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.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Chris: Superman getting beaten up and dragged
00:00:01 --> 00:00:04 through the snow by his own dog. Now that's
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 something you don't see every day in a
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 superhero movie. But this new James Gunn
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 film is turning everything we know about the
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 man of Steel on its head.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 Jessica: That's such an unexpected way to open a
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 Superman movie, showing him at his most
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 vulnerable right from the start. The visual
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 of Krypto dragging him by his cape while
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 trying to turn it into playtime really sets a
00:00:24 --> 00:00:24 different tone.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 Chris: You know what's fascinating about this
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 approach? It immediately humanizes Superman
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 in a way we rarely see. Instead of starting
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 with him saving the day, we're seeing him
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 literally at rock bottom, relying on his
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 somewhat playful dog to save him.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 Jessica: The whole Fortress of Solitude scene sounds
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 incredible too. Rising from the ground like
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 an ice castle, James Gunn really
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 seems to be flexing those visual effects
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 muscles he developed on Guardians of the
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 Galaxy.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 Chris: Speaking of Gunn's influence, let's talk
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 about how he's reimagining Lex Luthor.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 Nicholas Hoult is playing him as this modern
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 tech billionaire type, using social media and
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 government influence to attack Superman's
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 reputation. It's like they're taking cues
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 from real world tech moguls.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 Jessica: Though I understand that's actually one of
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 the movie's weaker points. The whole Superman
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 is evil narrative doesn't quite land.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 How do you convince people that someone who's
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 been consistently saving the world is
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 suddenly the bad guy?
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 Chris: Well, that's where David Corenswet's
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 performance as Superman becomes so crucial.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 From what we're hearing, he manages to
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 maintain this perfect balance of power and
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 humility, showing strength without
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 arrogance, vulnerability without weakness.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Jessica: And Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane brings such
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 an interesting dimension to their
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 relationship. Instead of the usual
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 will they, won't they? We're seeing them
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 actually trying to date and struggling with
00:01:51 --> 00:01:51 it.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 Chris: Right? And that line about her never being
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 good at relationships, it adds this
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 wonderfully human element to what could have
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 been just another superhero story.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 Plus, having them only three months into
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 dating creates this natural tension.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 Jessica: So what do you make of this justice gang?
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 They've introduced a self absorbed Green
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 Lantern with a bowl cut. Sounds like classic
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 James Gunn humor.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 Chris: Oh, man. It's exactly what you'd expect from
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 Gun, taking these serious superhero
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 characters and adding these slightly absurd
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 details. But what really catches my attention
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 is this engineer character. They've created
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 a shapeshifter with razor sharp blades.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 The special effects team must have had a
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 field day with that one.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 Jessica: The technical achievements in this film sound
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 pretty remarkable the way they're describing
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 the production values suggests they've really
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 pushed the envelope.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 Chris: You know what's interesting? They've managed
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 to balance all these elements. Spectacular
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 action, character development, humor, while
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 still maintaining what makes Superman iconic.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 That's no small feat when you're dealing with
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 arguably the most recognizable superhero in
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 the world.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 Jessica: Well, that 7 1/2 out of 10 rating suggests
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 they got more right than wrong. Even with
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 some of the plot elements not quite hitting
00:03:09 --> 00:03:09 the mark.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 Chris: Looking at the bigger picture, this seems
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 like a solid foundation for Gunn's new DC
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 universe. He's taking risks while
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 respecting the core of who Superman is.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 And that's really what these reboots need to
00:03:23 --> 00:03:23 succeed.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 Jessica: The combination of modern themes with classic
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 superhero elements really seems to work here.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 From social media manipulation to
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 relationship dynamics, they're finding fresh
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 angles on an 85 year old character.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 Chris: And that's what makes this version so
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 intriguing. It's not just about Superman's
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 physical vulnerabilities, but his emotional
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 ones too. Whether he's being dragged through
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 the snow by his dog or trying to navigate a
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 new relationship, we're seeing sides of the
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 character we've never really explored before.
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