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First “Superman” review I have read

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July 16, 2025, 07:36 PM
Dzozer
First “Superman” review I have read
Is Nathan Fillon supposed to be Guy Gardner? lol



'veritas non verba magistri'
July 16, 2025, 09:13 PM
RogueJSK
Yep
July 16, 2025, 09:32 PM
Dzozer
Cool - thanks!

Well, that in itself makes me want to watch it now... I always loved the Guy Gardner character! Maybe they'll bring back Booster Gold and the JLI too! Smile



'veritas non verba magistri'
July 16, 2025, 09:56 PM
Orguss
quote:
Originally posted by Dzozer:
... the JLI too!





"I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak!" - Calvin, "Calvin & Hobbes"
July 17, 2025, 10:33 AM
YellowJacket
Saw it last night. I was kinda meh on it, but I typically am with superhero movies, anyways. And especially Superman. James Gunn has a very distinctive style, of course, which is fun. Sometimes the movie felt like it couldn't decide if it was serious or not. I don't care for Nicholas Hoult at all, but you're not supposed to like Lex Luthor so I guess that fits. He was very over-the-top. Superman spent most of the movie getting his butt kicked so that was a little weird.

The story was decent and it wasn't woke so that is good. I thought it was enjoyable but dumb, if that makes sense. I'd probably give it a 5/10. My wife loved it though because it is much more in her wheelhouse.



I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log.
July 17, 2025, 11:16 AM
PASig
quote:
Originally posted by Dzozer:
Is Nathan Fillon supposed to be Guy Gardner? lol


Yes...and all I see is John Nolan with a blonde bowl cut Eek

I don't know about all this talk about how this movie is horrible and woke garbage etc. Every person I know who has seen it now has loved it, including some pretty hardcore conservative type friends and family.


July 17, 2025, 12:46 PM
DanH
quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
I don't know about all this talk about how this movie is horrible and woke garbage etc. Every person I know who has seen it now has loved it, including some pretty hardcore conservative type friends and family.


Well, here's a start:

1) Superman spends the whole movie getting his ass kicked and needs help.
2) The Kents are trailer trash rednecks.
3) Every man is a beta male pussy who cries.
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)

That's a decent start.
July 17, 2025, 12:54 PM
PASig
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
I don't know about all this talk about how this movie is horrible and woke garbage etc. Every person I know who has seen it now has loved it, including some pretty hardcore conservative type friends and family.


Well, here's a start:

1) Superman spends the whole movie getting his ass kicked and needs help.
2) The Kents are trailer trash rednecks.
3) Every man is a beta male pussy who cries.
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)

That's a decent start.


Not sure what your point is here Roll Eyes

I don't even LIKE superhero movies and wish they'd have gone away already. I'm just going by what I am hearing from friends and family who have gone to see it. Are they all wrong? Or is it just you?


July 17, 2025, 01:24 PM
Orguss
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
3) Every man is a beta male pussy who cries.

All except the one guy who usually is, Jimmy Olsen. Hot women swooning in his presence wherever he goes.

quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)

I understand the reference from watching the first season of Invincible but didn't see the evidence in the movie. I'm interested to hear your explanation. I didn't even know the two universes were the same.



"I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak!" - Calvin, "Calvin & Hobbes"
July 17, 2025, 02:33 PM
DanH
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)

I understand the reference from watching the first season of Invincible but didn't see the evidence in the movie. I'm interested to hear your explanation. I didn't even know the two universes were the same.


Jor-El and Lara's message to Clark was to enslave the earth, take many wives, and rule without mercy. It was confirmed in the movie that it wasn't anything Lex faked and James Gunn doubled down on it in the press afterwards. Don't really need to find Zod if Jor-El is just as evil, and drunk/wasted Supergirl who spent more time on Krypton doesn't bode well for Gunn's DC future:


July 17, 2025, 02:34 PM
YellowJacket
***Spoilers below***
1) Superman spends the whole movie getting his ass kicked and needs help.
Agreed, as I mentioned in my review.
2) The Kents are trailer trash rednecks.
I didn't think this at all. His mother had an inexplicable appalachian/southern accent which was stupid, but that's what Hollywood thinks anyone not from a big city sounds like. But they were not rednecks and do not live in a trailer.
3) Every man is a beta male pussy who cries.
Nope. Superman is confident he is doing the right thing in helping people. He is emotional about the dog and about Lois once. His father is a little blubbery and his mother calls attention to that. Luthor is a maniac and over-the-top whiner when things are not going his way.
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)
***SPOLIER***The twist that his Kryptonite parents want him to subdue and rule over the Earth is the major spoiler in the film and drives the plot of the second half of the film. I assume this will continue to drive the plot of any future Superman films Gunn does. He needs some inner turmoil.



I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log.
July 17, 2025, 03:50 PM
DanH
quote:
Originally posted by YellowJacket:
2) The Kents are trailer trash rednecks.
I didn't think this at all. His mother had an inexplicable appalachian/southern accent which was stupid, but that's what Hollywood thinks anyone not from a big city sounds like. But they were not rednecks and do not live in a trailer.


She basically looked at Lois' cell phone like a caveman seeing a cigarette lighter. About the only way James Gunn could have disrespected the Kent's more than that is finding out they're both brother and sister.

quote:
3) Every man is a beta male pussy who cries.
Nope. Superman is confident he is doing the right thing in helping people. He is emotional about the dog and about Lois once.


Which makes him cry like a 5 year old?

quote:
Luthor is a maniac and over-the-top whiner when things are not going his way.


Yep, a beta male man child that makes most of Hollywood. I've like Nicholas Hoult in other movies, but I don't think there's any actor under 55 that can do a proper merciless genius that Luthor needs to be. Much like Zach Snyder's embarassing Lex Luthor, the same thing applies where we need Heisenberg, Not Eisenberg.

quote:
4) Superman's parents were actually Viltrumites (just watch Invincible it's better)
***SPOLIER***The twist that his Kryptonite parents want him to subdue and rule over the Earth is the major spoiler in the film and drives the plot of the second half of the film. I assume this will continue to drive the plot of any future Superman films Gunn does. He needs some inner turmoil.


I've got a better one that the film itself poses while respecting the lore. The "Justice Gang" wants little to do with Superman, a large amount of people hate Superman for various reasons ranging from fear to jealousy, and he can't solve anything without being viciously beaten or needing someone to save Superman. Why is humanity worth saving? Why should Superman be a force for good in a world that wants little of it? Or you can write Superman like he's suppose to be written, show him saving the day instead of needing to be saved to make the above resonate even more.

I'm not a fan of Zach Snyder's DC Universe, but at least he was smart enough to make sure a scene like this was in a Superman film without pissing all over the moment like a reject Joss Wheadon needing a quip to keep the scene going.



The weird thing about Man of Steel and Superman is they seem like good rough drafts that need some polishing, but never got it. Almost all the great points of Man of Steel were the worst points of Superman and the best points of Superman were the worst points of Man of Steel. If Warners can find a happy balance instead of both extremes, there's some good material that can be developed and David Corenswet has the chops to be a good Superman.

However, since James Gunn wants to adapt Tom King's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, I doubt that will happen. You can pretty much throw everything DC did after "The New 52" from 2011 onward in the trash and humanity will be better for it.
July 17, 2025, 05:43 PM
YellowJacket
Just making sure, DanH… did you see the movie?



I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log.
July 17, 2025, 06:26 PM
flesheatingvirus
The only good part of the movie was Mr. Terrific. I've never even heard of that character. Other than that, it was a typical lame superhero fluff movie.

The worst part? It wasn't a Batman movie.


________________________________________

-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
July 18, 2025, 12:46 PM
DanH
quote:
Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Just making sure, DanH… did you see the movie?


Yep, but I'm also pulling other movies in to make my points.
July 19, 2025, 01:20 AM
Prefontaine
quote:
Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Just making sure, DanH… did you see the movie?


We all don’t have to see it to have some form of commentary, especially in this genre above all else. Yes he watched it. It was pretty obvious and the question didn’t need to be asked.

I haven’t seen it and won’t. I read film reviews (it’s in the OP), trust Critical Drinker on YT for the most part. When I read enough shit reviews and video commentary I’m out. Why would I give them a dime of my money or even a drop of piss? I don’t owe Hollywood anything. It owes me for all these shit movies coming out. They certainly don’t make them like they used to and what little we get leaves a lot to be desired. All the $ for the good solid independent films doesn’t exist anymore as most of that, not all, has gone to episodic bullshit across 20+ platforms. It’s nauseating.

I read some deeper dives that have massive spoilers, plot lines, quotes from the film, etc. But that’s spoiler turf and I try to avoid that even if it’s something I don’t like so didn’t post it. I’ve read real deep plot dialog, name it.

Everyone gets to have an opinion. I watch a lot of film and skip most of the episodic bs that is so prevalent and “popular” today. I watch so much film I remember Nicholas Hoult’s first role. It was 23 years ago (that I recall anyway) in About a Boy with Hugh Grant, who can act very well if he has the right role. Seen most of his films actually and 1/2 through Juror No2 currently. Lex Luthor he is not. Horrible casting. Corenswet I don’t buy either.

But at the same time, the genre to me, has sucked for a long time now. Nolan’s Batman trilogy is reference turf over here, on 4k disc, and own them all. I like me “some” SuperHo. Just like some disco music is excellent but much of it is horrible, same thing. But these films have gotten so watered down and trash over the years where it just needs to die for a while. Gunn to me sucks as well. That whatever Batman vs. Superman thing was the best thing I’ve seen of his in this genre and it was good for 2/3 of the film then it went into the suckage, big time. It was like watching a really good film (independent of SuperHo genre) as a stand alone, then went to shit. And he cast Lex Luthor equally as bad in that. I fucking loathe Eisenbuster. He’s the same guy in every single role and it’s annoying AF. Learn to act man and quit acting like a whiny bitch.

Then there is the beta male shit Dan talked about. That might as well be woke. Superman II we saw Superman get weak and drop his powers for a woman. Got his ass whooped and he instantly regretted it, knew he screwed the pooch, and he went and fixed it at his icebox lounge. A good portrayal that masculinity, not toxic masculinity, is a good thing in society. This world needs more protection from evil. But just like karaoke, which I loathe, if you can’t sing the song as good or better than the artist that did it then STFU, sit back down, and do something else with your life. Your new version sucks.

If this thing even makes what it needs to pay for itself, 500 million, it’ll be because people have nothing better to do. And films at the theater are so weak, and so far in between, and it’s typical Jaws summer. Kids, teenagers are out of school and need something to do and the theater has the ice cold AC like always. And all the sugar a kid could dream of. Rotten Tomatoes is an awful review site and just because something is popular and/or makes money doesn’t mean it’s any good in the lens of good film.



What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
July 19, 2025, 04:21 PM
Dzozer
quote:

Originally posted by Dzozer:
... the JLI too!
Originally posted by Orguss:



Yes!! The JLI was hilarious! If it was done right, it could be comedy gold... Smile



'veritas non verba magistri'
July 26, 2025, 12:41 AM
onegeek
It wasn't bad, and I was prepared for it to be bad. It almost felt like Christopher Reeve Superman set in 2025, and the actor pulled that off okay.

Lex was kind of off the charts without any real explanation, but he’s the bad guy so whatever.

Best characters are Lois, Krypto, and Jimmy.

Special nod to Supergirl, which could be a kick ass R-rated grown up superhero movie. Imagine the Scarlet Witch and a honey badger, but in DC. Kind of a Chaotic Good But Messsed Up Supergirl with Krypto, the untrained Superdog who always creates fun.