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Is that a bird? No, it’s a plane! No, it’s The Cinematic Schematic review of Superman!
It’s been twelve years since we saw the last standalone Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the movie performed well enough at the box office to launch the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), including the follow-up films Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League(and Zack Snyder’s Justice League). WB Discovery put that entire line to rest in 2023 with Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom when they hired James Gunn and Peter Safran as the new co-CEOs of DC Studios.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman launches the DC Universe with a new Superman played by David Corenswet. The audience is dropped right into an adventure with Superman, caught in a battle in the court of public opinion with Lex Luthor(Nicholas Hoult). This Superman is relatable, charming, idealistic, and grounded in a strong set of values. He believes every life matters, the truth is non-negotiable, and the world can and should be a finer place for everyone. Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) is also here, serving as the skeptical but hopeful audience surrogate: Who is this Superman, and are his actions doing more harm than good?
Have Gunn and Corenswet created the lightning in a bottle they need to jumpstart this new take on the character? Tune in to the full-length review for our verdict.
Meet the Cinematic Justice Gang
Caleb Masters is joined by a robust league of film critics and fans, including Jo Light (Final Draft), Alex Palmer (The Oklahoma Film Society), and Korey Eakers (Grand Gentlemen Inc.) while co-host Laron Chapman is away.
Left to Right: Korey Eakers, Jo Light, Alex Palmer, and Caleb Masters
Ice-Breaker Question: Why does Superman matter?
Time Stamp: 3:43
We start the conversation by talking about our relationships with the Last Son of Krypton. We also dig into why he’s such an important American pop culture icon.
Spoiler-Free Review
Time Stamp: 17:39
In our spoiler-free review we discuss:
- Our overall thoughts on Superman
- How this version played by David Corenswet compares to previous versions played by Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and Henry Cavill
- Whether or not James Gunn’s take on the character is successful
- Letter grade verdicts
- Alternate media recommendations
Spoiler-Filled Analysis
Time Stamp: 1:14:14
The biggest ideas packed into Superman have been hidden by the marketing. In this extensive spoiler-filled discussion, we talk about:
- How this modern interpretation of Superman wears his values on his sleeve
- What James Gunn’s Superman says about the world we live in today
- Whether the quick and tidy conclusion works
Special Guests
Jo Light
No Film School / Final Draft Contributor
Alex Palmer
Co-Founder of the Oklahoma Film Society, Film Producer
Follow the Oklahoma Film Society on Facebook and Instagram
Korey Eakers
Grand Gentlemen Executive Director
Follow Korey on Twitter @KoreyEakers
Follow Grand Gentlemen on their website
About Superman
According to IMDB, Superman is described as:
Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.
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