The highly anticipated Superman, with which James Gunn officially opens the doors to the new DC Universe, is releasing in Italian theaters on July 9th.
A Reflective Superman in a World in Crisis
At first glance, the plot doesn’t present any particular innovations: we find all the classic elements from past Superman films, from the villain Lex Luthor to the struggle to defend humanity, from his love for Lois Lane to the Daily Planet newsroom, and even the awkward Clark Kent. Nothing revolutionary in terms of narrative or original ideas. However, what truly distinguishes this version of the myth is the humanity and fragility that James Gunn and David Corenswet manage to infuse into the character.
More than a reboot, this film seems to be a declaration of intent: gone is the invincible hero’s armor typical of past films, making way for a deeply introspective character, where alongside the superhero’s strength coexist the fragility, frustrations, indecisions, and perplexities typical of being human. Superman in this film is defeated multiple times, faces a profound identity crisis linked to his origins and mission, experiences a tormented love story, but in the end finds the courage to rise again. In fact, his strength lies precisely in showing that true power isn’t found in brute force, but in accepted vulnerability.
A Political Vision, but Not Ideological
The film was written by Gunn two years ago, but is incredibly current with a disturbing adherence to what we see every day in the news: wars, threats, the fragility of communal living. Yet, there’s no cynicism in this story. David Corenswet portrays a Superman who doesn’t want to dominate, but understand. He’s not invincible, and precisely because of this, he resembles us. He’s the symbol of a silent courage, the kind needed to get up every day and choose what’s right. “Being strong means living with fear, fighting for what is just,” said the actor. And the film seems built entirely around this phrase.
Superman as You’ve Never Seen Him Before
And it’s precisely fear, along with love, uncertainty, and doubt, that makes this Superman different from any previous version. Here we often see him struggling, wounded in body and soul. The villains serving Lex Luthor repeatedly manage to knock him down, reduce him to the brink of death, expose his limits. Lex Luthor himself, played by Nicholas Hoult, is anything but a simple antagonist. Hoult gives the character an unexpected complexity, portraying a villain who isn’t just cunning and ruthless, but also deeply motivated by a distorted vision of the world. Luthor is Superman’s dark counterpart: a man who doesn’t believe in goodness, but in control and power at any cost. His intelligence and coldness make him a concrete and disturbing threat, capable of putting not only the hero in crisis, but also people’s trust.
Yet, it’s in those moments of yielding that the film truly shines. Because Superman rises again. But not alone. He’s lifted by friends, his dog Krypto, obviously endowed with superpowers and a cape, and especially by the very people who had initially questioned, feared, and rejected him. This small human detail makes the character even closer to us: a man who finds comfort and strength in the affection of a faithful companion. Gunn, as he stated, was also inspired by DC League of Super-Pets, but above all wanted to include the puppy in the film to raise public awareness about dog adoption, a tender and important message that runs through the narrative.
Superman saves himself and reacts thanks also to the help of ordinary people. It’s a collective gesture, almost political: the hero is saved because there still exists a glimmer of mutual trust.
And in the finale, when someone calls him “alien,” he himself responds with a phrase that marks the meaning of the entire film:
“I’m human too. I’m afraid. I know how to love. Sometimes I don’t know what to do.”
A simple and disarming declaration that delves into Superman’s identity and rebuilds it from within. Here there isn’t just a savior: there’s a being who chooses every day to be present, with all his fragilities. And precisely because of this, he becomes stronger.
Among the most successful themes of the story is also the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Not just a couple, but two journalists who still believe in the value of truth in a world that continuously distorts it. Between social media, propaganda, and fake news, their mission at the Daily Planet becomes almost a parallel battle. Rachel Brosnahan, brilliant and direct, delivers a Lois who is modern but faithful to the original spirit: stubborn, intelligent, involved. Clark Kent and Lois Lane aren’t just costumed heroes, but above all frontline journalists at the Daily Planet, engaged in a battle that reflects today’s reality, where social media often fuel doubts, fears, and divisions. Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois, emphasizes the importance of free press and the search for truth, a message that the film delivers forcefully in an era when information manipulation can have real and dangerous consequences.
Other Characters
Among the newsroom colleagues, William Reeve, Christopher Reeve’s son, appears in a cameo, a brief but meaningful appearance that reconnects the threads between past and present, between what Superman has been and what he can still become.
There are also other iconic characters from the DC Comics Universe: among these stands out the Justice Gang, led by Green Lantern, which enriches the plot with a touch of dynamism and opens the doors to future adventures in the vast DC universe. Finally, closing the film, Supergirl, Superman’s cousin, makes an appearance, hinting at new themes and developments for the next chapters of the saga.
Review
In conclusion, James Gunn’s Superman is a film that will certainly please the general public because, as mentioned, it doesn’t overturn the classic structure of the myth, but transforms it from within. It’s not a film that focuses on plot originality, but it’s in the protagonist’s deep interiority that it finds its most profound meaning.
James Gunn’s direction maintains a sure hand between spectacular scenes and more intimate moments. The action sequences are well choreographed but not invasive, while the photography alternates between warm and metallic tones to emphasize the dualism between the alien and the man. The soundtrack accompanies the narrative development well, even if not always memorable.
The result is a film more introspective than spectacular, more emotional than explosive, but precisely because of this capable of speaking to today’s audience, with a message less naive than it seems: true strength lies in coexisting with one’s own fragilities, and even the strongest hero needs others to rise again.
Ultimately, a film that will certainly not disappoint, capable of intriguing from the first scenes, astonishing, moving, and surprising.
Justifiably one of the most anticipated films of the year.
