Bri Hurl

Gilbert Melvin and I seem to be on the same page so I’m going to repost his review. Superman (2025) – A Confusing, Crowded Disappointment I walked into Superman (2025) hoping for a proper reboot of one of the most iconic heroes in pop culture. Instead, what I got was a confusing, overcrowded mess that barely felt like a Superman movie at all. James Gunn seems determined to build a shared universe quickly, but in doing so, he skips over the foundation entirely. It feels like DC is trying to be Marvel without following the steps that made Marvel successful. If they want to mirror Marvel, then just do what Marvel did—start small, focus on one hero, and build from there. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. One of the biggest issues is the way this film tries to introduce so many characters all at once. Rather than giving Superman his own space to breathe and grow, the movie throws in a bunch of new heroes—some I’ve never even heard of—without any proper explanation. There’s a guy flying on a floating chair surrounded by holograms, Hawkgirl shows up out of nowhere, and then there’s Green Lantern too. I kept asking myself, “Who are these people? Why are they here? What do they want?” It felt like I had walked into the second or third movie in a series without seeing the first. The first 5 to 10 minutes were incredibly dull. Great films grab you right away—just look at Iron Man, Star Trek, or James Bond. This one didn’t. It just meandered through exposition with no urgency or excitement. I found myself getting bored almost immediately, which is not a great sign for what’s supposed to be a flagship reboot of an entire cinematic universe. But the most disappointing thing? Superman himself. This version of Clark Kent is nothing like the Superman I grew up with. He’s unsure of himself, constantly needs help, and seems to get beat up more than he actually wins. I kept waiting for him to rise, to take control, to be the hero of his own movie. That moment never came. Other heroes end up saving the day while Superman stands around looking overwhelmed. He can’t even hold up a collapsing building in on his own—he gets crushed by it. It’s frustrating watching a character so powerful be portrayed as so weak and unsure. And then there’s the plot—or lack of one. I honestly couldn’t tell you what the main story was. The movie jumps around so much, trying to juggle too many threads, that nothing feels grounded. Even the inclusion of robots and the sudden appearance of Supergirl felt rushed and unexplained. How did the robots get there? Who built them? Are we just supposed to accept all this without context? It’s like the filmmakers assumed everyone watching had already read the script or a prequel comic. I will say this: Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and whoever played Jimmy Olsen were fantastic. They were perfectly cast and felt like the only grounded, human elements in a movie filled with noise and spectacle. On the other hand, Perry White was miscast and lacked the authority and presence the character usually brings to the newsroom. In the end, Superman (2025) isn’t a Superman movie—it’s a rushed attempt to jumpstart a universe that never gave its central hero a chance to shine. Superman deserved better. Audiences deserved better. What we got instead was two hours of confusion, missed opportunities, and a Superman who never really gets to be Superman