around 60 minutes to see our hero get into the blue suit. The film drops us right into a world already populated by super-powered heroes and super-powered threats. With that established, this version of Superman isn’t spending a lot of time chasing down bank robbers or kitties in trees…and is instead fighting threats equal to his great speed and strength. With the odds being even, this Superman takes a wallop more than once which is something new for us to see. 

 

With Supes taking a beating, the character is revealed as more human than ever. His struggles to win physical battles with galactic monsters, coupled with a startling mid-film twist involving his birth parents, allows Gunn to dive deep into the character. For once, the man in Man of Steel gets priority over the Steel. 

 

While Gunn is making Superman new again, he’s also crafting a film packed with excellent action, adventure, and romance. The action scenes are a thrill, and the emotional bits between Supes/Clark with Lois, his family, and his dog (!) really hit. The film is saturated in Superman lore, pulling from the comics and past films to help craft his new universe…and this time there is no need to keep it grounded with real-world logic or science. But despite the heavy sci-fi, the film draws from current events and it really works. The score by John Murphy and David Fleming is excellent, with new renditions of John Williams’ classic SUPERMAN theme from 1978. 

 

Also working well is the acting. David Corenswet is tremendous in the role. He spends a lot of time in the suit and not much as Clark, but he makes the most of his time when he has the glasses on. Rachel Brosnahan is a great Lois, and Nichols Hoult is one of the most evil versions of Lex we’ve ever seen. The show is nearly stolen by the Justice Gang (Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi), and watch out for some sneaky fun cameos. 

 

For the first film in a new universe, SUPERMAN delivers. The film’s focus on a human character makes a solid connection with us all, and we love him for his humanity, his morals, and his care for all living things; all the right pieces and parts for this new line of continuity to build on. This is the uplifting, inspirational SUPERMAN film that we have been waiting a long time for. DC has a reason to look up. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

A Reel History: Superman on Film

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…no it’s Superman: making his return to the big screen this weekend in SUPERMAN. Directed by James Gunn of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY fame, this reboot of the popular and iconic DC hero (and arguably the greatest superhero of all time), will be the fourth version of the Man of Steel to appear in feature-length films. Here now is the history of Superman on the big screen, sorted by the actors who played him.

 

 

The Christopher Reeve Era: 1978 – 1987

 

Superman got off to a magnificent start with this Richard Donner-directed masterpiece of fun, drama, and good old-fashioned heroics: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. The late great Christopher Reeve donned the cape and boots, and in a performance that has yet to be matched, gave Superman and Clark Kent humanity and heart. With an excellent cast that included Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margo Kidder, Ned Beatty, Glenn Ford, Jackie Cooper, and Valerie Perrine…and a tremendous score by John Williams, SUPERMAN set a gold standard for superhero films that every comic-book film has been chasing. Reeve would reprise the role for the well-received SUPERMAN II in 1981, and the zany comedy SUPERMAN III (1983) alongside Richard Pryor. Reeve’s up-and-down run would end on a sour note, with the low-budget and ill-conceived SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)…one of the worst superhero films ever made. 

 

 

The Brandon Routh Era: 2006

 

Superman would see success on television for many years, but he would be absent from the big screen for a long time, until X-MEN director Bryan Singer brought him back to Earth with SUPERMAN RETURNS in 2006. Brandon Routh played Clark Kent/Superman that served as a homage sequel to the Reeve films. Routh was joined by Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella, and Parker Posey. SUPERMAN RETURNS delivered some genuine moments of stand-up-and-cheer and take-your-breath-away, but was met with mixed reviews and only earned enough to be the ninth highest grossing film of the year. Routh’s run as Superman would begin and end here. 

 

 

The Henry Cavill Era: 2013 – 2021

 

After another long break from film, Superman returned in 2013 in the Zack Snyder-helmed MAN OF STEEL. Produced by THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY mastermind Christopher Nolan, MAN OF STEEL went for a grounded approach that worked in some places but fell on its face in others. Henry Cavill looked great in the suit, but was sadly asked to play the character as a miserable, unhappy shit. The cast was stacked (Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Russell Crowe), and Hans Zimmer delivered a thundering score, but MAN OF STEEL did not click with audiences…met with mixed reviews and finishing as the ninth-highest grossing film of the year. 

 

Things did not improve for Cavill over his next appearances. Next came another Snyder mess: BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE in 2016 which felt like 54 different movies mashed together. Cavill was joined by Ben Affleck (Batman), and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), and was once again asked to play our beacon of hope as the most miserable person on the planet. 

 

It is no spoiler to say that Cavill’s Superman would be killed at the end of DAWN OF JUSTICE, and Snyder and parent studio Warner Bros. would treat Cavill like yesterday’s news leading up to the super-messy JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017). Cavill was left out of the marketing as if audiences had no idea he would be coming back, and once he did return, it amounted to an extended cameo. JUSTICE LEAGUE would go through more than one recut until they thought they got it right, but not much improved. 

 

 

The David Corenswet Era: 2025

 

After the SnyderVerse of DC heroes mercifully came to an end, the time had come to wipe the slate clean. Enter James Gunn of Marvel fame with a brand-new version, SUPERMAN. David Corenswet plays Supes, and he is joined by Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, and Isabella Merced. The film follows Superman’s journey to come to terms with his alien heritage with his adapted human family. 

 

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SUPERMAN lands in theatres this weekend. 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode VII

This July will be a true test for movie theatres. With so many original films flopping this year, studios are betting big on this month, with two of the most legendary superheroes returning to the big screen, along with one of the most lucrative franchises of all time. Here is what’s coming to theatres this month: 

 

 

 

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH – The seventh installment in the box office monster of a franchise. This time a team of operatives are dispatched to a dino-populated island on a secret mission. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend. It is directed by Gareth Edwards (ROGUE ONE). 

 

 

SUPERMAN – Writer and director James Gunn (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY), jumps over to DC Studios and brings the Man of Steel back to the big screen in this first film of the new, rebooted film series. The cast includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It also stars Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced. 

 

 

 

EDDINGTON – Acclaimed horror director Ari Aster (MIDSOMMER, HEREDITARY), brings us this black-comedy following the social turmoil in New Mexico during COVID. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. 

 

 

 

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER – The fourth film in the horror/slasher series that started way back in 1997, with another hook-wielding killer appearing and targeting a group of friends who covered up a car accident. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Madelyn Cline star. 

 

 

SMURFS – A reboot of the SMURF film series with Smurfette on a mission to find the kidnapped Papa Smurf. The voice-cast includes Rihanna, James Corden, John Goodman, and Nick Offerman. 

 

 

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS – The 37^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), welcomes the famed four-some back to the big screen. The cast includes Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing), and Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm). 

 

 

 

TOGETHER – In this supernatural body-horror film, a couple (Alison Brie, Dave Franco), move to the countryside and encounter a supernatural force which horrifically changes their bodies. 

 

 

 

THIS IS SPINAL TAP – Rob Reiner’s 1984 mockumentary about a rock band gets a limited theatrical run to serve as a promotion for its upcoming sequel. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of August.