The previous DCEU had a few ups and several downs, but it was ultimately for the best to start anew. This new movie universe, called the DCU, has officially been kicked off with the theatrical release of Superman. With the biggest superhero of all time, there comes a lot of expectations. Let’s take a look at whether this latest big screen outing for the man of steel soars high or fails to take off.

Warning: Spoilers for Superman are ahead.

The Good

There is a lot going on in this flick, but it handles it all surprisingly well. It still manages to flow quite nicely and tell a standalone story while also keeping things open for more in the future. The story is told exactly like a comic book: it’s centered on one hero within a world where other heroes exist without explanation, the pacing is quick and jumps right into other very different scenes, and it only focuses on the story at hand while there’s an implication of a much bigger universe out there. Comic readers are sure to love this film’s unique storytelling, and it’s still easy to follow for newcomers.

It’s genuinely wonderful to see that Superman saves people in this movie. Most modern superhero movies have the hero focus on battling the villain but rarely show them going out of their way to ensure the safety of civilians. Here, Superman takes the time to save anyone who might be in danger, whether it be children, dogs, or even squirrels. He even does his best to ensure minimal property damage is done during fights, and checks on people when there is some sort of destruction. This is what superheroes should be about.

The character of Superman is captured perfectly in this movie, with his struggles coming more from figuring out how he can save everyone and ethical choices that come from that rather than just whether or not he can win a fight. He’s caring to a fault, kind, and has similar stresses to other people on Earth. The same can be said for every character in the movie; they’re all adapted perfectly. Hawkgirl, Lex Luthor, Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific and others feel like they leapt from the pages of the comics. Their personalities match the source material so well that any fan would appreciate it.

The performances are all top-notch. For a movie as crowded as this one, it’s quite surprising that so many performances are able to stand out. David Corenswet absolutely nails the Superman role. Rachel Brosnahan excels as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult brings a welcome amount of emotion to Lex Luthor. The whole cast is just plain impressive, with many of them stealing the spotlight at various points in the movie.

Perhaps even more impressive is the chemistry between them, especially when it comes to Corenswet and Brosnahan. They make the romance between Lois and Clark feel totally real, as if the actors themselves were truly in love. Every interaction feels organic and lifelike. These actors are all fantastic.

The film touches on important real-world issues that are great to see addressed by such a high-profile movie. It makes the audience think while adding grounded stakes to the story. These heavy themes also escalate the amount of heart in the movie. It’s so hard to watch this without caring about the world and the characters.

At the end of the day, though, this is a superhero flick with tons of superpowers being showcased, so the action needs to be great, and it most definitely is. Every battle and every scene that has Superman and other characters in danger is filled with suspense and surprises. It’s impossible to not be on the edge of your seat when characters are fighting for their lives and the lives of others and you never know what else will be thrown at you.

The visual effects are just as incredible. This is the case with both the traditional effects and the CGI. Kaiju, aliens, eye beams, Green Lantern constructs, explosions and more look real, or at least looks great-enough that it never feels like a noticeable issue or distraction. It all adds to how immersive this superhero-filled world is.

It would be a mistake to not mention how fantastic the score is in Superman. They use the 70s John Williams theme at the perfect times while putting their own spin on it, and it works quite well. The rest of the music sounds beautiful and epic and really sucks you into everything you’re seeing on screen. This is one score worth listening to on its own because of how good it is.

The Bad

Again, there is a lot going on in this movie, with a lot of characters, stories, and jumping between scenes. I personally feel that it was all handled well and flowed together just perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see others complain about being overwhelmed or there just being so much for a single movie.

There are connections to 2021’s The Suicide Squad here, which does lead to some confusion. That movie took place in the previous DCEU, and this is meant to be the start of a whole new universe. Some movies being canon to this universe but not other movies doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There being a new Superman but the same versions of other characters is baffling, especially when the rest of this movie proves that starting completely from scratch was the way to go. Doing it this way also potentially means some rather unfortunate things for this universe, like Captain Boomerang being dead long before the Flash is even introduced. It’s frustrating for fans and honestly rough storytelling. It doesn’t really affect this movie a whole lot, but it will be a big blemish on this universe if they keep nodding toward it.

Conclusion

Superman feels like a classic comic book come to life. The action feels big, the characters feel authentic to the source material, the themes and messages are important and interesting, the story is captivating, and there’s suspense from start to finish. It’s an extremely fun, immersive time for comic readers and casual audiences alike. This is just about everything a blockbuster movie should be. It truly gives me hope for the future of the DCU.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

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