James Gunn's "Superman" is a Breath of Fresh, Freezing Air in These Turbulent Times

The last time the world saw Superman on a big screen, he was under the creative vision of Zack Snyder and played by Henry Cavill, in a series of films that made a killing at the box office, but left fans underwhelmed. This week, the highly anticipated start to James Gunn’s new DC universe has finally hit theaters, and in the words of The Daily Planet's Perry White, "Great Caesar’s Ghost that was something else!"

Superman (2025) truly understands the character of Clark Kent, who was played to perfection by David Cornswet. He harnesses the kind and relatable side of the character that has sadly been missing in modern media. This film has brought the man of steel back to his roots as the champion of the oppressed, a symbol of kindness, but most of all a friend.

A large reason why this film is so impactful is due to its perfect timing. It's the story of an illegal immigrant fighting an egomaniacal billionaire who is supporting a country in invading its bordering nation. The fictional countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur are clear stand-ins for the ongoing Israel and Palestine conflict. Whilst Lex Luthor plays the part of the corrupt 1% who seek something to gain from ongoing loss of human life and the sales of weapons.

This movie has come under discourse from many conservative news outlets and content creators, denying the fact that Superman could be considered an illegal immigrant. It’s shocking to think this is a discussion because for the last 84 years that has absolutely been the case. A young child forced to leave his home under threat of death. After being orphaned he is taken in by a young couple who provide him a home in secret so that the government wouldn’t detain and unjustly harm the boy for simply being foreign to them. It’s bizarre to think that the right might have some claim over Superman because he was raised in the midwest and fights for the “American way.” Firstly the famous catch phrase has been changed from "truth, justice, and the American Way" to “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow” as a way not to limit Superman to just the U.S, Superman is for everyone! Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were two Jewish men in the 1940s who created one of the most influential fictional characters in all of media. He was always said to be the champion of the oppressed, even being based off of the biblical figure of Moses. But somehow there are people in this world who believe that Clark Kent’s Superman would support the current mass deportation, unconstitutional acts of violence, and overall bigotry led by our current U.S president. James Gunn’s film is not woke propaganda, if acts of kindness offend you, then you just might be a part of the evil Superman was meant to quell.

If I had to point out any issues in Superman (2025) it would be its pacing and structure. The pacing specifically in the beginning is quite disjointed and only truly gains its flow a half hour into the movie. The structure on the other hand is due to the directorial/editing discourse. Originally in the editing phase of the film there would be title cards signifying days of the week, revealing to the viewer that the film is less of one large adventure but more of a sneak peek into the daily adventures of Superman. I believe Gunn should have stuck to this approach, there is rarely a moment to breathe in comics, with what seems like a world-ending threat or a soul-shattering internal conflict happening every other day. I can see how some may find it pretentious and unnecessary but I believe the exclusion of the title cards make the movie feel a little overstuffed at times. Thank goodness it was jam packed full of intriguing characters, settings, and plenty of action scenes.

Superman’s character over the years has been dragged through the mud. Many claim his character is “boring” due to his unyielding strength sapping any stakes in terms of physical threat, or that it’s “unrealistic” for a person who’s been granted so much power to still remain kind and virtuous. To everyone who thinks that, I have some terrible news for you, that’s the point.

If a man who saves the world on a daily basis still has the time and patience to save a cat out of a tree or help an old lady cross the street then what’s stopping you from being just as kind and considerate? This movie preached the message that Superman isn’t some alien god who takes pity on us, he’s the best of the human race. He’s as human as anyone else, he feels fear, doubt, and insecurity but through all of that he always tries his best to do the right thing. He might be an indestructible force from outer space, but Superman's greatest strength has always been his humanity.

In recent years, there has been the all too common trend of making Superman or Superman pastiches evil and cruel. Characters such as Homelander from Amazon’s The Boys or more recently Marvel Studios' The Sentry in Thunderbolts have attempted to use Superman’s visage to subvert and disturb viewers by showing how “real people” would react to being given the unbridled power of a star. Even Superman himself is not immune to this trend, stories such as Injustice by Netherrealm studios have given the public and even some hardcore fans the idea that Superman can only be interesting if he’s evil. I believe this overused trend only highlights Superman’s true power, kindness. Yes, he’s faster than a speeding bullet and can leap tall buildings in a single bound. And while I've never seen kindness catch a plane out of the sky or reverse the earth's rotation, kindness still has the power to save others.

Superman has easily been one of the year's most anticipated films since its announcement in December 2022, and as a lifelong fan, I can confidently say it was worth the wait. In the overly cynical world we live in it’s incredibly easy to fall into line with the pessimism that comes with overwhelming strife. James Gunn's Superman tells us that even if the situation is hopeless there is always light at the end of the tunnel.