Superman movie review

The DCEU is dead, long live the DCU: Because the so -called DC Extended Universe (DCEU) could never really prevail despite great successes such as “Aquaman” or “Wonder Woman”, after disappointments such as “Justice League” or “Black Adam” in November 2022, the plug. Just two months later, the newly used DC studios bosses Peter Safran and James Gunn announced their master plan for a new DC universe-and after the animation series “Creature Commandos”, the DCU is now starting with “Superman”. The new “Superman“Film is the direct counter-design to the“ Man of Steel ”in many ways …

… and actually far away from the rather dark, serious tone of many DCEU blockbusters: This is already evident in the figure of Superman himself, who, directed by James Gunn (“The Suicide Suqad”), is a heart carrier and heroic fighter for justice. So no longer an outsider of self -doubt like the Superman from Zack Snyder. The new metropolis also fits, because it is so squeaky, bizarre and sometimes simply crazy, as many (DC) comics are. This ensures fresh optimism in the superhero genre and some great setpieces-nevertheless “Superman” is an overall mixed start for the newly launched universe.

Superman (David Corenswet) has been active as a superhero in Metropolis for three years. In his camouflage identity as a reporter Clark Kent, he also works for the Daily Planet, where he began a secret affair with his colleague Lois Lane (Rachel Brosahhan) inaugurated in his double life. Because of his heroic deeds and his pronounced sense of justice, Superman is actually extremely popular with the people in his adopted home. Only the businessman Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) eaten up by envy cannot endure this and does everything to pull Superman's image into the dirt – and at best to clear it out of the way.

While he keeps Superman busy with all kinds of actions and meanness, Luthor works on the releases of the US government in the background to arrest and lock his arch enemy. When Luthor and his henchmen-including The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), which is equipped with countless nano robots, and the mysterious ultraman-finally, to trace supermans in the Antarctic fortress of loneliness, he is already at the goal of his dark dreams …

Something is constantly being explained

300 years ago there were the first metamats, i.e. beings with superhuman forces. 30 years ago, Kal-El was sent to Earth as a baby and christened Clark Kent by his human drawing parents. Three years ago, the adult Superman revealed itself to humanity. Three weeks ago, he intervened in a conflict between the nations Boravia and Jarhanpur. There was therefore an armed metam in the armor called “Hammer of Boravia” via Metropolis. And three minutes ago Superman lost a fight for the first time.

With these text boards displayed at the beginning, everything that DC fans need to know at the start of the reboot should actually be said. But James Gunn not only provides a new Superman story, but the starting signal for a complete superhero universe. This requires (significantly) more exposure – and this is repeatedly sewed into a striking awkward dialogue. So Gunn does without the choice of the well -known origin story, but then he doesn't dare to completely do without it. Instead, he lets some robots from Superman's fortress say the background story of her hero. This is as uncomfortable as it is redundant.

At the beginning you may still overlook this, but the constant exposure dialogues run through “Superman” like a thread-whether Lex Luthor reveals his prisoner in the best Bond-Flow-weight manner or reveals Lois in a conversation with Superman for the audience how differently the two tick. In a previous scene, Gunn actually found a nice way to show exactly that and not only to say: In Lois' apartment, a freshly loving smooch ultimately develops into a tough interview. The film Lois is established as a mercilessly good journalist and Superman as a fairy -loving, but also some naive types – without having to be spelled out great.

When Lois later visits his parents together with Superman, visited his youth room and experiences the intimate relationship with his parents Martha (Neva Howell) and Jonathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince), Gunn also does not need any words to show that she falls in love with Clark at that moment. Anyway, the intermezzo on the Kent farm is one of the touching highlights of “Superman”. Nevertheless, not only the calm moments have long been convincing, although Superman is ironically not involved in the action highlight of the film: Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) annoyed a bunch of Luthor henchmen with his spherical robot assistant (the so-called t-pheres).

Justice Gang> Justice League

In the scene in question, the camera deliberately stays close to the shocked Lois, which follows the action from the inside of a protective tortoise. The fact that Gunn also found the ideal song as a soundtrack is almost self-evident in the creator of the Mixtape-driven “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy. Even for some of the most successful gags, such as a monster eye pics, which is summoned with Green Lantern Pensions Mister Terrific forms together with Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Guy Gardner alias Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion).

The Mister-Terriftic action scene is used to the just as much as you remain much more in memory than all of the Superman action scenes in the end. Gunn lets his title hero meet on various opponents, including the hammer of Boravia mentioned at the beginning, a high-rise, fire-breathing kaiju monster and an army of Luthor soldiers in combat suits. Although this fits wonderfully into the film as colorful as it is bizarre comic world and ensures a lot of variety in the action scenes, the last spark often does not jump over.

With the exception of the extreme close-ups with a fishy eye effect, there is simply a brilliant idea of ​​lifting the Superman action even more from “Man of Steel”. Two adversaries, who fly around and beat each other, have already been seen there. But even if the action itself remains a bit pale, Gunn uses these scenes to show that, in case of doubt, protecting innocent people is always more important than a defeated villain-a clear return to the comic roots and a confessed departure from Zack Snyder's brood hero.

Superman's use for the people in metropolis and in the rest of the world always causes goosebumps, for example when Superman keeps a little girl from flying gas bottles or prevents a crushing high -rise squeezed a woman in a car. This is especially true when John Williams' iconic “Superman” topic sounds that the composers John Murphy (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”) and David Fleming (“The Last of Us”) cite extensively in their driving score.

The cast is good – but much too big!

The cast of “Superman” is also a plus-even if it is too obviously geared towards a franchise start with a fifth fifth gait: Rachel Brosahn (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) gives a excellent Lois Lane, while David Corenswet (“Twisters”) as Clark Kent and Superman two noticeably different, extremely charismatic Performances delivered. In addition, the excellent chemistry between Corenswet and Brosahnhan comes into play in scenes such as the spontaneous interview described above. Nicholas Hoult (“Warm Bodies”) has a lot of fun as a pathologically jealous Lex Luthor – and the not at all good super dog crypto steals the show everyone anyway.

The film is also well cast down to the supporting roles. But the burden not only to tell a superman story, but also to establish the DCU, is also very noticeable when it comes to the scope of the occupation list, because there is simply too much a handful of secondary figures. Above all, a storyline about Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) and Luthor's' loved one Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio) keeps sustaining the plot. In addition, the complete ensemble is (almost) towed from start to finish. There are so many (and more) figures in the DC comics, but the new Superman keeps groaning under the burden of all the characters instead of being allowed to let off steam in his first cinema adventure.

Conclusion: The new “Superman” takes much more to the DC comics and thus stands out significantly from the previous DCEU appearances by Henry Cavill. However, the sheer abundance of plot strands and figures as well as the task of having to establish a new DC universe at the same time repeatedly force the steel man into their knees.