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.

[Travesty]

I don't know, this one is weird for me. All of my friends seem to be totally jazzed for it. I didn't hate it, but I'm just not wowed by it, and I want to be. I really do. I've watched the trailer over 20 times, hoping something clicks, and yet, it's not there for me. Surprisingly, the thing I was worried the most about, I actually like the greatest: Krypto. But aside from Krypto, something feels off. And I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it, but something is...off. I still attest that this movie looks and feels very CW-ish. Which is odd, cause we have a CW Superman show, and it looks better than this(from what we can see from this first trailer).

I don't know....something is off about it, and yet, I don't feel like watching the damn trailer again. The only reason why I've watched it so many times, is to try and figure out why I don't love it, and I can't figure it out overall. I do know I'm not a fan of the suit. I think it looks like bad cosplay. I think the monsters look like bad CGI. I also think this movie looks overtly stuffed with other characters/heroes/villains. And this is me watching it on mute, because my biggest offense, is easily the score. Look, I love the John Williams score. It's one of the most iconic scores of all time, and it totally embodies Superman....but why are we using it here? Is this a new Superman/DC universe, or is this another Singer deal, where this is back in the Donner-verse? The Elfman score for Batman is still my favorite, but if a new Batman movie comes out, and they use the Elfman score for a totally different Batman, I'm going to be put off by it. The Elfman score is specifically for Burton and Keaton. When I hear that score, that's the universe that I'm associating it with. That association means something, or, it SHOULD mean something! I feel like I'm being tricked with the John Williams score. Plus, it's not even the actual score, it's just some rock riff of it. It's a fugazi.

I guess typing all this out, maybe I did figure it out? And it basically comes down to smoke and mirrors. I'm being tricked into liking this, when I want to organically like it. I can see the bunny in the hat, and they're trying to gaslight me into thinking this is real magic, and that I didn't see anything. I want the these movies to succeed. I love DC, and I don't want these things to fail, but damn, are they making it hard right now.

I dunno, whatever....

[Silver Nemesis]

[The Joker]

CBMs have changed themselves. The quality has undeniably declined.

I've seen that Reeves The Batman film exactly once. And that was on opening day in theaters. I haven't revisited it. I remember enjoying it, aside from Catwoman's semi woke "You must be rich" comment and some of the PC casting decisions. It's objectively a good film.

But it's an exception to the rule. The last good MCU film seems to have been Endgame (since Deadpool & Wolverine isn't really MCU, now is it?) almost six years ago. The other Marvel films since then have mostly been letdowns.

On the DC side of the aisle... geeze. There's plenty to choose from. Black Adam, Shazam 2, Aquaman 2, the list just goes on. They are undeniably, objectively bad films.

Yes, I've changed. But they've changed too. It isn't just me. And I don't think it's just you either.

I believe there is an element, a very important element, that has many CBM's over the years being resistant to stray too far away from 'formula'. Studio thinking wise, I guess I can understand this to some extent, since Disney enjoyed so much success for 10 years solid, but at the same time, it eventually results in a sameness with the proceedings. Whether that's Marvel or DC. It's just a different skin with the same old, tired, and formulaic approach. Warners attempted to differiniate itself briefly away from Disney's Marvel films, but was met with holy hell from critics and noticeable box office drop offs following the first weekend. Culmulating to Warners chasing their "White Whale" by copying the MCU formula for the most part, and being met with apathy from much of the theater going audience. Nothing sticks out. Everything looks the same, and the approach isn't all that different. CGI, snark and humor, and a by-the-numbers plot. It's unfortunate that there's now a entire generation (probably ... generally) that were raised on MCU, and would likely find something like "Taxi Driver" to be absolutely foreign, or slow in terms of pacing, ect.

Another realization I had is that I simply prefer superhero comics over superhero films. I don't see what the fuss with Captain America: Civil War is all about. But reading the (numerous) Civil War comics should show anyone just how weak an adaptation of that storyline the film version is. Realistically, Civil War should've been an entire MCU Phase unto itself. And even that might not have done the comics full justice. But it would've been better than the single film we got.

Comics are simply the superior medium for telling huge epic stories.

tl;dr- Yes, you and I are aging out. But the quality of CBMs is in steep decline as well, that much is clear. It's not all on us.

CA:Civil War does feel Disney-sanitized and rather minute, compared to the event it was in the comics. Picking and choosing "best of" moments from story lines like that, and copying and pasting them into something else, generally speaking, is rarely satisfying. I would probably have a fairly difficult time finding a long-time Incredible Hulk comic reader who would actually think Thor Ragnarok was a satisfying adaptation of the Planet Hulk story line from the comics. Which was arguably one of the more notable arcs in that character's 60+ year history, that somehow found itself brought to life cinematically for a Thor movie. Badly.

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.

You know, I've had this thought about the previous generations of famous actors, where an element of their success/fame was due to many of them having a unique and/or distinct voice. Where, just by hearing them, you knew exactly whom that was. To some degree, this was emphasized in the past. I think it's a key factor that's being largely overlooked by Hollywood nowadays. Where it's about the assembly line 'look' and 'attractiveness' rather than the, let's say, unique qualities/personal eccentricities that can often make one stand out from the pack... 

I don't know, this one is weird for me. All of my friends seem to be totally jazzed for it. I didn't hate it, but I'm just not wowed by it, and I want to be. I really do. I've watched the trailer over 20 times, hoping something clicks, and yet, it's not there for me. Surprisingly, the thing I was worried the most about, I actually like the greatest: Krypto. But aside from Krypto, something feels off. And I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it, but something is...off. I still attest that this movie looks and feels very CW-ish. Which is odd, cause we have a CW Superman show, and it looks better than this(from what we can see from this first trailer).

It's baffling to me that a HBO Max show like "The Penguin" actually looks more cinematic than a $300+ million dollar Superman movie, but here we are.

my biggest offense, is easily the score. Look, I love the John Williams score. It's one of the most iconic scores of all time, and it totally embodies Superman....but why are we using it here? Is this a new Superman/DC universe, or is this another Singer deal, where this is back in the Donner-verse? The Elfman score for Batman is still my favorite, but if a new Batman movie comes out, and they use the Elfman score for a totally different Batman, I'm going to be put off by it. The Elfman score is specifically for Burton and Keaton. When I hear that score, that's the universe that I'm associating it with. That association means something, or, it SHOULD mean something! I feel like I'm being tricked with the John Williams score. Plus, it's not even the actual score, it's just some rock riff of it. It's a fugazi.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was getting out in my previous post about the Williams score being sorta/kinda used here. I'm aware some fans consider it THE Superman theme, and that's fine, but at the same time, I personally couldn't honestly place it along the same lines as the James Bond theme as some people tend to want to do, because we've seen too many examples of different cinematic/tv Supermen being introduced with brand spanking new themes. It was baked into the cake, and also differintiated the different Supemen from one another. Different Superman. Different universe. Different theme.

Easy. Simple. Effective.

Your point about Elfman's score is apt. Even though Elfman's Batman score was influential, I didn't particularly need the  exact Elfman Batman score, or a guitar riff of it, to be retained back in 1992 for BTAS, and the same goes for the Nolan films, and Matt Reeves' The Batman. This is also very true with the Williams score being refrained from with "Lois and Clark" with Dean Cain, or STAS. Wasn't necessary, nor needed. I actually like the different themes, because it further gives the character a "new run" that feels like a breath of fresh air, rather than continually piggybacking on a past iteration. Which, I think, makes the character feel stunted to some degree.

I guess typing all this out, maybe I did figure it out? And it basically comes down to smoke and mirrors. I'm being tricked into liking this, when I want to organically like it. I can see the bunny in the hat, and they're trying to gaslight me into thinking this is real magic, and that I didn't see anything. I want the these movies to succeed. I love DC, and I don't want these things to fail, but damn, are they making it hard right now.

I dunno, whatever....

Memberberries, and nostalgia is a powerful tool with these things, but like you, I'm just not getting anything to get intrigued about with CW/reskinned MCU Superman.

[The Laughing Fish]

Nevermind the bloated cast list, what's the budget on this?

Gunn denies it, but it's documented that the budget costs $363 million. I'm sure Hollywood's creative accounting will do whatever it takes to make it look less expensive. The Flash's budget was supposed to be $220 million, but The Hollywood Reporter later revealed its real budget was $300 million and possibly more, thus making it more of a flop than it already was.

I'll say it before, and I'll say it again: it goes to show how hypocritical how Snyder got heavily criticised for "rushing" the Justice League in BvS, but then turn around be sycophants for justifying the amount of other superheroes in a Superman movie. Idiotic excuses like it's "similar to the DCAU".

A friend of mine showed me the trailer against my wishes because he wasn't impressed with it. What can I say? It's rubbish. Everything about it looks cheap, from the cinematography, the VFX, the costumes. I gotta love how Gunn stated took inspiration from Richard Donner AND Zack Snyder, knowing he sabotaged Cavill's return. But you can see how derivative the shots are from many other Superman movies, with Superman and Lois floating up in the air holding each other, a shot of an angry crowd showing their contempt for Superman similar to the Capitol scene in BvS. Knowing Gunn, he'll use Krypto for cheap sentimental factor and possibly crude attempt at humour, if that awful GOTG Vol. 2 is anything to go by, and will shake up all the darkness in his film with cheap jokes and hokey attempts at "hope and optimism". I'm also not impressed that Clark Kent is going to be socially awkward again. Not only by the goofy broccoli hair but even in modern-day quirky stereotypes which I despise.

Joker, as much as I don't care for Ethan Van Sciver, he wasn't enthused by the trailer and even called out Guy Gardner's appearance from wig to costume "a humiliation". If costume designs look much better in an Arrowverse TV show than a big-budget feature film then that's a serious problem.

As I've said many times before, Gunn has hijacked the DC brand to line up his own pockets. The vast majority of stuff he greenlit are stuff he wrote, including crap like Creature Commandos where a fifty something year old Rick Flagg Sr apparently sleeps with teenage girls and Doctor Phosphorus gives enemies the middle fingers as he melts them to death, and another season of Peacemaker where you're subjected to this stupidity:

I don't care if the joke is about how stupid Peacemaker the character is, why the f*** would you associate such toilet humour with Superman? Do people seriously want this garbage to be part of the DC brand?

To demonstrate what a farce this soft reboot of the DC franchise on film is, it's now officially revealed that Jason Momoa is playing Lobo in the Supergirl reboot. Ten years ago, I'd say that's perfect casting. Now? That's just stupid for two reasons: 1) you go from playing Aquaman to a lesser-known character in the eyes of the public who'll definitely be a goofy clown (and let's face it, Momoa is lowering his standards like Chris Hemsworth by appearing in dumb comedies and commercials), and 2) this makes the DC timeline even more nonsensical as Peacemaker is confirmed to be canon - except for the JL cameo. What sort of world-building is this?

If people still think James Gunn is a great choice to be in charge of DC despite all the controversial sh*t surrounding him both professionally and personally and his juvenile at best, creepy at worst sense of humour...all I can say this without getting censored even further is God help them.

I guess typing all this out, maybe I did figure it out? And it basically comes down to smoke and mirrors. I'm being tricked into liking this, when I want to organically like it. I can see the bunny in the hat, and they're trying to gaslight me into thinking this is real magic, and that I didn't see anything. I want the these movies to succeed. I love DC, and I don't want these things to fail, but damn, are they making it hard right now.

I dunno, whatever....

For me, they've made it impossible. The Justice League saga, attempts to gaslight everyone over The Flash and squandering Keaton's Batman comeback, and the non-stop dirty politicking that screws up everything they promise to deliver. As much as I like DC characters, why support a brand where the decision makers treat everyone from creatives to fans with utter contempt?