Fans all over the globe are loving the messages in the new Superman movie. photo courtesy of IMDB
Superheroes and journalists alike work hard to defeat Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s new Superman film.
James Gunn’s new Superman movie came out this past summer and was a fan-favorite from the get-go. The movie’s motivational tone, quirky characters, and bright color-grading resonated deeply with viewers. There have been many different renditions of Superman in the past, including the previous ones directed by Zach Snyder. The new film is drastically different from Snyder’s take on the hero in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman vs. Superman (2016). While Snyder’s films portray a brooding and mysterious superman, Gunn’s reflects the hope Superman has always represented, which is something that attracted many different audiences. All over social media, the song “Punkrocker” by Iggy Pop is being used as the movie’s anthem, and fans of the movie are adamant about sharing the film’s message: Kindness is punk rock.
The movie follows Superman as he faces a challenging battle against Lex Luthor. Luthor is a washed-up tech billionaire who actively funds the invasion of the fictional country of Jarhanpur by the neighboring country of Boravia. Superman ended this invasion once previously, and as a result is now targeted by Luthor. The biggest conflict occurs when Luther releases to the public a message that was sent by Superman’s parents with him on his journey to Earth, encouraging him to conquer earth and restore the Kryptonian race. The public turns on Superman, and without their unwavering support, his battle against Luthor becomes drastically more controversial.
Throughout the film, Lois Lane, a journalist at The Daily Planet, is also fighting to stop the war and educate the public about Luthor’s plans. In the end of the film, it is thanks to Lane and the rest of the journalist team at their publication releasing Luthor’s plan in a news article that helps change the general public’s opinion of Superman and win back support for his fight against Luthor and the Boravian government.
During the entirety of the film, Lane never backs down from a challenge. Though she and Superman are in a happy relationship, she continues to question his actions and involvement in the conflict in Jarhanpur and if his choices are ethical. She fights to release the truth and nothing else. By revealing the truth about Luthor with evidence provided by Luthor’s distraught ex-girlfriend Eve, Lane gets the public’s support back in the hands of Superman, and Luthor is arrested. It is discovered that Luthor was giving Boravia billions of dollars worth of weapons for free, so the country had the resources to imperialize Jarhanpur. His true motive was getting a share of the land after the war was over and presumably won by Boravia. When this information is released and Luthor’s arrest occurs, his tech weapons employed overseas become nonfunctional which ends the invasion attempt. Without the help of Lane, Luthor never would’ve been arrested, and the invasion of Jarhanpur would’ve continued. Though Superman is the face of the movie and the known hero, he never would have won without the work of Lane and The Daily Planet.
This movie resonated with me because it demonstrates how journalists–especially political journalists–are at the forefront of the demand for truth and justice within conflicts. I saw a lot of reflections of our current political climate in the film, particularly in the way the truth is often disregarded. There is a plethora of misinformation spread everyday in both the movie and real life. Despite this, journalists prevail and work to release unbiased news for the good of the public. It has become increasingly apparent that the work of journalists needs to be protected and defended, and I believe that characters such as Lois Lane are a great reminder as to why. Just like in Superman, journalists work hard to “save the day” and work every day to prove that they are heroes too.
