Superman (2025)

[Silver Nemesis]

As superficial as this might seem, one reason I'm rooting for Superman25 to succeed is because Corenswet is more or less wearing the traditional Superman outfit with the red trunks and the yellow symbol on his cape.

Those two design elements have not both been included in a film since Superman IV back in 1987. So, including them in the film now even tho modern audiences have no familiarity with them is a pretty big step in my opinion.

I'm reasonably happy with the costume. I still prefer the simpler suits of yesteryear over this busier and more rubbery version, but I'm glad they've stuck to the classic design. The collar doesn't bother me now that I've seen it in motion. The overall impression I'm getting is a mixture of Frank Quitely's Superman and the New 52 version.

Also, I forgot to mention this in my influences post from a few days ago. But is that Solaris menacing Metropolis near the end of the teaser? If so, then it's safe to say that Grant Morrison is quickly becoming an unindicted co-conspirator in this film.

I hadn't picked up on that, but it could be Solaris. The damaged robot appears to be Kelex or one of the other robots from the Fortress of Solitude.

In All-Star Superman, the Fortress robots sacrificed themselves helping Superman battle the Tyrant Sun. Note that Quitely depicted them with blue capes, like the damaged robot in the trailer.

Could be another Morrison influence at play.

So indeed, while I genuinely do think CBMs and entertainment in general had deteriorated, my mindset plays a part. For example I occasionally think if being such a strong Batman fan/collector is even what I should be focused on or spending money on. I have enough now, surely? I get the feeling the best has already been. I also have this thought that my generation isn't up to standard of yesteryear, meaning the current crop of actors and creatives behind the scenes lacking the same charisma and talent. I really don't think they're up to it. Paraphrasing Tarantino here, they're not starts but placeholders. Movies do seem to come and go without much fanfare now.

An interesting video came up in my YouTube recommendations earlier this year. It was all about how western culture seems to have stagnated since the turn of the century. If you look back at films, TV, comics, technology, music and fashion from the twentieth century, you can guess with some degree of accuracy which decade it was produced in. The culture was constantly evolving and changing, driven by innovation, and each decade had its own distinct identity. Compare that with the 21st century, where things produced in 2004, 2014 and 2024 really aren't all that different. There are exceptions, of course, but our culture seems to have become trapped in a cycle of nostalgia. The last really successful new multimedia franchise was arguably Harry Potter, and that was created in the late nineties. People are yearning for something new.

I was reflecting on all the movies I saw on the big screen this year, and I realised that most of my trips to the cinema were to see rereleases of old films, with the most recent being Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987). I saw some new films too, but not many. My Christmas list includes the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver collection, and my brother's Christmas list includes the Tomb Raider collection; both collections of games released over two decades ago. Most of the books, comics and TV shows I've consumed this year have been old. I think many of us feel like modern western pop culture isn't giving us anything but hollow epigonic imitations of superior works from the past. While entertainment media chases the nonexistent 'modern audience', the existing audience feels apathetic and disinterested in everything on offer.

The good news is that a cultural shift seems poised to happen in the US right now, which might set things on the right path. Maybe then we'll start getting more creative stories, stop recycling the same old IPs, and start rewarding merit over DEI so the most talented and creative people can rise to the top. Hopefully that'll happen. Right now things look bleak for 2025 as far as movies go. But we'll get through it.

When you bottom out the way western pop culture has in recent years, there's nowhere else to go but up.