My Review of the Superman 2025 Movie

I recently watched Superman (2025), and while it’s a decent film, it doesn’t live up to the hype. Here’s my take on its major flaws and strengths, starting with the most significant issues.

1. Mischaracterization of Superman’s Kryptonian Parents
The biggest problem with this movie is its portrayal of Superman’s Kryptonian birth parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. In the comics, they are noble figures who send their son to Earth to save him, not to rule it as a tyrant or despot. However, James Gunn’s script bizarrely depicts them as evil, sending Kal-El to conquer and kill. This contradicts established lore and feels like a rehash of Gunn’s earlier work, where he wrote a similar story about a Superman-like child with violent tendencies. This choice is baffling and undermines Superman’s origin. While Gunn makes Superman himself somewhat hopeful, this misstep with his parents is a critical flaw. In my opinion, Gunn was the wrong choice to write this film. He’s marginally better than Zack Snyder, but this error proves he’s not the ideal person to helm DC’s cinematic universe.
2. Flawed Portrayal of the Justice Gang Characters
The second major issue is the depiction of the Justice Gang, a superhero team funded by Maxwell Lord, which seems to foreshadow the Justice League (hinted at by the Hall of Justice in the movie). The name “Justice Gang” feels off, likely a quirky choice by Gunn, and the team’s leadership by Guy Gardner, rather than Superman or Batman, is illogical, given their prominence in the comics. Hawk Girl, in particular, is underwritten and underutilized. In the comics and the 2000s Justice League animated series, Shiera Sanders is a tall, red-haired, athletic hero known for her fierce yet principled nature, not for killing. Here, she’s portrayed as short, stocky, with the wrong hair color, and her costume, while decent, can’t compensate for her lackluster role. Most frustratingly, Hawk Girl kills a world leader—a tyrant or despot—in the film, which feels completely out of character. Instead of taking the moral high ground and bringing the leader to a government agency for justice, as her comic counterpart would likely do, she resorts to lethal force. This choice, which James Gunn hinted may have ramifications beyond Superman, undermines her heroic legacy and makes her seem like an unlikable assassin. Posts on X reflect similar fan frustration with this departure from her established character. Other Justice Gang members fare no better. Guy Gardner is comic-accurate but feels out of place as a leader, and Mr. Terrific’s motivation to help Lois Lane stems from a petty desire to annoy Guy Gardner, not heroism. For better characterizations, read the comics or watch Justice League Unlimited. These missteps make the Justice Gang feel like a poorly conceived prototype, wasting the potential of its members, especially Hawk Girl.
3. Kara Zor-El’s Brief and Inconsistent Appearance
Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), appears in the final moments of the film for mere seconds, leaving little impact. Her inclusion is particularly jarring given the movie’s claim that Kal-El’s parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, sent him to Earth to be a dictator. As Kal-El’s cousin, Kara grew up on Krypton until her teens as part of the House of El, which symbolizes hope and scientific progress in Kryptonian culture. She would have known the noble intentions of her aunt and uncle (Jor-El and Lara) as well as her own parents, also of the House of El, who stood for compassion and protection, not conquest. This contrasts sharply with General Zod’s House, known for its militaristic bent and desire for domination, which led to Zod’s banishment to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El and the Kryptonian Council—both as punishment and to spare him from Krypton’s destruction. Kara’s presence in the film should have clarified that her family never intended for Kal-El to be a tyrant, making the movie’s narrative deeply inconsistent. This contradiction suggests the evil-parent plotline may be retconned in future films, as it’s illogical and clashes with Kryptonian lore. Additionally, Kara’s brief role includes odd choices, like her desire to get drunk on an alien planet, which feels out of character for a teenage Kryptonian raised in a principled family. Giving her Krypto, Superman’s iconic dog, is also misguided. In the comics, Kara has a horse-like creature (with its own problematic story), but Krypto belongs to Superman. This change feels unnecessary and diminishes her character’s potential.
4. Perry White’s Race-Swapping
The decision to cast Perry White, traditionally a white character, as Black is problematic. Changing an established character’s race—whether from white to Black or vice versa—is a form of race-swapping that feels like a lazy attempt to appear inclusive. It’s akin to whitewashing, like when Doctor Strange (2016) turned the Ancient One from an Asian man into a white woman, a choice widely criticized. Such alterations often prioritize optics over fidelity to the source material, which I find frustrating and unnecessary. While not the film’s biggest flaw, it’s a notable misstep.
5. Krypto’s Poor Design
Finally, Krypto, Superman’s dog, is a minor but disappointing element. In the comics, Krypto resembles a noble Labrador Retriever, but here he’s depicted as an unattractive, rat-faced mutt with scruffy fur. This design choice, inspired by James Gunn’s own dog with added special effects, feels like self-indulgent fluff. While it doesn’t significantly impact the story, it’s a letdown for fans expecting a more faithful adaptation of Superman’s loyal companion.
Positives and Final Thoughts
Despite these flaws, the movie has some redeeming qualities. Lex Luthor is a standout, possibly the best live-action version of the character, surpassing even the original Superman films. Gunn also portrays Superman’s adoptive parents, the Kents, well, avoiding Zack Snyder’s mistake of making Jonathan Kent cynical and selfish in Man of Steel (a film I consider terrible). Visually, the movie is impressive, and its hopeful tone, combined with its immigrant narrative, aligns with Superman’s core identity. This aspect even drew criticism from outlets like Fox News, which I view as a point in the film’s favor, given their often divisive rhetoric.
However, these strengths don’t outweigh the significant flaws, particularly the mishandling of Superman’s Kryptonian heritage and Hawk Girl’s characterization. Compared to Man of Steel, this film is an improvement, but that’s a low bar. For the best live-action Superman, I recommend the first two Christopher Reeve films directed by Richard Donner. Overall, Superman (2025) doesn’t deserve the 83% praise it’s receiving on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes. I’d rate it a 6.5 to 7 out of 10, leaning toward 6.5 due to the Kryptonian parent issue and Hawk Girl’s mishandling. It’s a mixed bag—better than some DC efforts but far from the definitive Superman story.