MOVIE REVIEW: We see if 'Superman' is a soaring start to the new 'DCU'
James Gunn, co-creator of the new DC Universe ( DCU) 'media franchise', has taken it upon himself to helm its first big screen outing.
David Corenswet stars as the Man of Steel and, thankfully, we dive straight into the action as there was no need for another take on Superman's origin story.
Truthfully, despite really enjoying Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Suicide Squad, I was nervous for this as the trailers hinted at a humour-heavy tone.
There is some of that here but it doesn't overwhelm the story Gunn, also on writing duties, is trying to tell and with the odd exception - turning Skyler Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen into a ladies' magnet - laughs are earned.
Raw emotion is often delivered - pretty much any scene involving Corenswet and Pruitt Taylor Vince's Pa Kent - and although we see very little of Corenswet's Clark, this is the most vulnerable cinematic Superman yet.
Corenswet excels, whether his Man of Steel is physically and mentally beaten, wrestling with his adopted humanity, sharing tender moments with Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane or soaring through the skies into battle.
There are a lot of characters but most get time to shine and Gunn doesn't burden his film with too many teases of what is to come in the DCU.
Brosnahan is a steadfast, initiative-taking Lois, Nicholas Hoult's hot-headed, manipulative Lex Luthor is a nice throwback to the hyper-intelligent inventor often seen in animated form, Edi Gathegi's deadpan Mr Terrific is a surprise scene-stealer and, as made obvious in the trailers, Krypto makes for a wonderful canine companion.
A late villain reveal is extremely obvious and, at times, there's an overload of CGI amid punch-heavy combat.
And Gunn makes a brave change to Superman's origin that may annoy some devotees - but I was on board with it.
Superman as a whole soars high on the comic-book movie scale as well as setting the stage for an exciting future for DC fans young and old.
● Are you excited for the new DCU? What characters are you looking forward to seeing on screen?
● Superman is showing in cinemas now.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Chris Pratt dragged into Katy Perry's bitter legal row after he rented $15m home she forced bedridden veteran, 85, from
The singer has been accused of lacking empathy LEGAL GUARDIAN Chris Pratt dragged into Katy Perry's bitter legal row after he rented $15m home she forced bedridden veteran, 85, from Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRIS Pratt could be dragged into Katy Perry's ugly legal battle to prise $6 million from an 85-year-old disabled veteran she evicted from his home. The Guardians of the Galaxy star and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger are renting the $15 million house previously owned by Carl Westcott who is bedridden in a hospice. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 8 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom won a court battle to evict an elderly disabled veteran from his home Credit: Getty 8 Chris Pratt and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger are renting the $15 million house previously owned by Carl Westcott - which is at the heart of a heated legal fight Credit: Getty 8 An ailing and bedridden Carl Westcott, 85, who has a neurological disorder and is fighting Perry's claim for back rent and alleged damages Credit: Instagram / kameronwestcott 8 The second phase of the court battle is in connection with Westcott's former Montecito property, which he sold for $15 million in 2020 Credit: Supplied by the Westcott Family Westcott's family is outraged the popstar is suing the ailing man - who receives 24/7 care - for $6 million to cover back rent and alleged damages. Entrepreneur Westcott, a US Army veteran and founder of 1-800 Flowers - sold his Montecito mansion to Perry for $15 million in July 2020. Westcott had signed the property deal with Perry and Orlando Bloom's business manager, Bernie Gudvi, after initially agreeing to sell his 8.9-acre estate to the Firework singer. Gudvi accepted Westcott's counteroffer to increase the price from $13.5 million to $15 million, according to court documents. Read more on Katy Perry catty swipe Orlando Bloom mocks ex Katy Perry as she's seen 'on a date' with Justin Trudeau But just one month later, Westcott filed a lawsuit against Gudvi, alleging he was heavily medicated and not of sound mind when he contracted with Perry for the sale. He maintained that the contract was thus "void" on the grounds of his mental incapacity when he signed it. Westcott has been bedridden for nearly two years as he suffers from Huntington's disease, a brutal condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time. However, the pop star's legal team successfully countered his challenge in court, and keys were exchanged in 2024, meaning that Westcott had to move out. The judge said Westcott presented no persuasive evidence that he lacked capacity to enter into a real estate contract between June 10, 2020, and June 18, 2020, the days during which he negotiated and signed the contract. His angry son, Chart, told The U.S. Sun in February that Perry was "a rich pop star who can buy any other house in the world... she has no empathy... it's unforgivable." Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau Spark Romance Rumors with Surprise Dinner in Montreal After her successful verdict, Perry then lodged a damages claim for $6 million against the elderly man - phase two of the legal action. According to court documents, the star's team is seeking compensation for alleged lost rental value, deferred maintenance, repairs for water damage and a fallen tree. Perry has paid $9 million so far for the $15 million property, which dates back to the 1920s/'30s, and is comprised of a large main house, three-bedroom guest house, one-bedroom pool house, gym building, and equipment building, per court filings. The Perry V Westcott case is heading back to court this month for the penalty phase, with his lawyers claiming in filings that her "16 witnesses have failed to produce any construction or repair contracts between Perry and any general contractor." The U.S. Sun understands that recovery of such costs is normal in civil litigation. RENTED OUT A source has told The U.S. Sun that the luxury house is currently being rented by Jurassic World star Chris Pratt, 46, and Katherine Schwarzenegger, 35. She is an American author and the eldest daughter of legendary Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger and NBC broadcast journalist Maria Shriver, who is also a member of the famous Kennedy family. The source added that, ironically, "Shriver initially put in a bid for the same house in 2020." Westcott's attorney returned to court last Tuesday ahead of a "likely attempt to subpoena Pratt because he is a material witness," she said. "For example, to establish when he started renting? He is living in a property that is wrapped up in a legal battle." The star is likely to be asked to testify - "Katy has already been mandated to do so," the source said. She added that Westcott's team "want to know how much Pratt is renting the house for. "Perry has claimed millions of dollars in damages, and claimed that it's not liveable - it's clearly liveable because an A-list actor is renting it." PRATT TESTIMONY Pratt's name was mentioned several times in court filings by Westcott's legal team last Friday in documents submitted to the Superior Court of the State of California. Before Perry's damages claim goes to trial, Westcott's attorneys have asked Judge Lipner to consider a "status report of issues to be resolved." Their August 1 document claimed: "Now, just before the Phase 2 trial, there is new, never-before disclosed evidence that Perry has rented out the Westcott property to the actor Chris Pratt and his wife. "Per a recent Daily Mail online newspaper article... 'sources close to Perry' say she rented the house to actor Chris Pratt." In their filings, the judge was asked to issue a pre-trial order to "allow Westcott's repair expert Steve Norris to do a short three-hour house re-inspection of the property... so he can see what repairs were done and opine as to their reasonable value." His attorneys also asked the judge to "allow Westcott to take several re-depositions limited to 3 hours each of the following persons: Perry and Gudvi... Chris Pratt (the tenant at the property, concerning its condition or problems and the terms of his lease agreement with Perry), and Orlando Bloom, Perry's boyfriend and father of her child, whose deposition testimony showed would personally be in charge of repairs." They alleged, "Now that we know Perry just rented out the house to a famous actor, conducting a trial on the real merits... means that this court's discretion should be exercised to allow the few and very short depositions requested and to allow Mr. Norris to spend 3 hours re-inspecting the property. "Another reason for allowing the short and few depositions is to allow Westcott and this court to know who owns the house after the recent split between Perry and her boyfriend Orlando Bloom." Their filings also alleged, "The current issues were caused by Perry/Gudvi waiting until after the September 2024 discovery cutoff to perform repairs, unless they did no repairs yet were still able to rent out the house as-is to Chris Pratt, which would tend to show the alleged repairs were exaggerated to drum up damages. "Either way, Perry's conduct is unfair and without the requested house inspection and short depositions requested by Westcott deprives him of a trial on the real merits." PERRY TO TESTIFY The source told The U.S. Sun today, "Judge Lipner confirmed that Katy will have to testify for at least an hour or more to the damages claim." Timeline of Katy Perry's mansion battle against veteran Carl Westcott July 2020: Entrepreneur Carl Westcott, US Army veteran and founder of 1-800 Flowers - sold his Montecito mansion to Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom for $15 million. Westcott had bought it only two months earlier for about $11.25 million. August 2020: Westcott filed a lawsuit against Perry and Bloom's business manager, Bernie Gudvi, alleging he was heavily medicated and not of sound mind when he contracted with Perry for the sale. The pop star's legal team countered and alleged that Westcott, who has Huntington's disease, had changed his mind on the sale, and the contract should be upheld. December 2023: A judge ruled in favor of Perry, and upheld the original sales contract. A Los Angeles judge ruled that Westcott failed to prove incapacity, finding him of sound mind during the sale negotiations. March 2024: The keys were exchanged. On May 17, 2024, Perry officially took legal ownership after the deed was recorded. 2024-2025: Phase two of the legal action - after the successful verdict, Perry lodged a damages claim for $6 million against Westcott, who is bedridden and currently receiving 24/7 care. This claim has yet to go before court. August 2025: Damage claims and ongoing litigation - Perry has paid $9 million so far for the luxury property and is now seeking $6 million in damages, citing structural defects, deferred maintenance, and lost rental income. TRIAL IN AUGUST The latest legal request follows filings submitted by Westcott's legal team, lodged in the Superior Court early July, and which outlined a further motion in the case. The July documents show that Westcott asked the court to "exclude any and all evidence, references to evidence, exhibits, testimony or argument relating to claims for alleged damages concerning repairs allegedly needed at Mr. Westcott's former home located at... Santa Barbara, California, as of May 17, 2024." Westcott's legal team explained in these earlier filings that escrow closed on May 17, 2024, and that Perry "must testify" in the penalty phase. "Since Gudvi had signed the contract in his capacity as the agent of the singer Katy Perry, the court ruled that Perry is the real-party-in-interest as to the damages being sought in the Phase 2 trial and that she must testify during the trial." Who is Carl Westcott? Katy Perry is suing the bedridden and ailing veteran, 85, who has a neurological disorder Carl Westcott was born in 1939 at the charity hospital in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Westcott and his five sisters lived in a house without indoor plumbing. When Westcott was six, his father - who drove a logging truck - left and never returned. His mother became a nurse's aide, earning just $5 per eight-hour shift. When he was five, Westcott sold papers in front of the Vicksburg Hotel, as well as chewing gum - he also shined shoes. "By the time I was eight, I was making more money than my mother." The judge ruled that the boy should go to Columbia Training School, a state institution, until the situation improved at home. When Westcott was 16, he asked his mother to change his birth date in the family Bible to prove he was old enough to join the U.S. Army. He became a paratrooper and was honorably discharged as a corporal After becoming a successful car salesman, he joined Sopp Chevrolet as the dealership's general manager. In 1983, Westcott bought the NBC television affiliate in Tyler, Texas. His firm, Westcott Communications, became a pioneer in producing training programs in 18 fields such as automobile dealership management, certified public accountants, and law enforcement personnel. The company went public in 1989, and Westcott sold it in 1996. He said that, throughout his lengthy life, he has treated others with respect and dignity. Source: Horatio Algar Association of Distinguished Americans - Westcott was an award recipient in 2003 The documents also said that the property title, "was vested in the name of an entity supposedly owned by Perry called DDoveB LLC, a California limited liability company, formed on April 9, 2024. "The name of the LLC closely resembles the name Perry's daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, the child of Perry and her long-time actor boyfriend, Mr. Orlando Bloom. "Westcott's counsel has repeatedly asked Perry's counsel who owns the LLC that owns the house? "This court has always been told that Gudvi is Perry's manager and agent, and at her deposition before Phase 1 Perry testified the house was to be owned by her and she was buying it to live in, and not to rent." QUESTIONS OVER REPAIRS Westcott's legal team claimed in the July court document that under the terms of the house sale contract, it stated the home was being sold "in its present physical condition" and that the singer "had the right to perform inspections" prior to escrow being closed. They alleged that "Perry's lawyers did not even produce a written schedule showing each alleged item of repair and the cost Perry is seeking for each allegedly defective condition." His lawyers also claimed in the documents that "newspapers reported that Perry had just rented the house to the actor Chris Pratt, whose wife is the daughter of Maria Shriver, whom the court will recall from the Phase 1 testimony was bidding against Perry to buy the property in 2020." This revelation prompted Westcott's team to "immediately contact Perry's counsel" and ask for further details about her current rental agreement with Pratt, per the document. His lawyers also requested an "expert" to visit the property to "visualize any repairs." 8 A judge ruled in favor of Katy Perry in 2023 Credit: Getty 8 Carl Westcott is 85 years old and is bedridden with Huntington's disease, a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time Credit: Supplied by the Westcott Family The document added, "Given that many of her prior 'estimates' totaling $2.29 million pertained to habitability items, it defies logic and common sense that she was able to rent the house to a famous actor. "Perry's counsel flatly refused in a series of approximately half a dozen meet and confer emails to even disclose if repairs had been done." FAMILY HOME The Daily Mail reported in June that the singer had rented out the property to Pratt. A source told the paper, "The arrangement suits Chris, but it's a bit of a surprise given how Katy fought tooth and nail to get her hands on the house. "She previously suggested it was the ideal place for her and Orlando to raise a family. "After all that time, energy, and money, it seems unthinkable that they are not going to live in it." The U.S. Sun has contacted representatives for Pratt, Perry and Bloom for comment on the latest developments in the bitter case. STRUGGLE Westcott had intended to live in his home for the remainder of his life, according to his angry family. His son, Chart, ranted on X last November, 'My family has been in a struggle against… Katy Perry and now Orlando Bloom to defend the honor of my father, Carl Westcott, who is dying from Huntington's Disease. 'He is a US Army Veteran and winner of the Horatio Alger US award (an honor he shares with Clarence Thomas, Buzz Aldrin, and Donald Trump's father Fred Trump). 'Celebrity privilege, much like political lawfare, must end. We cannot afford any two tier justice in America.' The Horatio Alger Award is given to exceptional leaders who 'personify the American Dream' and have triumphed over adversity to achieve greatness. The latest revelations come as photos showed Justin Trudeau and Perry enjoying a night out in Canada after the singer split with Bloom earlier this year. 8 Carl Westcott pictured at his former home before he became bedridden Credit: Facebook/Kameron Westcott
STV News
4 hours ago
- STV News
Businesses brace for impact on trade ahead of sold-out Oasis shows
Edinburgh business owners are bracing themselves for the arrival of Oasis, who kick off their three sold-out shows at Murrayfield this weekend. Up to 210,000 fans are expected to descend on the city over the three shows beginning on Friday. For some, it's a business bonanza, but for others, disruptions in the area mean they will lose trade. Graeme, who has operated a car garage right beside Murrayfield stadium for 20 years, says the road closures in place mean he could lose thousands of pounds of business. STV News Graeme claims he won't make any money during the concerts. 'I'll be obviously shut, all of Friday, most of Tuesday, not back open until Wednesday', he told STV News. 'Then we've got AC/DC the following week. 'Obviously, I can't make money, but I've still got to pay my rent, still got to pay my wages, still got to pay all my bills. 'I won't make any money. I'm a small business and I've been here 20 years. I know the council has given the green light for more and more concerts.' The closures will impact several streets around the stadium, including the surrounding ones by Ali's Deli. He says the disruption will mean his customers may be impacted on the first date of the run. STV News Ali runs a deli by Murrayfield Stadium. 'It's a very busy day', he told STV News. 'People are still coming back from holidays in the meantime so, I think it's going to have a really bad effect on the business that day because people will not be able to access the area. 'However, as a business owner and manager, it is going to affect our delivery, even the rubbish collection on a Friday. 'Compared to the May concert, which was really busy. That was good. Here's hoping the day will be the same, but on Friday, I'm not sure. 'We will just see how it goes.' The local council has urged Oasis fans only travel to Murrayfield and the surrounding area if they have a ticket to the sold-out shows. They have also appealed to those attending to 'remember our residents'. Extra trains, trams and buses will be put in place to accommodate the crowds, while key areas surrounding Murrayfield will be tidied up after each show. City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cllr Jane Meagher, said: 'Excitement is building in Edinburgh for Oasis Live 25 as it's our turn to witness rock history. 'With all of our partners in the city we've been planning for this for some time to make sure we're ready to welcome thousands of Oasis fans over three nights. 'There will be extra trains, trams, and buses to accommodate concert goers, along with those attending our summer festivals. With this in mind, we urge you to plan ahead. 'We are keen for everyone to have an enjoyable experience, not only at the show, but on their way before and after. Whilst we relish hosting the biggest and best events and want everyone attending to truly enjoy themselves, it's important that we remember our residents. 'We ask that visitors are considerate and respectful of them whilst enjoying our fantastic capital city. We're urging people to only travel to Murrayfield and the surrounding area if you have a ticket.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Superman actor and MAGA activist has joined ICE
Dean Cain, known for his role as Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, announced his support for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Cain released a video encouraging recruitment for ICE, highlighting benefits such as a $50,000 signing bonus and student loan repayment. He stated his motivation was to help secure the safety of Americans by arresting dangerous criminals, including terrorists and gang members. The announcement drew criticism on social media, with some users suggesting the character of Superman, an immigrant, would be disappointed in Cain's stance. Despite his conservative views and support for Donald Trump, Cain has expressed surprisingly progressive opinions on Superman's character, including supporting a Black actor for the role.
