(Spoiler alert! lots of details on what happens in the new Superman movie. Wait to read after you have seen the movie if you wish)
As a long-time fan of superhero movies, I’m usually thrilled when a beloved franchise gets a reboot. It’s a chance to inject fresh faces and new ideas into a classic story. I was excited to the watch it on a the big screen a day before the official release date. That too in a Dolby-enhanced screening with sorround sound and super crisp projection. However, my excitement quickly turned into profound disappointment. This film, regrettably, has stripped away the very heart and soul of what made the original Superman movie a memorable experience.
The original Superman’s brilliance lay in its simplicity and unique premise: a single superhuman, a benevolent alien, lands on Earth and chooses to use his extraordinary powers to protect the weak and fight evil. The journey of his self-discovery, the joyful realization of his abilities, was immensely fascinating and endearing. Equally captivating was the playful dynamic of his secret identity – a secret obvious to the audience, yet delightfully hidden from the characters within the film. And who could forget the tender, complex love story between the bumbling Clark Kent and the seasoned, admired Lois Lane, who secretly falls for the very hero Clark embodies? That intricate balance of drama, romance, and heroism was the magic that made the original so appealing.
This reboot, however, seems to misunderstand these fundamental elements. The film opens with Clark and Lois in an embrace, with Lois already aware of his secret identity. Why skip the best part? While the recreated Lex Luthor is a fine character on his own, the decision to give him abilities to create superhuman challenges undermines the original dynamic. The essence of Lex Luthor’s villainy was that he committed human-level acts of evil, using his intellect and wealth to challenge Superman, with Kryptonite being the sole equalizer. The new film’s concept of Lex creating a ‘wormhole to split the universe’ feels like a generic trope borrowed from countless other comic book narratives, completely out of place in the Superman universe.
Furthermore, many of the beloved supporting characters from the original, like the cigar-chomping newspaper editor and the eager junior reporter, are reduced to mere caricatures. And then there’s the dog. As cute as he is, he inexplicably gets more action sequences than Superman himself! Perhaps the movie should have been titled ‘Super Dog, Featuring Superman.’
Speaking of Superman, where was the awe-inspiring hero we know? He spends a significant portion of the film losing fights, getting beaten up, and generally appearing ineffective. While heroes don’t need to win all the time, this portrayal felt far from the symbol of hope and strength he represents. There isn’t a single truly awe-inspiring scene in the entire film. Think back to the original: Superman saving Lois Lane from a falling helicopter with that reassuring line, ‘Don’t worry, Lois, I got you,’ followed by her comically genius retort, ‘But who’s got you?’. Or the iconic scene where Lois says goodbye to Superman on her balcony, only for the camera to follow her inside, revealing Clark Kent at her door. These moments were cinematic gold, rich with character and emotional depth. The new reboot offers nothing comparable.
Beyond these narrative missteps, the film introduces baffling creative choices. What was with Superman’s mom speaking with a Southern accent? His parents are iconic Midwesterners from Kansas; the accent was completely misplaced and jarring. Even more troubling was the film’s attempt at political allegory. The portrayal of ‘Jarhanpurians’ resembling Palestinians, with an attacking army suspiciously like the Israeli military, and a head of state appearing as a goofy, crazy mix-up between Netanyahu and Viktor Orbán, felt deeply problematic. The battle scenes with tanks attacking civilians came across as anti-Israeli propaganda wrapped in ‘Hollywood doublespeak’ and cinematic preaching, making for an incredibly uncomfortable and unenjoyable viewing experience.
It feels as if the filmmakers took a collection of generic superhero and Marvel movie scripts, fed them into a chatbot, and simply prompted it to ‘make a script for Superman.’ The result is a film utterly devoid of imagination, character, and the unique spirit that has defined Superman for generations. It’s a missed opportunity that leaves fans like me longing for the true Man of Steel.