Films for Breakfast

Superheroes have been a constant presence in my life for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is seeing Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man in theaters when I was four years old – an experience that completely altered my brain chemistry forever. As I got older, I started diving into comics; naturally gravitating toward Batman and Spider-Man, like most boys do. But Superman always stood out to me as the quintessential blueprint of what a hero should be. For a long time, though, I avoided his solo stories. I think I found him too impossibly good, too idealized – someone I couldn’t quite relate to as I struggled with seeing the good in myself, I looked for more traditionally flawed heroes.

But a few years ago, I finally explored some of Superman’s most celebrated stories, and I completely fell in love. Titles like All-Star Superman, For All Seasons, and Peace on Earth (to name just a few) revealed a depth and beauty I hadn’t expected before. These stories revealed the quiet power and artistry behind what Superman truly represents – an aspiration toward kindness, decency, and hope for a better tomorrow. I had misunderstood him all along. He isn’t some unreachable ideal or flawless figure; he’s flawed, scared, and lonely – just like I was. But what makes him heroic is that he never lets any of that stop him from doing what’s right.

I say all this to acknowledge that, yes, I’m biased. Over the past decade, I’ve truly fallen in love with Superman. But I also want to lay the groundwork for what I mean when I say this: James Gunn’s Superman completely blew me away. I was genuinely nervous the film might let me down – but instead, it felt like a warm hug; radiating optimism and wonder in every frame. It embraces everything I love about comic books and unfolds like a glorious, large-scale, feature-length splash page brought to life. I am absolutely in awe of this film. 

Gunn feels like the perfect filmmaker to take on Superman right now. Having made his name telling stories about misfits learning to believe in themselves and become heroes with Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, he’s now stepped up to tackle the very blueprint of what all superheroes aspire to be. From the opening moments, it’s clear he has a deep understanding not only just of the DC Universe, but of Superman himself, right down to his core. He loves, he is anxious about doing the right thing, and above all else – wants to help because it’s simply what he believes is right. Gunn tells you everything you need to know from the get-go.

I love the creative decision not to begin at the peak of Superman’s career or retread his origin story. Instead, the film opens with him at his lowest – a hero who’s bruised, beaten, and grappling with moral dilemmas, with nowhere to turn but the echoing emptiness of the Fortress of Solitude. David Corenswet completely captures everything I love about both Clark Kent and Superman – he embodies both sides of the character with ease and sincerity. From the moment the film began, he instantly felt like my definitive Superman. During one of the opening action sequences there’s a keen attempt at focusing less on the action and destruction and more-so on how pivotal it is to Superman that he saves as many lives as possible – animals and humans alike. From that point forward, I was so incredibly in. I felt like I was in good hands. 

I was also struck by his chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. They genuinely capture what makes Lois and Clark the greatest couple in comic book history with so many sweeping moments of pure romance. Their dynamic just clicks in all the right ways, and Gunn wisely saves a lot of the most pivotal emotional beats to spawn from their relationship. Nicholas Hoult absolutely nails Lex Luthor, radiating the unhinged, egotistical envy that makes the character so damn’ compelling. And Edi Gathegi comes dangerously close to stealing the show as Mr. Terrific, a character I always thought would be tough to translate to the big screen. Yet Gunn gives him the perfect role and lets him shine consistently throughout.

But for me, it’s Gunn’s direction and his vision for this world that truly steal the show. What he’s crafted is the most unapologetically comic book–y, live-action superhero film since Raimi’s original Spider-Man. It genuinely feels like a comic book brought to life. From the opening, you’re thrown into a world that feels both tangible and fantastical in equal measure. The tone strikes a near-impossible balance, effortlessly coasting between heartfelt sincerity and delightfully heightened absurdity. The action is thrilling and frenetic, with some truly unique camerawork and striking visuals from DP Henry Braham. The score by John Murphy and David Fleming absolutely floored me. It’s surprisingly dynamic and fluid, effortlessly shifting from bombastic and epic to punk rock to truly beautiful and moving. 

All in all, I absolutely loved this film. I was blown away by its sincerity, its exciting action, its glorious world-building, its timeliness, and its unapologetic commitment to being as large-scale, weird, and wonderfully wacky as it wants to be – while still keeping a clear, heartfelt focus on Superman as a character and the journey he takes. James Gunn has delivered a vibrant, big-hearted swing for the fences and it pays off beautifully. An instant, all-time classic for me.