About once a week I get ahold of a couple of my friends who enjoy movies and TV shows, and we sit down and watch one. We’re not movie critics—we just know what we enjoy and what isn’t that great.
A Simple Summary of Superman (2025)
This week, it was the new Superman movie starring David Corenswet (Twisters (2024), Pearl (2022)) as Superman. Directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Brightburn (2019), The Suicide Squad (2021)). Co-starring Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023), The Amateur (2025)) as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult (Nosferatu (2024), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)) as Lex Luthor.
Essentially, Superman has to face off against adversity caused by Lex Luthor and his crew—all while battling public opinion brought on by a smear campaign, making it an uphill battle to prove where his loyalties really lie.
My First Impressions of Superman (2025)
The first couple of minutes open with a broken Superman, which made me think, “Dang, he’s been messing with someone tough.” A few seconds later, we’re introduced to Krypto, aka Superdog. He’s a pup, and he’s got that puppy energy. The intro was bright and clear—way different from the darker tone the DC universe is kind of known for.
It felt like everyone involved in the movie really listened to all the criticism over the past few years about DC being too dark and gritty. It’s like they flipped the old DC formula into something lighter—both literally and figuratively. You could see they were already heading in that direction with movies like Shazam! (2019), Black Adam (2022), and The Suicide Squad (2021), but I feel like they finally nailed it with Superman (2025).
What I Enjoyed About Superman (2025)
The Color and Tones
I loved the colors and tones in this movie. Every few minutes, I had the feeling that it was shot on Kodachrome—probably because of all the deep, crisp blues throughout the film. I’m a photographer and love vintage photos, so that Kodachrome vibe really spoke to me.
His Outfit
The first shot of Superman in a power pose gave me flashbacks to the older versions—George Reeves (1952–1958) and especially Christopher Reeve (1978–1987). No plastic, god-like abs. His outfit was almost baggy, and I appreciated that. It felt like they were letting the hero do the talking, not the costume.
The Cast
Not everyone on screen looked like a runway model, and I mean that in a good way. Some of them reminded me of dopey kids working their first job. Sure, most were still better looking than your average Dollar General shopper, but they felt real. There was good chemistry on screen too.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
I thought Nicholas Hoult was a great pick for Lex. I went in without any expectations, and he really knocked it out of the park. A good antagonist makes you want to see him get punched in the mouth at some point. Hoult definitely gave me that feeling.
Unlike Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex in Batman v Superman (2016)—who I didn’t really care for, but mostly because I couldn’t unsee The Social Network’s Zuckerberg.
Mr. Terrific
Mr. Terrific, played by Edi Gathegi, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the movie. At first, he came off kind of hokey—kind of like Superman’s suit—but his dry, deadpan delivery totally won me over once you saw him in action.
The Robots
Superman’s robot helpers weren’t overpowered AI death machines. They were mostly kind of fragile and just helpful around the Fortress of Solitude. That made them more charming.
Superman’s Parents
Superman’s parents felt like the kind of couple you’d run into at a flea market or a local feed store. If you live in a rural community, you probably know at least two or three couples that could’ve played them.
The Struggles of Superman
The challenges Superman faced and how he handled them were great. It wasn’t all brute force—even though there was plenty of that. He actually had to stop and think things through. It was refreshing to see Superman problem solve and not just punch his way out of everything.
What I Didn’t Like About Superman (2025)
A Loose End
No spoilers, but there’s a moment where someone important is left bloody and broken in a hole… and then never revisited. Sure, it’s probably setting something up for the next movie, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
The Shrimp Cocktail!
I can’t say much more, but if you know, you know. All I’m saying is—I wanted to see it!
My Overall Thoughts
A weaker Superman is way better than a god-like, unstoppable alien. He’s just more relatable. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for a super god alien, but I feel like that version’s been overplayed for the past two decades.
For years I’ve asked myself, Why does Superman need the Justice League?
Superman (2025) helped answer that. There’s a scene that showed how a team could actually work with Superman, and it worked way better than that scene in Justice League (2017) where he nearly destroys the whole team because he doesn’t recognize them. Sure, that was cool to watch at the time—but it’s overdone.
I enjoyed Superman (2025) from start to finish. I didn’t find myself daydreaming or checking my phone, so that means it kept me entertained. I’d definitely watch it again.
If you’ve liked some of James Gunn’s other movies, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too.
Remember, I’m not a film student or a movie maker—though I’ve made a couple of little things for fun. I’m just a guy who likes to hang out with his friends, eat some snacks, and watch a movie. I have no authority over what makes a movie “good,” I just know what I like and what I don’t.
And when you sit down in the theater, go in to enjoy the movie—not to pick it apart scene by scene. It’s a much better experience that way.
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Editor and Chief, Cavalletto Magazine
Owner And Operator of Burton Media Group
Christopher Burton is a acclaimed Photographer and has appeared in many shows, galleries, and publications over the years.