Heroic Vulnerability: A Deep Dive into James Gunn's 'Superman'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica delve into the groundbreaking new Superman film directed by James Gunn, where the iconic hero is reimagined in ways that challenge traditional narratives. The episode kicks off with a jaw-dropping scene of Superman being playfully dragged through the snow by his dog, Krypto, a striking visual that sets a tone of vulnerability rarely seen in superhero films. Chris discusses how this unexpected opening humanizes Superman, showcasing him at his lowest point, relying on his canine companion for support.
The conversation shifts to the film's visual spectacle, particularly the Fortress of Solitude, which rises majestically from the ground, a testament to Gunn's impressive visual effects prowess honed during his time with *Guardians of the Galaxy*. The portrayal of Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult as a modern tech mogul using social media to undermine Superman, is critiqued for its execution, with Chris questioning the believability of the narrative that positions Superman as a villain.
David Corenswet's performance as Superman is highlighted for its balance of power and humility, while Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane adds depth to their relationship, depicting the challenges of dating amidst superhero antics. The introduction of a self-absorbed Green Lantern and a shapeshifting engineer character injects classic James Gunn humor into the mix, showcasing the film's unique blend of action, character development, and humor.
With a respectable rating of 7.5 out of 10, Chris concludes that this film lays a solid foundation for Gunn's new DC universe, successfully merging modern themes with the timeless essence of Superman. As they explore the emotional vulnerabilities of the character, listeners are invited to consider how this fresh perspective revitalizes an 85-year-old icon. Tune in for an insightful discussion on a film that dares to redefine what it means to be Superman.
https://www.bitesz.com/podcast/movies-first
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/movies-first
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.840
Chris: Superman getting beaten up and dragged through the snow by
1
00:00:02.840 --> 00:00:05.800
his own dog. Now that's something you don't see every day
2
00:00:05.800 --> 00:00:08.560
in a superhero movie. But this new James
3
00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.560
Gunn film is turning everything we know about the man of Steel on
4
00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:12.080
its head.
5
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:15.280
Jessica: That's such an unexpected way to open a Superman
6
00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:18.160
movie, showing him at his most vulnerable right
7
00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.160
from the start. The visual of Krypto dragging him
8
00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:24.160
by his cape while trying to turn it into playtime really sets a
9
00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:24.720
different tone.
10
00:00:25.770 --> 00:00:28.290
Chris: You know what's fascinating about this approach? It
11
00:00:28.290 --> 00:00:31.210
immediately humanizes Superman in a way we rarely see.
12
00:00:31.850 --> 00:00:34.850
Instead of starting with him saving the day, we're seeing
13
00:00:34.850 --> 00:00:37.730
him literally at rock bottom, relying on
14
00:00:37.730 --> 00:00:39.690
his somewhat playful dog to save him.
15
00:00:40.250 --> 00:00:42.970
Jessica: The whole Fortress of Solitude scene sounds incredible
16
00:00:42.970 --> 00:00:45.490
too. Rising from the ground like an ice
17
00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:48.410
castle, James Gunn really seems to
18
00:00:48.410 --> 00:00:51.050
be flexing those visual effects muscles he developed on
19
00:00:51.050 --> 00:00:52.250
Guardians of the Galaxy.
20
00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.120
Chris: Speaking of Gunn's influence, let's talk about how he's
21
00:00:56.120 --> 00:00:59.000
reimagining Lex Luthor. Nicholas
22
00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:01.840
Hoult is playing him as this modern tech billionaire
23
00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:04.760
type, using social media and government influence to
24
00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:07.560
attack Superman's reputation. It's like they're
25
00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:10.320
taking cues from real world tech moguls.
26
00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.360
Jessica: Though I understand that's actually one of the movie's weaker points.
27
00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:16.480
The whole Superman is evil narrative doesn't quite
28
00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:19.450
land. How do you convince people that
29
00:01:19.450 --> 00:01:22.370
someone who's been consistently saving the world is suddenly the
30
00:01:22.370 --> 00:01:22.970
bad guy?
31
00:01:23.850 --> 00:01:26.650
Chris: Well, that's where David Corenswet's performance
32
00:01:26.650 --> 00:01:28.650
as Superman becomes so crucial.
33
00:01:29.450 --> 00:01:32.290
From what we're hearing, he manages to maintain this
34
00:01:32.290 --> 00:01:34.570
perfect balance of power and humility,
35
00:01:35.130 --> 00:01:37.930
showing strength without arrogance, vulnerability
36
00:01:38.090 --> 00:01:39.050
without weakness.
37
00:01:39.530 --> 00:01:42.290
Jessica: And Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane brings such an
38
00:01:42.290 --> 00:01:44.170
interesting dimension to their relationship.
39
00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:47.980
Instead of the usual will they, won't they?
40
00:01:48.300 --> 00:01:51.140
We're seeing them actually trying to date and struggling with
41
00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:51.420
it.
42
00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:55.340
Chris: Right? And that line about her never being good at
43
00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:57.860
relationships, it adds this
44
00:01:57.860 --> 00:02:00.579
wonderfully human element to what could have been just
45
00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:03.340
another superhero story. Plus,
46
00:02:03.820 --> 00:02:06.820
having them only three months into dating creates this natural
47
00:02:06.820 --> 00:02:07.420
tension.
48
00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:10.540
Jessica: So what do you make of this justice gang? They've introduced
49
00:02:11.529 --> 00:02:14.369
a self absorbed Green Lantern with a bowl cut. Sounds like
50
00:02:14.369 --> 00:02:16.009
classic James Gunn humor.
51
00:02:16.809 --> 00:02:19.529
Chris: Oh, man. It's exactly what you'd expect from Gun,
52
00:02:19.689 --> 00:02:22.649
taking these serious superhero characters and adding
53
00:02:22.649 --> 00:02:25.649
these slightly absurd details. But what really
54
00:02:25.649 --> 00:02:28.529
catches my attention is this engineer character.
55
00:02:28.529 --> 00:02:31.369
They've created a shapeshifter with razor
56
00:02:31.369 --> 00:02:34.329
sharp blades. The special effects team
57
00:02:34.409 --> 00:02:36.409
must have had a field day with that one.
58
00:02:37.720 --> 00:02:40.440
Jessica: The technical achievements in this film sound pretty remarkable
59
00:02:40.920 --> 00:02:43.840
the way they're describing the production values suggests they've
60
00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:45.080
really pushed the envelope.
61
00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:48.920
Chris: You know what's interesting? They've managed to balance all these
62
00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:51.880
elements. Spectacular action, character development,
63
00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:54.640
humor, while still maintaining what makes
64
00:02:54.640 --> 00:02:57.600
Superman iconic. That's no small feat
65
00:02:57.600 --> 00:03:00.200
when you're dealing with arguably the most recognizable
66
00:03:00.200 --> 00:03:01.320
superhero in the world.
67
00:03:02.370 --> 00:03:05.370
Jessica: Well, that 7 1/2 out of 10 rating suggests they
68
00:03:05.370 --> 00:03:08.370
got more right than wrong. Even with some of the plot
69
00:03:08.370 --> 00:03:09.970
elements not quite hitting the mark.
70
00:03:11.010 --> 00:03:13.770
Chris: Looking at the bigger picture, this seems like a solid
71
00:03:13.770 --> 00:03:16.290
foundation for Gunn's new DC universe.
72
00:03:16.770 --> 00:03:19.690
He's taking risks while respecting the core of
73
00:03:19.690 --> 00:03:22.370
who Superman is. And that's really what these
74
00:03:22.370 --> 00:03:23.810
reboots need to succeed.
75
00:03:24.370 --> 00:03:27.370
Jessica: The combination of modern themes with classic superhero
76
00:03:27.370 --> 00:03:30.350
elements really seems to work here. From social
77
00:03:30.350 --> 00:03:32.910
media manipulation to relationship dynamics,
78
00:03:33.070 --> 00:03:35.710
they're finding fresh angles on an 85 year old
79
00:03:35.710 --> 00:03:36.270
character.
80
00:03:37.230 --> 00:03:40.230
Chris: And that's what makes this version so intriguing. It's not just
81
00:03:40.230 --> 00:03:42.990
about Superman's physical vulnerabilities, but his
82
00:03:42.990 --> 00:03:45.910
emotional ones too. Whether he's being dragged
83
00:03:45.910 --> 00:03:48.830
through the snow by his dog or trying to navigate a new
84
00:03:48.830 --> 00:03:51.630
relationship, we're seeing sides of the character we've
85
00:03:51.630 --> 00:03:52.910
never really explored before.
86
00:03:53.390 --> 00:03:56.190
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to Movies First available
87
00:03:56.270 --> 00:03:58.590
at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
88
00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:01.650
iHeartRadio, or your favourite podcast player. You can
89
00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:04.650
also stream on demand at bitesz.com This
90
00:04:04.650 --> 00:04:07.370
has been another quality podcast production from
91
00:04:07.370 --> 00:04:08.490
bitesz.com
