Latest news with #DCEU
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Up, up and hooray! Superman is a refreshing joy
With Superman, filmmaker James Gunn brings the focus back to the 'man' as much as the 'super,' says Kervyn Cloete — and yes, there's room for fun too. The result is a strong start for the new DC Universe. While it still has its defenders, the general consensus is that Zack Snyder's DCEU ended with a whimper rather than a bang. But as the old adage goes, the one upside to being at the bottom is that there's nowhere else to go but up. And in the case of Superman, that's up, up and away! Ushering in a brand-new DC Comics cinematic universe faster than a speeding bullet, Superman is DC Studios co-head and writer/director James Gunn's soaring effort to achieve something you would think is simple, but which somehow has been fairly elusive: Make a comic book movie. Many filmmakers – including Gunn himself – have given us amazing cinematic adaptations and interpretations of our beloved comic books, but very rarely do they feel like a comic book in movie form. In Snyder's own work he was a master at capturing splash page visuals, but seldom tapped into the voices of the characters and their worlds. Watching Gunn's Superman, though, feels as close to grabbing a random issue of Action Comics off the rack as this writer has ever experienced. And much like opening that first title page of a comic, a rather succinct on-screen text is all that sets up this entire new universe, introducing us to a Clark Kent (David Corenswet) already three years into his public career as Superman. No exploding Krypton here. This is a world where superpowered metahumans are commonplace and the Man of Steel's rivalry with Metropolis's resident genius billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is already fired up. Clark's romantic relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), his 'punk rock' journalist co-worker at the Daily Planet, is also a fair bit along – although, hilariously, not as secretive as they seem to think it is. Into this, Gunn adds a colourful ensemble cast (including the obligatory 'Superman's friend' everyman), that classic comic book trope of Superman getting involved in global politics, zany science-fiction concepts (Pocket universes! Anti-proton rivers!), some wildly dynamic slobberknocker action beats, and an unabashed heaping of golly-shucks corn-fed charm. Most notably, this superhero movie features a hero being heroic. I would be remiss not to mention how important that concept is right now, given the state of our world. I can't think of a better time to be reminded that doing what is right is often not easy, but it is always necessary, even in the face of crippling personal doubts and societal pressures. If you think that sounds preachy, it's because it is. But Superman has been dishing out morality lessons directly to the audience since his inception in the 1940s. Why it works here – and where this Superman differs so much from some previous on-screen incarnations – is humanity. This is not an all-powerful deity swathed in godly raiment speaking down to scraggly mortals from his lofty moral mountaintop. Gunn has remembered that along with the 'super' comes the 'man'. David Corenswet as Superman in 'SUPERMAN,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. All of that would fall apart, though, if not presented sincerely. And luckily, in Corenswet Gunn has found a very likeable and charismatic lead actor who is not only able to play both Clark and Superman effectively, but his innate humanity and all the complex emotions that come with that shine through in every frame. With a suit as well designed as his personality (drawing heavy inspiration from the Superman creative greats like Jerry Siegel, Joe Schuster, John Byrne, Curt Swan, Dan Jurgens, Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Gary Frank), he is as effortlessly at home fighting giant monsters as he is having his first big lover's fight with Lois. It certainly helps that Corenswet and Brosnahan's chemistry together is more powerful than a locomotive. Hoult's villainous Luthor also skilfully straddles a fine line between sympathetic and moustache-twirling, with the young actor clearly having a blast as he makes his energetic hatred of Superman almost understandable, if not agreeable. The cast is rounded out by fellow heroes Michael Holt/Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White (Wendel Pierce), not-so-good-boy Krypto the Super-dog, metahuman Rex Mason/Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Luthor's girlfriend Eve Tessmacher (Sara Sampaio), Luthorcorp henchwoman and future member of The Authority Angela Spica/The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), Ma and Pa Kent (Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince), and more. That's a lot. And I haven't even mentioned the surprise cameos. With a two-hour runtime, it means that most of the cast outside of the top three billings of Corenswet, Brosnahan and Hoult don't really get a lot of screen real estate to establish themselves fully. The exception here is undoubtedly Mr Terrific, whose constant scene-stealing will quickly erase the disappointing memory of the last time he was adapted on screen (Sorry, Arrowverse fans). (L to R) Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific in DC Studios' and Warner Bros. Pictures' 'SUPERMAN,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. With all of those things to juggle, though, it does mean that Superman is not a perfect movie. The central plot through-line often feels a bit muddled, and you can see even how even the world's strongest hero starts to buckle slightly under the weight of setting up an entire universe. It also doesn't help that Gunn doesn't know to get out of his own way at times – his now signature needle drops and some mild but still jarring strong language feel out of place. And staying with the music, it's disappointing that composers John Murphy and David Fleming's score is not better, given this franchise's iconic history. Following in the footsteps of John Williams and Hans Zimmer is a herculean task, and the effort here is certainly not without merit, but by choosing to build a main theme around Williams's historic jingle, we end up with a score that just feels like some hastily copied homework. Despite these discordant parts, though, there's one thing that Gunn nails from the film's very first opening moments right to its two post-credit scenes (neither of which is narratively important, I might add), and that's fun! Superman is a refreshing joy to experience. It's playful and imaginative in all the best ways, never showing a scrap of embarrassment for wearing its heart on its blue sleeve as it sets out to inspire goodness in people. Embracing its comic book roots, delightful goofiness and all, with gusto, it's a Superman movie made by somebody who clearly loves Superman. A wild concept, I know, but it doesn't just work – it soars! DM
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Superman proves James Gunn's superpower is his love for animals
Superman is here, and he's not alone –– this time, he is joined by Krypto, his loyal pet 'superdog,' a fellow Kryptonian whose powers mirror the Man of Steel's. And how could that not be? James Gunn is in the director's chair, and that guarantees the hero at least one animal companion, if not more. With Superman, Gunn officially kicks off his revamped DC Universe (DCU). This has no real ties to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the darker, Jack Snyder-led universe that came before. We have had Superman movies for decades, but before this one, no live-action Superman film included Krypto. That, in itself, says a lot about the tone shift DC is undergoing, and the kind of emotional world Gunn is building. Over the years, Gunn has turned animals into emotional powerhouses in his stories. They're not comic relief or background fluff, they are vital characters, often mirroring the emotional heart of the narrative. From space raccoons and telepathic dogs to misunderstood rats and vulnerable squirrels, Gunn's animal characters are unforgettable –– they make his stories feel more humane. Gunn's storytelling has always gravitated toward misfits, outsiders, and the unloved. And in that world, animals often become poignant symbols of innocence, resilience, and unspoken trauma. Take Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, one of Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) most gut-wrenching chapters to date. At its core, that movie is about Rocket Raccoon, his origin, his suffering, and the cruelty inflicted on him in the name of 'scientific progress.' When Rocket and the other lab animals finally break free from their cages in the High Evolutionary's lair, it's much more than a rescue scene; it's a moment of moral clarity, the kind that punches you right in the heart, especially if you've ever loved an animal. The reason that scene hits so hard is because Gunn isn't manipulating. He's expressing something he truly believes in: the value of all life, not just the 'superpowered' kind. In The Suicide Squad (2021), Gunn gave us Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) and her rat companion, Sebastian, easily the film's most surprising emotional anchor. Despite a story stuffed with explosions, grotesque monsters, and a giant alien starfish, it's the bond between Ratcatcher and Sebastian that tugs at your soul. When Sebastian curls up next to a grieving character or offers a tiny leaf to Bloodsport (Idris Alba) as a gesture of love, it is almost embarrassingly moving. Gunn even used real trained rats for the film, and by all accounts, treated them like royalty on set. Sebastian isn't just there for cute gags. He's a reminder that in Gunn's world, kindness and connection don't have to be loud or dramatic, they can come from the smallest creatures. In a team of killers, Sebastian was the one character who never had blood on his hands. In Superman (2025), Gunn continues this theme of animal empathy, and not just through Krypto, but in the details that might be easy to miss. One such moment features Superman rescuing a squirrel amid the chaos in Metropolis. It's a deliberate, clearly framed act of compassion that speaks volumes about the kind of hero this version of Superman is. For him, no life is too small to matter. Later in the film, as Lex Luthor's rampage tears through the city and Metropolis faces evacuation, there's a poignant shot of an elderly woman clutching a box holding her pet turtle. There are no dramatic lines, no music swell, just a deeply human moment that lands. In a film filled with spectacle, scenes like these ground the story and make Gunn's version of Superman feels superior. That's Gunn at his best –– layering high-concept sci-fi with small, human moments that make you care not just about what happens, but to whom. What makes Gunn's use of animals so effective isn't just their presence, it's the meaning he assigns to them. Rocket, for instance, is more than a genetically-altered raccoon; he embodies deep emotional scars and resilience in the face of cruelty. Sebastian the rat becomes a symbol of pure, non-judgmental love in a world full of violent anti-heroes. Krypto, Cosmo, and even the blink-and-you-miss-it squirrel or turtle in Superman all bring an emotional softness that grounds the spectacle around them. These animals aren't decorative, they are storytelling devices, catalysts for character growth, and reminders of the emotional stakes at play. In Gunn's world, the smallest creatures often carry the heaviest emotional weight, subtly reminding us that kindness, empathy, and connection aren't just superpowers, they're what make us human. Gunn reminds us of the power of care. His movies are fun, wild, and loud, but they're also tender. He taps into something universal –– the kind of love that transcends species. So yes, if you leave the theatre thinking about adopting a dog, hugging your cat, or maybe even buying a box for your turtle, well, that's exactly the point.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The 10 Best DC Movies By Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – Where's ‘Superman'?
Superman Superman is continuing to crush it at the box office, surpassing expectations and causing WB to rave about this bold new Gunn-led era of the DCU. Critics liked the film, and fans seem to love it. Tens of thousands of reviews have poured in, and I thought it was time for a bit of a breakdown of how Superman has stacked up against other DC films, both in the DCEU, pre-DCEU and way, way in the past, before cinematic universes were really a thing. Where does Superman fall on a list like this? For superhero films, I'm going to choose to use the audience score metric on Rotten Tomatoes, as I think that's the big indicator of a well-liked film. So, here's the top 10: 1) The Dark Knight – 94% audience score, 94% critic score 2) Batman Begins –94% audience score, 85% critic score 3) Superman (2025) – 93% audience score, 83% critic score 4) Zack Snyder's Justice League – 92% audience score, 71% critic score 5) The Dark Knight Rises – 90% audience score, 87% critic score 6) Joker – 89% audience score, 68% critic score 7) The Batman – 87% audience score, 85% critic score 8) Superman: The Movie – 86% audience, score 88% critic score 9) Batman – 84% audience score, 77% critic score 10) Wonder Woman – 83% audience score, 93% critic score Bonus: Shazam!/The Suicide Squad – 82% audience score Superman I believe I'm not missing any, but I will adjust if so. As you can see, it's pretty stunning. Superman has suddenly become the third highest-scored movie in DC history, according to audiences, behind only Chris Nolan's famed Dark Knight and Batman Begins. Three points above The Dark Knight Rises. And hey, credit to Snyder superfans for getting his Justice League cut to 92% (but I mean, that's generous). Superman's modern day counterpart, The Batman, has also made it to the list. The highest DCEU films besides Snyder JLA are Wonder Woman and Shazam!, the latter of which is tied with James Gunn's own Suicide Squad sequel, which did terribly at the box office but audiences enjoyed it. No, Superman is not the ultra-tops in terms of critic score and will probably not be for box office (if I had to guess), but it's still an unequivocal success and there is really not much else WB could have hoped for, especially coming off a pretty bad string of projects in the DCEU, where that whole experiment was close to a failure. But the DCU is starting strong and led by its biggest hero. Now, we'll see how Supergirl fares next. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Superman discourse has already reached the playground argument stage: who would win in a fight – David Corenswet's Superman or Henry Cavill's Superman?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. DC fans have taken the long-running James Gunn's DCU vs. Zack Snyder's DCEU debate to another level, as they argue over who would win in a fight, new Superman David Corenswet or Henry Cavill's Man of Steel. Warning, this article contains spoilers for Gunn's Superman, so make sure you have seen it before reading on. But first, read our Superman review. Zack Snyder and James Gunn fans have been head-to-head since the new Superman movie was still announced, with Cavill fans angry that the Man of Steel star wasn't recast as the hero, whilst Corenswet supporters were glad to see a new actor take on the role. Now that Superman has hit screens, both sides of the argument have entered into some rather petty clashes, including this one. The whole playground-esque squabble started when Twitter user FromSelinaKyle posted, "Cavill's Superman would wipe the floor with Corenswet's Superman," and the replies started rolling in. However, in the Gunn corner, a lot of fans came to Corenswet's defence, with one pointing out, "He escaped a black hole while half health and holding 3 individuals with his super breath, this feat alone solos Cavill's Superman." However, a Snyder fan clapped back, "Cavill's Superman literally did that. He escaped the Phantom Zone, which is stated to be a Black hole that pulls things into a completely different plane of existence." Round 2 saw fans debate whether Corenswet's Supes would have bested Ben Affleck's Batman, who notably beat Cavill's hero. "If Batman almost took out Cavill, David and Mr Terrific will mop the floor with him," said one Corenswet-backer, but a Snyder-head replied, "Affleck Batman can beat David Superman in hand-to-hand combat." However, many Cavill fans have highlighted how the new Superman movie starts with his defeat, putting him in a weaker light straight away. One fan said, "This Superman is pretty weak in comparison." But it is important to note that this was Supes' first loss in his first three years of being Superman, and he was facing a highly intelligent villain in Lex Luthor and his team. But at the end of the day, there was one voice in this argument who saw the light and said, "Sure, he could beat him in a fight, but he wouldn't do that. They're both the good guys. They'd respect each other like you guys should for them both… Cavill's Supes is still the good guy and would have 0 reason to fight HIMSELF." Meanwhile, both Gunn and Snyder are seeing the lighter side in fans pitting them against one another. In fact, the two directors even appeared in a recent episode of Rick and Morty playing parodied versions of themselves fighting over who created the best Superman. Superman is out in cinemas now. For more, check out our guides on Superman ending explained and Superman Easter eggs, and keep up with the upcoming DC movies that are currently in the works.
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
David Corenswet's Superman vs. Henry Cavill's Superman: The Playground Fight the Internet Can't Let Go — GeekTyrant
The Superman discourse has officially hit the playground sandbox stage. With James Gunn's Superman now in theaters, fans have taken their ongoing DCU vs. DCEU rivalry to a new (and slightly absurd) level… Who would win in a fight—David Corenswet's fresh-faced Superman, or Henry Cavill's battle-worn Man of Steel? Yes, the hypothetical showdown nobody asked for is dominating social media, complete with cherry-picked feats, emotional meltdowns, and wildly subjective power scaling. (Warning: spoilers for Superman ahead.) This all kicked off when X user @FromSelinaKyle declared, 'Cavill's Superman would wipe the floor with Corenswet's Superman,' and the internet predictably exploded. Fans quickly took sides. Corenswet defenders pointed to key moments in Superman to argue his raw power: 'He escaped a black hole while half health and holding 3 individuals with his super breath, this feat alone solos Cavill's Superman.' Not to be outdone, a Snyder fan responded with a sharp clapback: 'Cavill's Superman literally did that. He escaped the Phantom Zone, which is stated to be a Black hole that pulls things into a completely different plane of existence.' It didn't stop there. Round two had fans throwing Ben Affleck's Batman into the ring. If Batfleck could take on Cavill's Supes, could he beat Corenswet's? 'If Batman almost took out Cavill, David and Mr Terrific will mop the floor with him.' To which a Snyder loyalist replied: 'Affleck Batman can beat David Superman in hand-to-hand combat.' Then came the power level nitpicking. Cavill fans pointed out that Gunn's Superman literally opens with the hero losing a fight. 'This Superman is pretty weak in comparison.' But context matters, he's three years into his Superman career and fighting a highly strategic villain in Lex Luthor. If anything, it speaks to his growth potential. Still, amid all the digital chest-thumping, one voice cut through the noise with a rare drop of wisdom: 'Sure, he could beat him in a fight, but he wouldn't do that. They're both the good guys. They'd respect each other like you guys should for them both… Cavill's Supes is still the good guy and would have 0 reason to fight HIMSELF.' A much-needed reminder that Superman isn't about winning fights, it's about doing the right thing, even when the fans on the internet refuse to. Even James Gunn and Zack Snyder seem to get the humor in it all. The two directors recently popped up in an episode of Rick and Morty , playing exaggerated versions of themselves locked in a ridiculous battle over whose Superman reigns supreme.
