‘I'm not a fan of hero movies, but the world needs to listen to Superman 2025'
James Gunn's new Superman movie starring David Corenswet has been making headlines this week for its 'punk' and anti-war message. Released in UK cinemas on July 11, the film has taken the world by storm, already reaching nearly £300 million in the worldwide box office.
And while avid superhero fans were a guaranteed audience for the new film, which has gained an impressive 83 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, there's a reason the movie is attracting a wider audience.
As someone who doesn't generally care for superhero movies, I was gobsmacked by James Gunn's in-your-face anti-war message, which drew chilling parallels with the current state of global politics.
Especially in the context of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which over 60,000 people have been murdered, Superman 2025 offers a message most of us learn as toddlers: 'Killing people is bad'.
The movie sees Man of Steel Clark Kent come under fire from government officials and the public after he stops fictional country (and US ally) Boravia from invading their neighbouring state Jarhanpur.
Following the hero's halting of the invasion, US tech billionaire Lex Luther orchestrates a smear campaign against Superman, branding him an alien that interfered with foreign affairs without permission.
In the end, we discover Luther had orchestrated the conflict between the two fictional nations in order to get rid of Superman and make colossal profits from providing arms to the dictatorship of Boravia, led by a tyrant who orders the death of every Jarhanpurian.
Sound familiar?
Of course, good triumphs over evil and the nation of Jarhapur is freed from its invaders, with the help of Superman's hero pals including journalist girlfriend Lois Lane and Hawk Girl, who gives the dictator of Boravia his comeuppence.
While the film is of course fictional (there's a man with laser-vision flying around in a cape, after all), many online have been quick to note the film's parallels to current affairs.
Although Israel is not mentioned once in the film, many are deeming the film as 'anti-Israel' and 'pro-Palestine' on social media, given the similarities between Israel's war crimes in Palestine and the villainous state of Boravia.
And it's not hard to imagine the real-life leader who may have inspired the old-man dictator of Boravia either.
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To me, it's no coincidence this extremely anti-war film has come out now, as Gazan men, women and children are killed every day from orchestrated starvation, or shot dead at 'aid distribution' centres.
But whether you believe there was real-life inspiration for the film or not, it can't be doubted the world needs to acknowledge and cling on to Superman's message.
Although many governments continue to ignore Israel's war crimes, Superman acts as a beacon of hope the world will eventually come to its senses.
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