Superman: Bang for Buck

 

There’s a different kind of satisfaction when a movie you’ve been waiting for delivers. Superman gives you exactly that. With the James Gunn directorial being under the scanner due to its teaser and trailer drawing mixed reactions, the film had a lot to prove. After watching it, I can confidently say – it lives up to the hype. 

 

One gamble James Gunn takes is choosing to go with a considerably lighter tone as compared to a typical DC film. But the beauty of the film lies in how well he executes this. The light tone blends well with the movie. The humour lands and doesn’t feel forced. Directing an origin movie has its own challenges, but Gunn carries out the task pretty well. The film sets the platform for promising sequels and hopefully a new era for DC. The movie does get emotional occasionally. However, the emotional aspect is not overdone, and is added at just the right amount. It makes you build a connection with the characters and feel for them.

 

The movie invokes a lot of positive emotions. There are a lot of wholesome and heartwarming moments throughout. The ‘human’ side of Superman is explored quite well. At various points he is shown as a normal person having vulnerabilities and experiencing emotions like any other human being. The film beautifully depicts what Superman as a character stands for. On the other hand, the ‘superhero’ side of Superman is also well encapsulated. There are moments where he radiates aura. Tearing through enemies, blazing through air, stopping buildings mid-collapse – the film ticks off all the cliché superhero moments well. 

 

Any Superman movie would be incomplete without its aerial action sequences. And this is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the movie. One aspect where the movie definitely gets the better of Man of Steel. I cannot stop raving about how amazing the action feels. It is a visual spectacle. The fast paced action and the stunning camerawork make you feel like you are mid air, which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable theatre experience. The climax set-piece is exhilarating and delivers an insane adrenaline rush. If you don’t like any other aspect of the movie, this is still one thing that will stand out regardless.

 

The next best thing is the film’s casting. The casting is spot on – every character feels like a natural fit for their role. However, there are two people who deserve a special mention. David Corenswet (playing Superman and Clark Kent) and Nicholas Hoult (playing Lex Luthor). Corenswet had big shoes to fill, and he does so comfortably. His acting feels well suited to Superman, and he is able to embrace the enormity and importance of his role. He leads the movie perfectly. Hoult is absolutely brilliant. There were moments where he completely stole the show. He is the best performer in the movie. He amazingly expresses the hatred and seethe Lex Luthor carries. Rachel Brosnahan (playing Lois Lane) also performs well. Lois and Superman share a good chemistry and their relationship feels quite natural and realistic.

 

Superman’s pet dog, Krypto, makes for a fresh addition. This is another risk Gunn successfully takes, especially since the pet dog element hadn’t been explored in Man of Steel. He’s given his fair share of screen time which does not feel forced, and naturally integrates well with Superman, acting as his aide throughout the movie.

 

My only issue with the movie was that Clark Kent’s character was not significantly explored. We only see Kent in hardly a couple of scenes. Corenswet spends almost the entire movie as Superman. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of Kent in future installments, but this is definitely something which could’ve been given more significance. 

 

The movie does not suffer from any logistical issues. The plot is kept quite simple. The pacing and run time feels perfect. The cinematography and production feel quite premium. There are a couple of cheesy dialogues thrown here and there, but it is a superhero movie at the end of the day. All things considered, I absolutely loved this movie. Haven’t felt this good walking out of the theatre in a long time. If you’re looking to unwind with a heartfelt, high-flying superhero film, this one’s definitely bang for your buck.