Displaying items by tag: Anthony Carrigan

SUPERMAN 

US, 2025, 129 minutes, Colour.

David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabella Merced, Wendell Pierce, Skye Gisondo, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Frank Grillo.

Directed by James Gunn.

Here is a Superman movie for the 21^st-century – although, we realise that we have already had a 21^st-century Superman in the form of Henry Cavill, his action in Gotham city but also his participation in the action of the Justice League. (And, those older, thinking back to the comic strips and comic books, may remember the black-and-white films of the 1940s with George Reeves but, with great fondness, the Superman presence of Christopher Reeve.)

This time Superman is a David Corenswet, who looks somewhere in between Christopher Reeve and Henry Cavill. But, the action is updated to the present. We do get flashbacks to Superman’s parents and their sending him to earth and the message for him to be a man of peace. And we do get flashbacks to the Kent family and the wise advice of his earthly foster father. And, this time, a significant character is Superman’s dog, called Krypton. And he does get involved significantly in the action.

And there is Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, a touch antagonistic but also in love, making demands in interviews with Superman. And, there is the editor of the Daly Planet and Jimmy Olsen. Still familiar.

And, as we expect, the villain is Lex Luthor, played arrogantly by a bald Nicholas Hoult, but this time a villain of the 21^st-century involved in all kinds of AI, manipulating complex social media outlets for fake and destructive news, defence systems, a power hungry villain with a considerable staff with all kinds of technological expertise.

But, this time there are alternate universes, strange places and atmospheres, Lex Luthor manipulating, imprisoning, overpowering Superman. But, this time Superman is not alone. Coming in from the Justice League is Green Lantern, as well as a few other characters with superpowers, Mr Terrific, Metamorpho, Hawkgirl.

For audiences not in the know, this can be quite confusing. Probably the best thing is to sit back, relax when possible, take the action and characters as they come, be amazed at the overreaching ambitions of Lex Luthor, especially as he unleashes a terrifying power that cuts through Manhattan, a vast rift, buildings collapsing – and, definitely the need for Superman to the rescue as well as his support team.

And, it seems, that this update of the franchise has proven very popular.

1. The long history of DC comics, early films, cereals, television series, the range of films from the 1970s, Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill? His expectations?
2. The work of the director, Guardians of the Galaxy, writing and directing this film? The basis on DC comics in more recent decades?
3. Audience awareness of Superman, Krypton, his parents, sent to earth, the farewell message? The recreation of these sequences here?
4. The opening, the play on 30 and three, tracing Superman coming from Krypton?
5. Superman, Clark Kent, working at the Daily Planet, his knowing Lois Lane, relationship with her, the significance of the initial interview, his own story, her questions, the tension between them, resolution? The editor, Jimmy Olsen as the enthusiastic reporter? The, her relationship with Lex Luthor, infatuation with Jimmy?
6. Lex Luthor, a 21^st-century interpretation, age, appearance, bald, technological skills, his range of associates in his office, the IT, advice, support? Wanting to capture Superman, his dog, getting the code, capturing and imprisoning Superman? Creating the counterbalance, Ultraman? Their eventually confronting each other, Superman discovering his alter ego, the fighting, destroying his alter ego?
7. Luthor and his plans of power, narcissistic, psychopathic behaviour?
8. Superman, David Corenswet’s interpretation, his relationship to the dog, the many dog sequences?
9. The capture of Superman, the Pocket Universe, Superman and his weaknesses, his strengths, with or and the interview with Superman, the public holding him in regard, his strength to help people, the reinterpretation, putting on a bad light, people turning against him, criticisms, disillusionment?
10. The squad helping Superman, Green Lantern and his personality, Mr Terrific, his style, Metamorpho and his situation, powers, Hawkgirl? The tradition of the DC comics, their participation in the action, stepping in and helping Superman?
11. The public, the creation of the rift, the special effects showing the rift pursuing the city, the collapse of the buildings, disaster…? Closing the rift, Mr terrific?
12. Superman, the struggle with himself, the escape, the help of the squad, the collaboration with Lois, with the editor, with Jimmy, the role of Eve, her disillusionment with Lex Luthor, his treatment of her, her making contact, the sending of the information, the unmasking of Lex Luthor?
13. The final resolution, the heroes, Superman and Lois and the kiss, the cousin coming in, the return of the dog. And sequels?