I don’t want to give away very much, but I have a few things I’d like to say about the new Superman movie which was written and directed by James Gunn [If you don’t know, he rose to fame with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies and he is now DC Studios’ co-chairman and CEO.)
This is a movie that is light-hearted, fun, inspiring, and seems to emerge directly from the pages of Superman comic books from the 1960’s (silver age) and 1970’s (early bronze age). As a kid in the 1970’s I loved Action Comics, Superman, DC Comics Presents (Superman with a guest star), World’s Finest (Superman with Batman), and Superman Family (Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, Krypto, Lois, Jimmy, and others).
This explains why this movie was a treat for me. If you’re looking for a version that is dark and artsy then this is the wrong film for you. This film is playful, at times silly, but also carries some emotional depth, and a not-so-subtle political punch (allusions to current political events, especially in the Middle East). The film is jam-packed with characters and sometimes meandering plots. But overall, the tone is light while maintaining a high level of action-oriented suspense.
It is important to mention that Superman has generated a tremendous controversy between people who prefer the Zach Snyder dark version of Superman (from the recent Man of Steel and the Batman vs Superman and Justice League movies) and people who prefer this lighter version. It has also generated some controversy as the two fictional countries depicted in the film appear to mirror the current Israel/Palestine (or perhaps Russia/Ukraine) conflict. If there is an analogy, Benjamin Netanyahu does not come off well here.
All I can say is that I grew up on Super Friends and the more innocent comic book version of Superman where good was clearly good and evil was obviously evil, so this movie is a happy reprieve from the Watchmen inspired Snyder versions. The truth is that I can enjoy all iterations, but this one is especially welcome in this time of moral ambiguity and confusion.
Gunn doesn’t spend any time explaining the backstory of Superman – he assumes we all know Superman’s origin story, we know the relationship between Clark and Lois, we are aware of Lex Luthor’s hate for Superman, and that we are comfortable with a world filled with “meta-humans.” This is not a problem for me as a longtime fan, but it might be difficult for audience members who are less familiar with the lore.
My 12-year-old part LOVED this movie. It was action packed and funny. Superman came off human and likable, true-blue but flawed, principled and yet emotionally vulnerable. David Corenswet who plays Superman has been widely praised for his subtle charm and likability – fairly true to the Christopher Reeves legacy but he also makes it his own. There is no question that Superman/Clark Kent cares about saving lives and cares about doing the right thing. Powerfully, he also struggles with his own values and identity in the face of disillusionment.
Everyone is also talking about the delightful Krypto the Super-dog who does somewhat steal the show – he saves, needs to be saved, and then saves again. Krypto worked for me – there’s nothing like a man’s relationship to his faithful but sometimes distracted dog to win hearts. If it was overplayed, you won’t hear me complain.
Many other lesser-known superheroes are introduced such as Mr. Terrific (in my opinion a surprise run-away hit character), the Guy Gardner version of Green Lantern (a generally unlikable macho guy masterfully played by Nathan Fillion), and Hawkgirl (a less impressive character). We also meet Metamorpho who is an odd hero who is forced to work for Luther to save his child.
The villain, Lex Luthor, is intriguing, relying on his brains and his misplaced principles that take him to a disturbing end. The traditional side characters, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson, are true to form and yet creatively employed. There’s a LOT in this movie. Kids will enjoy the color and the humor and the special effects, but adults will also be invited to enjoy the emotional nuances and relational dynamics between Clark and Lois, and Clark and his adoptive parents.
One of the main complaints about the movie, is that the movie does not focus on Superman enough. From a parts perspective, I love the fact that this version of Superman requires Superman to depend on others. Superman, although extremely powerful, still needs others to defeat evil. He is one part in a system which includes not only Lois and Jimmy, his dog Krypto, but also the “Justice Gang” (Guy, Mr. Terrific, and Hawkgirl). This is a team movie, truly.
Why is the Superman “myth” important – from a Catholic perspective?
There are some obvious allusions to Christ in the Superman myth. He’s not exactly human and he comes from far away to save humanity from itself. He refuses to kill, he cares for the disenfranchised, and he is generally virtuous (some would say, to a fault). As a Christ-figure, he sacrifices himself and his own needs for the good of humanity.
I want to suggest that for some traditional Catholics in our culture today, there might be some cognitive dissonance for some of their parts in this new Superman story. Historically traditional Catholics have always been about serving the poor, helping the disenfranchised, and doing the right thing. Traditional Catholics understood self-sacrifice. Our traditional priests, brothers, and nuns established orphanages, hospitals, and schools to help those in need.
I regret to say that some Catholics today are more focused on the perceived “enemy” and less focused on those in distress, whoever they may be. Perhaps we have been so politicized that we fail to see the dying women and children that need saving. This version of Superman says, I don’t care about the politics, I’m not about the politics, I jump in when I see people in danger. For heaven’s sake, this Superman even saves a squirrel. This is the innocent non-political kindness of Superman that we all need. And even if I might disagree with some of James Gunn’s politics, this movie emphasizes the need for us to be more human, more kind, and more genuinely loving to each other. I can get behind that.
But I realize that some readers may be triggered by the messaging in the film. Politics are often presented as black and white, but it is always more complex than that. I’m not pretending to have answers. I just hope that we can listen to our own parts and the concerns of others with compassion and understanding even when we disagree. There is an “interview” scene between Clark and Lois in the film that is filled with tension when she challenges him on his actions. I think this scene was brilliant as it highlights the conflict we have within our country between “right” and “left” views. Often, we are all trying to do the right thing, but it is not easy or clear, and it is not comfortable to hear conflicting viewpoints. Superman is confronted with the possibility that his actions may have done more wrong than good, and he rejects this. Isn’t that true of most of us and many of our parts? There are no easy answers.
In my view, the fact that this imperfect movie generated this level of discussion speaks to something important. As a country we are fragmented, and we have polarized parts. What is the IFS answer? What is the Catholic answer?
We are called to be “in self” and to be “recollected” as we approach others. We are called to empathy, understanding, and compassion even with those with whom we strongly disagree. We are called to love. This does not mean we abandon our beliefs, the truths we hold dear. It means that we prioritize the human person standing before us. We reverence the divine image even if the person in question is lost and far from their true identity. We become, as best as we can, the presence of Christ to everyone we encounter.
A tall order. But this is something I think the character of Superman has something to teach us. He values life at its most basic level. In this version he is young and somewhat immature, but he runs to rescue his dog, he runs to rescue people in need, even if he is not at full capacity, and he runs to rescue others even when he is not sure of himself. This is resilience. This is courage. This is love.
If you are not a fan of the silver and early bronze age Superman comics, you may find the characters annoying, and the plot convoluted. If you are not a fan of James Gunn’s particular genius, you may find the humor stale and dated and the plot over the top. But if you access your inner child, the one who thought Superman was an ideal parent, an ideal brother, an ideal protector, then there might still be some magic here for you.
Conclusion
To be clear, this is not an Academy Award winning best picture movie. We all need to remember this is a comic book movie. The storytelling is sometimes convoluted and very plot driven. There is a bit of overcrowding of characters. There is an assumption that we know the characters, so James Gunn doesn’t bother to develop any of them. What I like is the more emotional angle on the character of Superman/Clark Kent while still delivering the crazy “out there” problems like aliens that grow into Godzilla style size, clones, the fortress of solitude, and a pocket universe. The message is still about contrasting the pragmatism of Lois, the misguided Machiavellianism of Lex Luthor and the idealism of Superman. The message of Superman remains what it should be: it is about being kind, and the inherent goodness of humankind.
By the way, the music is fantastic with a great deal from the John Williams score. Honestly, that was something my 12-year-old part especially loved. I believe there were echoes of not only the 1970’s Superman comics and the 1978 Richard Donner Superman: The Movie, but also the Smallville show, and the Superman: The Animated Series TV show.
But this movie is, despite its secular origins, a movie about kindness, truth, and justice. It may be flawed but it is also about working together to save lives, protecting our world, and fighting against corporate and political manipulation. It doesn’t provide easy answers, there are none, but it presents a Superman willing to put himself out there for what he believes is good and true.
Dr. Gerry Crete is the author of Litanies of the Heart: Relieving Post-traumatic Stress and Calming Anxiety Through Healing Our Parts which is published by Sophia Institute Press. He is the founder of Transfiguration Counseling and Coaching, Transfiguration Life, and co-founder of Souls and Hearts.
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