Superman - The DCU Is Born

Since the trailer was released...since the guitar stings with the classic Williams score...I have been waiting patiently for this movie.

By now, I sort of know what to expect from a James Gunn movie. Great music. Humor. Heart. Now, he's got the reins of the entire DCU and with the debut of this movie, it's safe to say it's in good hands.

Let's start with the casting. Everyone absolutely crushes their roles. David Corenswet did a great job balancing the strength of the Man of Steel and the vulnerability that makes him more human than alien. He has the heart of the hero that I grew up watching in the Reeve movies and even the animated series. He wants to do good, save as many people as he can. Even when the world turns on him, he stands true to who and what he is. A protector of those weaker than himself. I mean, he saves a dog and a squirrel. He can fly, take on kaiju's with his amazing strength, but his greatest power...is his heart.

Rachel Brosnahan was Lois Lane. Tough. Brilliant. This Lois was no damsel in distress. She was every bit Clark/Superman's partner and equal. Rachel's Lois also didn't pull her punches when it came to her job. In one scene she's interviewing Clark as Superman. She asks the tough questions and even though they're together and dating, she doesn't let him or his behavior slide. She's strong willed in the best of ways. In about two hours she jumped the charts as one of my favorite Lois Lanes.

What would Superman be without his Lex Luthor? Nicholas Hoult took inspiration from Rosenbaum and Hackman's versions and melded them into one fearsome and brilliant foe. Many of the Luthor's before were smart, but Hoult's Lex takes it to a new level. You feel the rage that comes from wanting to protect the world from "the alien threat". I'm excited to see where Gunn takes Lex in the future. Having seen the early stage Lex suit, I wonder if we'll see him gearing up for battle sooner rather than later.

The supporting cast round out the world and the superhero squad. Fillion is usual charming with a side of arrogance as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern. Isabella Merced is tough and wily as Hawkgirl. There's a subtle softness to her, but in battle she is a force to be reckoned with. The MVP award for the Justice Gang goes to Mr. Terrific played by Edi Gathegi. The brilliant scientist and his T-spheres are the perfect rival for Lex and his team. I'd seen the character in the Arrowverse, but he was done way better and more accurate here.

Team Daily Planet. Cat Grant was under used and just there to look pretty. She didn't add much, so hopefully we can see more of what Mikaela Hoover can do. Wendell Pierce works great as Perry White, barking orders and constantly yelling at Jimmy for calling him 'Chief'. Just go with it man, its a sign of respect. Jimmy, however, gets the MVP here. Why?

He pulls.

Somehow, Skyler Gisondo's Jimmy, who has always been the photo-loving, nerdy with a heart of gold and Superman's best pal, seems to attract women his way. It's his gift and that gift literally saves the day. Bravo young sir.

The writing is what the world needs right now. A story that is full of heart and the importance of being kind and always trying to do your best. There might have been a few too many jokes when they weren't needed, but it didn't fully take away from the movie. There was an important plot point I didn't completely like, but made sense for the context of the story Gunn was trying to write. He's already building to something, and I can see some of what it might be coming. Future villains and storylines.

Visually the tone was much brighter than in the Snyderverse. The colors bounced off the screen and the couple of monsters (one of which was just hanging in the background) added a comic book feel to it. There were a lot of shots that looked like they could be ripped from the pages of a comic book.

I feel like this is what could have been 20 years ago with Superman Returns. Singer had just come off doing X-Men and if he had just done a legitimate reboot, honoring the past (Reeve movies) it could have been something like this. Gunn found ways to reboot and introduce an entire new and established world of Superman, while stilling keeping elements of the classic.

Superman should have heart. Be a symbol for hope. He sometimes questions his decisions and his place in the world because, though he's an alien, he was raised by human and still tends to act like one. This is what Gunn's Superman represents. The ideals of what Superman is and what we all could be.

I found myself smiling as I watched. Feeling like I did when I was younger watching Superman II with a beach towel around my neck flying around my house saving the day. It was a fun, action packed movie with heart. A phenomenal cast of characters bringing life to a world taken from the comics.

I've seen it twice so far, and I hope to see it one more time in theaters before it leaves. I cannot wait to see where this universe goes and I trust Gunn will make it something remarkable. The proof is he won't do a movie until he knows the script is good. He cares about the characters and wants to do great stories for the fans.

Take to the skies and go see this one in theaters. It's up up and away from here.

5/5...As close to a perfect superhero movie (even with a few flaws) as you can get.