Superman 2025 is not a “Superman movie.” It is a Justice League origin movie. James Gunn attempts to make you forget how bad the writing is with every Easter egg he shoves in your face, practically begging you to thank him.
This shell of a movie strips all purpose, meaning, and hope from the character of Kal-El/Clark Kent. Jor-El and Lara are turned into condescending tyrants, effectively killing any connection between Superman and the biblical story of Moses. Jonathan and Martha Kent are portrayed as if they have an IQ of ninety-two. The worst pep talk ever written for Jonathan Kent effectively divorces Superman’s value system from everyone and everything.
Truth, Justice, and the American Way do not manifest in any way, shape, or form in this movie—unless you count the one gratuitous American flag at the end.
James Gunn also decided to weaken Lois Lane. She is rarely in enough danger to ever need saving at all. She is not gunning for a Pulitzer Prize. The only person she gives a hard time to is her boyfriend, Superman. Lois Lane is no longer self-reliant or gutsy as she was portrayed in previous Superman iterations.
Even Lex Luthor’s reasons for confronting Superman are pathetic. Lex wants the love and devotion of the public, which he desperately tries to control one way or another—whether it’s secret prisons for the government’s shadow side, or return on investment in war-torn countries where Lex Luthor inspired the conflict. After being mauled by a mutant dog, Lex cries. He cries! What homicidal sociopath cries out of frustration for being found out and cornered?
Krypto the dog is a complete waste of production investment. I don’t feel anything for a CGI pet. What? James Gunn couldn’t afford a real, trained dog or even decent animatronics?
Now, the introduction of the Hall of Justice is a mess. Hawkgirl can remove her wings—her wings!—and her sex appeal is stripped from the character altogether. Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, has more confidence than Superman is supposed to have, but he is crude. Gardner even has a scene where he uses his power to flip the bird at an enemy tech camp. It is essentially James Gunn flipping the bird at any Superman fan. Mr. Terrific is the most emotionally and strategically intelligent character. Thank goodness someone is truly intelligent in this movie.
I’m sorry, but this is simply an incoherent narrative and storyline. The actors do the best with what they were given, which unfortunately wasn’t very much in the first place. If it weren’t for a lone rogue dog, Lex would have escaped, and Superman would have died.
Check out the trailer below:
Rosemary Stainbrook is a radio producer and co-host on 92.5FM WVNN. She is also a columnist for DCexaminer, WesternJournal, American Thinker, and AthensNow.
The views and opinions presented in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the StudioJake Media Substack.
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