Main Topic – Superman (2025) Film 7/11/25 | Blog # 1
Directed by – James Gunn
Review Written by - James B. Wreh
July 11th, 2025, Screening & July 23rd, 2025,
Screening
If the thumbnail didn’t give it away — yes, I was excited. But this blog takes a closer look at James Gunn’s launch of DC Studios’ new era, the story choices, and the on-camera decisions that shape Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. For those who want to go deeper, the full podcast episode expands on these themes with added context and behind-the-scenes insight.
Summary
- Film
Reviewed:
Superman – The first film in the new DCU, led creatively by James Gunn and on the business/financial side by Peter Safran.
Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, among others. - Overall
Impressions:
This film was fantastic from start to finish. The structure and pacing stood out, especially the innovative way the “crawl” was used to establish the world and its metahumans. The use of time markers—three centuries, three decades, three years, three weeks, three hours ago—set the tone for a universe that already feels lived in.
I appreciated that this isn’t another Superman origin story.
The universe is established, metahumans are present, and Clark and Lois are
already in a relationship. By the time we first see Lois, she has already
earned Clark’s trust and knows his secret identity.
Storytelling & Worldbuilding
The writing is layered, with strong world-building. “The
Justice Gang,” a running joke destined to pay off in future films, includes
Mister Terrific, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), and Hawkgirl, already operating
out of a still-developing Hall of Justice.
The introduction of the pocket universe was a strategically
placed story beat, setting up a way to bring in heroes and villains from other
Earths, alternate versions of characters, and cosmic-level threats—all in the
first movie.
The balance between action, comedy, and comic book elements
was excellent.
Cinematography and Visuals
The visual effects from Weta FX and ILM greatly enhanced the
film’s immersive feel. Two shots, in particular, stood out:
- Lois’s
Apartment Scene: Lois and Superman talk in her apartment before he
turns himself in to the Department of Defense. As they sit, stand, and
eventually embrace, the purple, blue, and green backdrop reveals Green
Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific battling an interdimensional imp.
Cinematographer Henry Braham, in collaboration with director James Gunn,
does an excellent job capturing the contrast between the intimacy of the
conversation and the chaos outside, using a beautiful color palette to
elevate the scene visually.
- Proton
River Sequence: About halfway through the film, Superman is pulled
toward a black hole in the proton river, holding Metamorpho’s son while
simultaneously holding Krypto. Metamorpho rescues Superman as he uses his
freezing breath to push himself away. The slowed camera movement captures
shimmering proton particles and the black hole in a stunningly framed
shot.
Performances
All three leads were outstanding, but Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) delivered the strongest performance. From his posture and blocking to his line delivery, his hatred for Superman felt palpable. As the camera pans close to Hoult’s eyes during his downfall, you can still see the anger and determination to destroy Superman, even as news reports expose his manipulation.
David Corenswet (Superman) embodied the film’s main
theme—Superman’s humanity and determination to do good.
Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane): She shined both alongside Corenswet—where
their chemistry together was a standout—and in solo moments that highlighted Lois’s
strength.
Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen): Limited screen time, but memorable in both
serious and humorous moments.
I’m excited to see more of Edi Gathegi (Mr. Terrific) in future DCU
entries.
Music and Score
John Williams’s iconic Superman theme, woven through
different arrangements, elevated both big and small moments.
- James Gunn’s musical influence was also clear. A standout example is when Mr. Terrific shields Lois inside a force-field sphere; the audio of the surrounding chaos fades while the chosen track enhances her awe, with the rotating camera from her perspective adding depth. It gave me Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, Vol. 1(2014 film) when "Star-Lord" was dancing/ entering the ancient temple vault on the planet Morag when he was going after the Power Stone(one of the Infinity Stones).
- At the Fortress of Solitude, the rotating camera and the up-tempo music underscored Superman’s humanity, giving the moment a happy, hopeful tone as photos of “Ma & Pa Kent” appear.
Noteworthy Appearances & Easter Eggs
- Supergirl
(Millie Alcock): A quick but important cameo teasing her role in Supergirl
(July 2026). Superman even jokes about her partying on red-sun planets to
get drunk, offering early insight into her character.
- Peacemaker:
A brief, well-placed cameo, teasing his upcoming DCU project (August
21st, 2025, HBO Max).
- Guardians
of the Galaxy Alumni: Bradley Cooper (Jor-El) (Guardians character- Voiced Rocket Raccoon), Pom Klementieff
(Superman Robot #5), (Guardians character- Mantis), Michael Rooker (Superman Robot #1), (Guardians character- Yondu), and Sean Gunn
(Maxwell Lord) (Guardians character- Kraglin).
- Fun
Fact: Sean Gunn also voices characters in Creature Commandos
(GI Robot, Weasel).
- Jake
Tapper: Appears briefly as a news anchor, a common filmmaking choice
for realism, as I’ve seen in many DC and Marvel films.
Post-Credit Scenes
There are two:
- A
lighthearted moment between Superman and Mr. Terrific, building on-screen
chemistry.
- A
slightly different version of a marketing image released before the film’s
premiere: Superman and Krypto sitting in space, gazing at Earth.
I understand Warner Bros.’ choice to hold off on big
teases until future films. I believe they want to see how this film performs
before promising any future storylines, avoiding giving fans false hope if
plans shift. Bigger teases—heroes, villains, or threats—can come in later post-credit
scenes.
Recommendations & Final Thoughts
I highly recommend a second viewing. I’m also eager to
purchase the Blu-ray to watch behind-the-scenes features, something I’ve always
enjoyed. I love seeing how films are made: the decisions by different
departments, the creative reasoning behind what we see on screen, and how those
choices shaped the final product.
Dates & Releases Referenced
- Peacemaker
– August 21st, 2025 (HBO Max)
- Supergirl
– July 2026 (subject to change, as release date shifts happen frequently
in the industry)
Conclusion
In my opinion, this is a fantastic start to the James
Gunn-led DCU. Opening the film with the wounded Superman calling for Krypto was
a bold choice and set the tone immediately.
The layered storytelling established world of heroes and
metahumans, Clark and Lois’s relationship, and the humanity of
Superman—particularly his emotional reaction to the Bravia shop owner’s
death—all worked beautifully.
James Gunn, along with Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster(the original creators of Superman, credited for their foundational work on the character),
delivered a story with a beginning, middle, and end, setting a strong
foundation for future DCU entries. I’m excited for the next time we see
Superman and can’t wait for Supergirl in 2026.
Screenings: July 11th & July 23rd, 2025
Written and recorded by James B. Wreh, creator, host, and producer of The Silly, Nerdy & Wordy Podcast.
Enjoyed the review? Subscribe to The Silly, Nerdy & Wordy Podcast for more film, VFX, production insights, behind-the-scenes moments, Broadway breakdowns, and select TV content — from standout shows to industry deep dives, all served with a delightfully nerdy twist.
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