REVIEW: SUPERMAN

4/5

Up, Up, And Amaze

129 Mins. Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Frank Grillo & Wendell Pierce. Screenplay: James Gunn. Director: James Gunn. In: Theatres.

"Hey, buddy! Eyes up here!" The guardian of the DC galaxy James Gunn's new era begins with the real Man Of Steel and the most hotly anticipated blockbuster of the summer, 'Superman'. And 'Hollywood' star David Corenswet ('Twisters') is perfect as the Clark Kent with an 'S' on his chest, and Hypno-glasses on his face. The same iconic S symbol that was all the teaser trailer needed to identify as a 'Superman' movie. And no, I haven't been hypnotized. This writer may be a fan of the bleak, but beautiful Snyderverse, but this is the Supes we all know and love from the Action Comics. Besides, with Ben Affleck out, Jason Momoa changing character and the controversy surrounding both Ezra Miller and Gal Gadot (thank God for Ray Fisher), the Justice League appears about done. They never even had a Green Lantern to begin with. This one does, mind you. Giving the finger to real world conflict that oppresses people. 'Lois & Clark' star Dean Cain says this is all too "woke", but a fan online posted a similar scene of immigration from his 'New Adventures'. This Superman honours him, Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, John Haymes Newton, Gerard Christopher, Tom Welling, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, Tyler Hoechlin and what could have been (and was in the 'Flash' film) with Nicolas Cage.

Will Smith once turned down Routh's Superman. But the 'Bad Boy' Deadshot even turned down 'The Matrix' and 'Django Unchained', and he didn't even turn the other cheek when, well...you know. 'Sinners' star Michael B. Jordan was also in the running...or is that flying?! But this David is statuesque as Supes. Corenswet in the cornfields with his Kent parents (a lovely Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell) is exactly the right Smallville star to make it big in this movie Metropolis. Perfect all the way down (or is that up?) to the cow's lick. Especially when he's bumbling around as Clark (although we'd love to see more) at the Daily Planet with a perfect Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) and Wendell Pierce replacing Laurence Fishburne as the cigar chomping Perry after his work in a new Avengers movie (Frank Grillo doing the reverse trade). EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about the office romance between Clark Kent and Lois Lane...not to mention Superman. And no, she's not two-timing as this Walter Cronkite like reporter gets to interview the Man Of Steel, herself. 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan is even better as the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. She may just be the best scoop yet.

But if you want to talk about actors making roles their own, then let's talk about a boy. We already know 'X-Men' star Nicholas Hoult is a beast of an actor, but here his bald ambition as the Joker mind to Superman's Batman muscle is incredible. Playing the iconic Lex Luthor like the late, legendary Gene Hackman before him, Hoult is an unhinged menace with monkeys spreading spam. One Russian Roulette scene will truly break you, as like Corneswet for Cavill and Routh et al, Hoult honours Jesse Eisenberg and even Michael Rosenbaum, a Gunn frequent flyer who makes a vocal cameo here. There are cool cameos before the credits, from characters in their own pocket universe, to actors who are friends of James. But nothing beats the best boy of all...Krypto the dog (the only Krypto I'd ever own). Not even another delightful droid from 'Andor's' Alan Tudyk in the Fortress of Solitude. You've been in love with him since the teaser trailer came hurtling through the snow, and now, we just hope he fetches his own movie. Because the spin-offs are already on deck. Engineered like cool villains akin to Ultraman. Whether throwing it down amongst skyscrapers falling like dominos, or stealing all sorts of plates in a baseball stadium, this Superman knocks it out the park. Until your teeth hit the camera.

Sure, between cute at first kaijus to a cast of characters similar to the unfairly sidelined 'Black Adam', this is all a bit messy at times. But what superhero movie, or review about it, isn't at even the best of times? James Gunn already proved himself worthy of DC with his version of 'The Suicide Squad', and now Marvel's rival is firmly his home base. Even if the great 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' trilogy remains his magnum opus. He's got his own new band of misfits, stealing the show in Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and 'Gotham' star Anthony Carrigan's Metamorpho. Especially Edi, after what happened to his 'First Class' Darwin in X-Men. Even Lex Luthor could see that was wrong. Speaking of wrong, Gunn even proves all of those who had complaints about this movie from the very first classic guitar, John Williams theme rocking trailer wrong. And there was a lot. Sometimes I'm as ashamed of being a Snyder fan as I am a Lakers one, for our fan bases. Case in point, Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio has a reason for all those selfies, but shhh, I'm not telling. I will say this, you won't have more fun at a multiplex this summer than in Metropolis. Even if Brad Pitt's 'F1' races ahead as the blockbuster of the summer. With the 'Mission: Impossible' days of thunder of Tom Cruise following close behind. The old heroes are the best. Look all the way up! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Superman (1978)', 'Superman Returns', 'Man Of Steel'