Superman

Superman has always been my favorite comic book character so James Gunn's new reboot was my most anticipated movie of the summer.  I had the chance to see it at a Thursday preview with my nephew and sister last night and, while it is a bit messy, I absolutely loved it!  Clark Kent/ Superman (David Corenswet) acts without the authority of the U.S. government to stop the invasion of Jarhanpur by Borovia, a neighboring country and U.S. ally, in order to save lives but many, including Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), his girlfriend and colleague at the Daily Planet, question his motives.  Tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who is jealous of Superman's notoriety, uses this and a previously unheard message from his Kryptonian parents to turn public opinion against Superman and he takes steps to destroy him in a perceived attempt to keep people safe.  I think the narrative is really bloated because it includes Luthor's allies Ultraman (also played by David Corenswet) and Angela Spica/ The Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria), the Justice Gang members Michael Holt/ Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner/ Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Kendra Saunders/ Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and eventually Rex Mason/ Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) who help Superman save the people of Jarhanpur, as well as Clark Kent's Daily Planet colleagues Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Perry White (Wendell Pierce), Steve Lombard (Beck Bennett), and Cat Grant (Mikaela Hoover) who work to discredit Luthor.  I also think the story is very convoluted with lots of plot holes, especially Luthor's use of nanotechnology and pocket dimensions.  However, it hardly matters because this movie is incredibly entertaining with all of the fun and goofy non-stop action Gunn is known for (I especially enjoyed the battle against the kaiju).  In my opinion, the characterization for Superman is very true to the comic books.  I love that he strives to do what is right and protect the innocent (at one point he saves a squirrel) even when it is difficult and I think his old-fashioned naivete is very refreshing.  I also love his character arc as an outsider who ultimately finds his strength in his humanity (the juxtaposition between the scenes with his Kryptonian parents and his Earth parents at the Fortress of Solitude is very powerful).  Corenswet (especially), Brosnahan, and Hoult are absolutely fantastic and I think Gisondo is the perfect Jimmy Olson but Gathegi steals every scene he is in as Mister Terrific (I hope to see more of him in future DCU projects) and Superman's dog Krypto is adorable.  As much as I love the direction Zack Snyder took the character, I think this is a great reset for the DCU and I am excited for what is to come!

Note:  There is a mid-credits scene and an end-credits scene.