By Rida M.

I never believed in superheroes. Sure, I saw them in advertisements, but to me, they were just regular heroes, conquering identical monsters in different costumes. There was nothing super about them—besides the fact that their costumes were super ugly.

But James Gunn, the writer and director of Superman, changed my mind.

Despite having no popcorn or blanket, Gunn cleverly instilled a sense of optimism in his film, using surprising elements like antiwar messaging and positive masculinity. It sank me into my seat and pulled me into the world of the DC Universe. By touching on real, sensitive topics, Gunn made this superhero story something genuinely super.

The film opens with Clark Kent (David Corenswet), and I was immediately captivated by his insane face card. Working at the Daily Planet, a media company, Kent juggles a full-time job with being a superhero. This double life adds humor and depth right from the start. Since he’s a journalist who helps give a voice to the voiceless, it ties perfectly to his hero identity—and the fact that he goes as far as saving a squirrel mid-battle says a lot about his character.

The first few scenes of Kent’s “normal” life are light and playful, with jumpy screen-panning that feels cute and comic book–like. But it doesn’t last long—something Gunn’s known for, especially from his Guardians of the Galaxy films. Clark is soon ousted by the villain Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult—yes, the guy with the horrendous bald cap), who alienates him from his friends and the public.

Instead of portraying Superman as cold and unbothered during this rough time, Gunn takes a different approach. He shows Kent crying and expressing emotion. Rather than the stoic, tough-guy hero, this Superman is vulnerable, human, and real.

The film also explores the devastating war between two nations, Boravia and Jarhanpur, in a way that’s rare for the superhero genre. Gunn takes it further by tying the fictional war to real-life politics—specifically, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By having Superman support Jarhanpur (a clear stand-in for Palestine), Gunn makes a bold choice in a time when public support for Palestine in the U.S. is controversial. He may have faced backlash, but this moment proves that pop culture—especially a franchise as mainstream as Superman—can be a powerful tool for change.

That said, the movie isn’t perfect. There are sexist portrayals that made me raise an eyebrow. For example, Daily Planet reporter Cat (Mikaela Hoover) wears a revealing top and comes off more like a character built for viewer pleasure. It becomes even more obvious when she starts jumping in joy during one of Superman’s fights—a moment that felt super weird and unnecessary. Another character, Eve (Sara Sampaio), is reduced to a “dumb blonde” stereotype and mostly used to pass along information. It was disappointing to see these female characters used mainly for comic relief.

Still, Gunn’s thoughtful takes on masculinity and war are what truly set Superman apart from other superhero movies…no shade. That’s why I can say this film left a lasting impact on me… even as someone who’s never really enjoyed superhero movies before (guilty).