No potential of spoilers review:
YEAAAAHH!!!!!!!!
It is wonderful having a live action Superman film made by people that understand the character correctly. It's been quite a while since that's happened.
Before going further, I feel this one needs a "my credentials" list for understanding Superman, and his Icon status, correctly:
I have seen or heard at least a reasonable sample of every adaptation of Superman.
More importantly I have read multiple comics from every decade of his 87 year history.
(Honestly, I can confidently cut that time interval in half without checking anything, and a bit of research could probably reduce it further. )
Yes, there have been many variations in Superman, Clark Kent, his supporting cast, villains and the setting he inhabits over time. As far as the core, important parts of who the character is, and how he relates to others and the world he lives in, this film nails it. In his very first appearance from Action Comics #1 in 1938 he was called "Champion of the Oppressed." This has always been a part of that core. (Also he stopped a war to save innocent lives by grabbing the leaders in issue 2 of his self titled book in 1939. Guess what? It was Boravia! )
There are some really important decisions James Gunn made to accurately show Superman AND create an entertaining film that feels fresh and new.
A big one was taking for granted how much the audience knows (or can figure out quickly) about the Mythology without having to rehash things, such as:
Superman's home planet,
his Kansas upbringing,
his job,
Others who work at the Daily Planet,
Lex Luthor's scientific, business and criminal genius,
And the fact that it is a world FULL of other super powered individuals (and a lot of other weird stuff) but Superman is the most powerful and has (a tie for) the strongest moral code.
All of these were taken for granted as givens and were shown without spending time to explain them.
Another big one was leaping smack in the middle of the action. There it very quickly established who Superman really is by demonstrating how he dealt with that first time, smash landing the trailers also opened with.
A nice bonus- he looks like Superman. He's got a disarming and welcoming smile, and a great presence that inspires hope. (The trunks and spit curl help with both of these.) However, as Clark, he manages to look smaller. It's not quite up to, "Lois, there's something I have to tell you," but there are moments he changes between the two. Additionally, while it takes a great deal to get him there, he is downright terrifying on the rare occasions he is angry. Corenswet really nailed all three roles: (Like Christian Bale did.) Superman's public persona, who Clark pretends to be, and who Clark really is.
Of course there are references to Krypton. Kal El's home world also has had so many versions over the years, and this one matches... some of them. The Fortress of Solitude pulls from multiple sources as well, and feels like the proper home for our favorite Kryptonian. The film recognizes, and demonstrates, that whatever version of Krypton is used is unimportant. It's how he was raised by the kind and caring Smallville based Kents, along with his own decisions, that shapes who the Man of Steel really is. Jonathan and Martha inspired, and continue to inspire Clark to do the right thing in the same way he inspires others.
It's definitely a Neo-Silver Age tale. The film has all the craziness and hopefulness of the old comics, but is related through a lens of modern sensibilities and story telling.
Hence- KRYPTO!
Krypto has been an important part of the Superman mythology in some form or another for seventy years. The comic runs and adaptations that pretended he never existed because it was "too silly" tended to be the least fun. And this movie is unquestionably fun. Krypto brought a lot of emotional highs and lows to the picture, as only a dog can.
As always, when Superman is written by those who understand him, it isn't his powers that make him a hero, or how he uses them and they are countered that leads to the story driving conflicts. It is the fact that he always chooses to do the right thing, and how that can clash with desires, society, or the sheer amount that he is needed. With those elements driving the tale, his strength, durability and ability to recover could be placed at the "super" levels they belong at... because they are not the key to resolving the conflicts, but they are all key to his main goal, protecting others.
Superman always leads with kindness. He believes in the best in everyone, and trusts readily. It's why he and Lex Luthor are perfect enemies. Lex is not only evil and petty himself, he cannot comprehend that ANYONE ELSE will use ANY form of power they have for altruistic reasons. It is why, when he often tries to turn the world against Superman, he rarely relies on framing him with completely manufactured evidence, even though he has the intelligence and technology to do so. He operates from the point of view that there must be something bad to uncover about EVERYONE, and all he needs to do is find it and present it. (While he doesn't create it, that mind set means he inevitably misinterprets what he finds and slants the presentation, however.)
On the opposite side of that coin, Superman is devastated that Lex does not use his gifts for the betterment of all humanity, and will always maintain the hope that someday he will.
That "start in the middle" path this film took (on multiple levels) allowed Superman to be only a few years into his career, but not at the very start. This leaves room for character growth without having to show the "first time" moments that have been done to death. This outlook was true for all the key relationships. As a couple, Lois and Clark are supportive of each other, and are always the first ones to have the other's back. Yet, they also challenge each other. It is a different, and more interactive and intimate kind of inspiring someone to be better, and it goes with the character's central theme. Lois's hard core reporter cynicism cracks some under Clark's idealism, yet she opens him up to the practical side of many viewpoints.
Superman cannot save everyone, but because of who he is, and what he does, he inspires others. The super heroes introduced are modern day, snarky, and tend to be less altruistic and optimistic than he is. Superman inspires them all to do the right thing by being who he is and doing what he does. However, it also showed, while they were not at his power levels, they were still willing and able to save the day and he did trust them to do that. The small group of characters chosen was an excellent mix. In general the biggest influence was from the Justice League International days, which fit perfectly into light hearted, oddball driven, (yet with moments of real emotion) nature of Characters that exist in James Gunn's films.
Each hero gave a peek into the comic book elements that are influencing this new DC universe.
Hawkgirl has a million possible back stories to choose from, and there is a mix here. However, the excellent influence from the DC Animated Universe was the clear primary source. She was a warrior and a protector who led by example.
Mr. Terrific (WOO!, I've been a fan since his first appearance in my favorite comic run.) showed there are legacy heroes of the original Justice Society. Michael Holt was also key in demonstrating there are intellects out there to challenge Mr. Luthor. The juxtaposition of what his "peak human ability" was physically, mentally and morally compared to what Lex believes it should be was fantastically shown.
Guy Gardner fits into the JLI timeframe, but he was much more based on his current character interpretation in that he is a likeable "Jerk by choice." However, he remained someone that can be trusted on to be heroic (if mouthy) and took his role as a member of the corps with the responsibility to the people that it entails seriously and proudly.
Including Metamorpho at the start showed they won't shy away from the weird, and unusual looking characters they've started to establish in Suicide Squad, Peacemaker and Creature Commandos when it comes to the flagship films. His bizarre powers were cool to see on screen.
Lex Luthor has a supporting group too... however, referencing them requires being more spoilery, meaning I have to hold off. I will say that I was delighted at the comedic chops required to give the character named Otis the surname of "Burg." (Originally used in the Smallville season eleven comics. Gunn has always been good at picking and choosing stuff.) Lex and his crew provided mental, physical and emotional challenges to Superman.
Besides Clark's "Super Friends" (Yes, I did love the reference.) he has an equally (if not more) important supporting cast at the Daily Planet.
Perry is the wise truth seeking mentor.
Jimmy is inexperienced but enthusiastic. He's also capable and enough of a weirdness magnet to be helpful in strange ways.
We even spent some time with Ron Troupe, Cat Grant and Steve Lombard to make the gang more filled out, increase the development of the Daily Planet environment, and as a set up for future moments.
They, (and the heroes) do believe Superman IS as good as he appears. It is because he has inspired them and knows he can rely on their help, not because he is the most powerful being on the planet, that he triumphs.
Last non-spoiler thought on the movie:
I'm thrilled they went back to the John Williams theme in and around this original score instead of any other composer's take on it, or building a new one off of the same musical foundation. It is definitely the best use of those rising fifths in the history of the character. I think there are two reasons for that. The first is, while the basics are simple, there is a great deal of complexity surrounding that central theme, allowing it to both fill the theater, and be used in varied smaller moments. The second reason is, like all Williams leitmotifs, it is supremely adaptable to various tones and moods. The man is a genius.
As often as I've talked about the Character versus Icon difference I've also brought up that the best comic book
stories are good Batman stories, but the comic
book stories that make me feel the best after reading them are good Superman
stories.
I felt fantastic, and hopeful, leaving the theater after this one.
It's funny how much of this parallels when I was complaining about the rumors about previous attempts at Superman doing things wrong. I guess because both times are focused less on specifics and more on who Superman really is.
Come back next time for spoilers, before I explode.
No comments:
Post a Comment