*Spoiler warning for “Superman” (2025)*
Like many kids growing up in the early 2010s, I was obsessed with superheroes. Whether it be “The Batman” (2004-2008), the MCU or the “Ultimate Spider-Man” television series on Disney XD, I could not get enough of these larger-than-life heroes saving civilians and stopping crime.
But for some reason, despite my love for these characters, I could never get on board with Superman. I remember talking with my cousin when I uttered the sentiment of a generation of young boys: “I don’t like Superman. He’s just too boring.”
If you grew up like me, I’m sure you can remember having this feeling at one point or another. He was a boy scout in bright red trunks who would never make a mistake. And where’s the fun in that?
While I loved Batman, like many people, I always believed that Marvel had a better superhero roster than DC. That was until I watched “Superman” (2025).
When I say that this might be my favorite superhero movie of all time, I mean it.
Going into this summer, I had been in a slump. I spent the first half in my hometown — a place that, while I love it, has slowly become less and less my “home.” Along with that, the world has felt like it’s falling apart in recent months. Every news headline reads to me as “The puppy cancer treatment department has been eliminated”. And to top it all off, the ever-present threat of our AI overlords stealing my future career has been looming over me.
So a movie about “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow” is exactly what I and many others needed from a summer blockbuster. Finally, the wait was over, and I got to see Superman.
Since I saw the first official teaser trailer back in December, I knew this movie would be exactly what I’ve always wanted out of a hero like Superman. But there was always a worry in the back of my head that James Gunn, the director of the film, wouldn’t be able to handle this character.
I loved the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy and “The Suicide Squad” — both action comedies about a band of misfits.
But a character about pure hope and optimism with a heart of gold is not exactly what I imagined as a “James Gunn” type character. This was made worse when I first saw the official trailer, in which Superman and Lois Lane argue while conducting an interview. The clip of that scene ends with him raising his voice at Lane, which for me was a bad sign.
In that moment, my hopes for a pure Superman had been taken from me. But after seeing it within the context of the movie, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, Superman was angry, but it wasn’t directed toward Lane herself. He is such a caring person that, in frustration for the pain and suffering of others, he gets overly emotional. This moment really gets to the heart of the film on how human he is.
People online (myself included) made fun of the line “I love, I get scared, but that is being human,” believing it was a little ham-fisted. But now I recognize that this interview scene is exactly what that line is getting at. This Superman, while not always perfect, strives to do the right thing. Even if that means interfering in a war.
To point out the elephant in the room, this movie is political. The subplot handles themes similar to those seen in conflicts in the Middle East. Whether it be Lex Luthor selling arms to Boravia or the promise of oil deposits in Jarhanpur, I along with other fans have been able to spot the similarities to our real world. But once again, to me, this is refreshing.
As mentioned before, this has been an anxiety-ridden last few months when it comes to news, so to see a character so beloved and unambiguously good take a stand like this gave me hope.
We end on a positive note as Superman’s inspiring actions throughout the film lead to the poorly named “Justice Gang” eventually saving the people of Jarhanpur from the Boravian army. This movie says that no matter how bad things get, no matter what is happening in the world, there will always be someone willing to stand up for what is right.
In a landscape where so many movies focus on heroes saving the world, I’m glad we finally get a movie about a hero saving the people of the world.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this insight are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Edited by Jack McCarthy, George Headley, Kat Michalak and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at mamareng@asu.edu and follow @matthewmarengo on X.
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Matthew MarengoMultimedia Director
Matthew is a junior studying journalism and mass communications with a minor in political science. He has previously worked for The Cut Network and has interned with the Student Television Network. He is in his 4th Semester with The State Press working previously as Multimedia Managing Editor and a Full Time Videographer.