David Adhikari

Where do I start? The hype and early reviews for this film were sky-high—but sadly, even my modest expectations weren’t met. I respect James Gunn as a director. His Guardians of the Galaxy was fresh, hilarious, and rewatchable. But Superman (2025) felt rushed, overstuffed, and emotionally hollow. From the beginning, the movie spoon-feeds you plot points. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex was just okay, and the much-praised Lois-Clark chemistry? Honestly, David and Rachel had better energy in promo interviews. The "Clark" persona was barely distinct from Superman, which undermines the character. Side characters like Mr. Terrific and Guy Gardner were thrown in without context, assuming we’d already met them. The Hall of Justice appeared without any significance, and there was zero explanation for why these heroes work under Maxwell Lord—who most viewers barely know. The Daily Planet team felt like background props. Besides Jimmy, none were relevant. Even Lois’ “big moment” felt flat. Gunn stuffed the runtime with Pocket Universes, Ultraman, Krypto, and obscure cities like Boravia and Jahanpur—all in just 2 hours. It felt like he had one chance to kickstart a universe and just dumped everything in. Villains lacked impact. Jor-El and Lara? Possibly the worst portrayal of Superman’s parents ever. Russell Crowe’s Jor-El from Man of Steel had more presence in just a few scenes. The Clark and Pa Kent scene—one I had high hopes for—was rushed and forced. Not even close to the emotional depth Gunn delivered with Star-Lord and Yondu. Yes, it tried to be "comic accurate," but that doesn't equal good storytelling. Compared to Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, or even Ant-Man—this simply falls short. And the trunks? Better left to comics and animation. I left the theater confused and disappointed. Even my family—who aren’t DC fans—felt underwhelmed. If this is the direction for the DCU, I might sit the rest out. This doesn’t even match the depth of a Superman: The Animated Series episode. Rating: 3/10.