Superman has existed in cinema for almost 50 years. The massive blue Boy Scout has been portrayed by many actors, every of whom introduced their very own concepts of what a live-action Superman might be, and (for higher or worse) we’ve nearly seen all of it. From the campy-yet-tender efficiency of Christopher Reeve to the stoic deconstruction of the character tailored by Zack Snyder and performed by Henry Cavill — the one non-American to ever play Superman in a film… ironic, or excellent?
Effectively, in both case — as we speak I’m going to settle the rating on this summer season’s hottest debate. I’m going to check James Gunn’s hit Superman movie to arguably probably the most cult Superman movie in existence — Man of Metal (which just about acquired a cool-sounding sequel). We’re going to interrupt down the plot, characters, world-building, and tone of every movie, seeing the place the 2 are totally different, the place they overlap, and finally acknowledge the excessive factors and low factors of each.
Now, relying on which model of the character you like, I’m inevitably going to say some issues you might not agree with — however I’m going to maintain this as goal as potential and simply analyze the movies with out editorializing an excessive amount of. I’m additionally going to be spoiling these motion pictures, and possibly another Superman motion pictures and TV exhibits sooner or later, so let’s get our spoiler warning out of the best way. By now, should you haven’t seen these motion pictures, the percentages are they’ve already been spoiled for you anyway.
So, let’s kick issues off by speaking in regards to the plot of each motion pictures to see how they stack up in opposition to one another.
PLOT:
Man of Metal is an impressed retelling of Superman’s origin story with a little bit of a darkish twist. We all know Superman’s origin as two Kryptonian scientists sending their new child child, Kal-El, in a rocket pod to Earth to avoid wasting him from Krypton’s destiny. When the infant arrives on Earth, he’s adopted by Kansas farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent and raised to be human regardless of possessing extraordinary skills like flight, energy, invulnerability, X-ray imaginative and prescient, warmth imaginative and prescient, freeze breath — principally something you possibly can consider.
In Man of Metal, Clark receives the identical origin story, solely as an alternative of his adoptive mother and father encouraging him to make use of his powers to assist folks, his Pa is extra like Harry Morgan from Dexter in that he needs to regulate his son’s skills and conceal them from the world. This culminates within the demise of Pa Kent and Clark studying that he can by no means stand idly by and let somebody harmless get harm once more. This ends in a now-grown Clark beginning a lifetime of his personal as a ship hand for rent, maintaining to himself and attempting his finest to mix in. That’s till he discovers the Fortress of Solitude and unveils his true function in life because the alien protector of planet Earth — Superman.
Now, this plot and story just about honor comedian e-book continuity (I imply, there have been so many Superman comics which you can just about do something and it’ll be correct to some story on the market), however to this point we’re feeling like basic Superman. When Common Zod (Krypton’s personal native terrorist) involves Earth looking for to dominate the planet and usher in a brand new period for Krypton, Superman should rise to the event and combat to guard us all. By working in opposition to (and finally with) the U.S. navy to trace Zod and strategize his defeat, Superman is ready to save the day and fly off into the grim sundown.
I admit, this positively seems like Superman on paper.
In Superman (2025), we’re not given a lot in the best way of Superman’s origins. As a substitute, this movie catalogues one week within the lifetime of Superman, who on this world has already been established and out as Superman for 3 years. This story is extra targeted on fleshing out a lived-in world the place metahumans and monsters simply exist, and on a regular basis folks aren’t shocked or stunned by seeing folks fly and punch big kaiju.
When Lex Luthor and his squad of henchmen hatch a plan to destroy Superman’s public fame, they purpose to make use of this picture assault to realize authorities permission to kill him utilizing a particular metahuman job pressure. Clark then assembles a ragtag workforce of his personal to avoid wasting Metropolis from Lex’s destruction and remind the world that even within the face of darkness, Superman brings us hope.
Undoubtedly a a lot easier plot, with admittedly a whole lot of dangling threads that depart us primed for extra motion pictures on this universe.
One thing the 2 motion pictures have in widespread is the administration of Superman’s public picture. The Snyder-verse had Superman being one among a form, with little or no involvement from different superpowered folks. As such, Superman’s public persona is one among thriller and divisiveness.
In Superman (2025), it’s the identical however totally different. This Superman isn’t mysterious; he’s a goofy, smiley, healthful hero who simply blends in with all the opposite heroes regardless of being probably the most highly effective. However when his public picture is questioned by the reveal that his Kryptonian mother and father have been evil, he’s greeted by ridicule and worry from the very folks he’s dedicated to defending. So, Cavill and Corenswet each had the identical job of restoring Metropolis’ religion in his mission to assist the world, not dominate it. Each really feel like basic Superman.
CHARACTERS:
Clearly, there’s NO level in speaking about Man of Metal if we’re not going to speak about how a lot Henry Cavill embodied the LOOK of Superman. He’s big, cumbersome, and actually appears to be like like he may be bulletproof. Cavill did an awesome job; I don’t assume anybody will take difficulty with that opinion — however the different characters on this film… kinda suck.
This film doesn’t do a lot in the best way of character dynamics and relationships outdoors of the few candy moments between Lois and Clark. Amy Adams as Lois Lane feels a bit miscast in that her chemistry with Cavill is sort of fully wood with little or no meat on it — and we get nothing from Jimmy Olsen, Perry, Ma and Pa, or anybody in addition to possibly Michael Shannon as Zod. This film feels prefer it’s actually nearly these two characters and everybody else is simply there to maneuver the plot ahead a couple of steps between constructing smashes.
I’m not saying I don’t prefer it — I’m merely saying that on this explicit film, there’s little or no significant dialogue between characters. It’s largely monologues from Russell Crowe or Zod speaking at Superman. In actual fact, apart from having the look and voice down, Superman himself says nearly nothing on this film. Like, dude, who’re you? We need to know, and that barrel chest of yours is nice, however hey man, speak to us.
I’d say the characters on this film are a little bit of a weak level for certain.
However, Superman (2025) introduces a boatload of latest characters (possibly too many?) however does enable for each one among them to have their second to shine. The time period that involves thoughts is “lived in.” It seems like every of those characters is the primary character in their very own story, which can’t be mentioned for Man of Metal. I may see Mr. Terrific, Inexperienced Lantern, Metamorpho, even The Engineer all having their very own motion pictures with wealthy historical past and motivations, and that comes by way of on this film. The dynamics are human, though the hero is alien.
I’d put Rachael Brosnahan and David Corenswet’s on-screen chemistry up there with Reeve and Kidder within the authentic film. It’s very delicate, very actual, and positively will get its share of display screen time to develop. Critically, regardless of which model you like — you gotta admit the Lois and Clark stuff is simply extra juicy on this new film.
WORLD-BUILDING:
Okay, right here’s the recent water I’ve been searching for…
Man of Metal doesn’t do any world-building. In actual fact, it largely simply does world-destroying.
I like this film (there I am going editorializing), however give it some thought — that is the film that kicked off what would finally turn into “The Snyder-Verse,” which (as we NOW know) is wealthy with world-building. Zack Snyder’s Justice Leagueconfirmed us a world the place Inexperienced Lanterns combat alongside Amazons, and Batman has already had (and misplaced) a Robin. This can be a world the place stuff has occurred — however none of it’s arrange on this film. It’s simply form of proven to us at varied factors all through the sequels. I don’t assume a flash-forward or nightmare sequence counts as establishing the world when none of it was constructed as much as.
The one little bit of universe exploration on this film is the concept that simply throughout the river is Gotham Metropolis — however I don’t assume they even say that within the movie, it’s simply implied. But when the second movie is supposed to introduce Batman, The Flash, Marvel Girl, Aquaman, and Cyborg, you’d assume some institution could be current right here that different metahumans at the least exist — however no, we don’t get that.
On this new movie, the world-building is finished… in another way. This film actually drops you in the midst of an ongoing battle with Lanterns, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and different characters already out on the planet doing their factor. It doesn’t bathroom down the film with a proof for all the things — it simply takes you there and expects you to select it up and roll with it. Which… is a selection.
And the place I feel Man of Metal had NO world-building, this film may need TOO MUCH. We hear about Gotham, we see Peacemaker, Supergirl, the early levels of The Justice League, Krypto, Bizarro — simply SO MUCH. I may’ve accomplished with out the Extremely-Man stuff truthfully, that was just like the final chunk of meals if you’re already too full to maintain consuming.
The way in which that Superman establishes all of these things is thru non-explanation. The way in which Snyder’s film does it at the least exhibits that there was intent to take it gradual and construct out this universe over time — Warner Brothers might be accountable for this one, not Snyder. Should you don’t imagine me, take a look at how a lot wealthy world-building was arrange AND paid off in the Snyder Reduce of Justice League. The dude clearly is aware of how you can make a world that we take pleasure in sitting in.
Really it’s a conflict of kinds — Snyder went for the gradual, legendary strategy of Superman, whereas Gunn went for the high-octane popcorn romp with coronary heart and soul driving the story.
TONE
So, Man of Metal is the darker (admittedly extra grounded) Superman film. It barely challenges the viewers to see Superman in a brand new gentle by displaying us how darkish he may be if he didn’t select to do good. And that’s the factor — Snyder’s film isn’t all brooding and emo — that stuff is simply used to distinction his inner-good that prevails even when issues are at their worst. You’ll be able to’t say Zack Snyder doesn’t care about Superman or that he doesn’t perceive Superman — he does. He simply used his personal type to convey that lore to us. And that’s cool!
Nevertheless, the film is unquestionably a bit miserable in tone and I’ve to confess — it doesn’t encourage me to do good as a lot because it makes me need to do abdomen crunches and punch Michael Shannon.
Superman (2025) is (as soon as once more) the alternative. This film opts for a tone extra in step with the golden age of comedian books within the 50s and 60s, with daytime lighting, hyper-saturated colours, and probably the most comic-book costumes we’ve seen in a DC film since, like, Shazam. These costumes and colours create a poppy, vibrant film for us to really feel like we’re watching a two-hour sundown. It’s a film the place the tone is optimism, versus Man of Metal which is extra cynicism.
I personally favor my Superman to be lighter in tone in order that the distinction between him and somebody like Batman might be sharp and clear. If each superhero was realistically tragic like Man of Metal, these motion pictures could be extremely boring and one-note.
So, outdoors of the plot, characters, world-building, and tone of those motion pictures — what’s left is 2 very related intentions from two very totally different filmmakers. Filmmakers who’re pals, by the best way, so let’s not go to struggle within the feedback on their behalf.
However people, the large query is: which Superman film do you favor? Attempt to be respectful of others within the feedback, okay? This isn’t a goddamn political debate — it’s a summer season film dialogue.
