Superman (2025): Is Kindness the New Punk Rock?

By Orla Lloyd

If you’re anything like me, the Teddybears ft. Iggy Pop’s hit Punkrocker, has
taken over your mind since watching Superman.. Not only is Superman a fun
film, bringing back a bit of shine to an overplayed genre, it is a marketing
masterclass. Thanks to stellar casting, in character videos promoting the film
have done so successfully, and people are flocking to cinemas to see if DC has
made its redemption, with the film making 220 million dollars in its opening
weekend box office.

Rachel Brosnahan is an actress that never fails to grab my attention on screen.
She is funny and quick and brings genuine heart that makes her easy to root for.
David Corenswet could not be a better casting choice for Superman, bar Cavill,
who had subpar material to work with. He embodies the good natured, classic
superhero who is driven by good intentions and a deep desire to save people. His
childish goofiness as Clark Kent particularly lands well even in his unlikable
moments as a character, such as his arguments with Lois Lane.
The movie has a simple yet powerful message that drives both the film and its
main character. Kindness is a superpower. It’s this hope that a character such as
Superman can inspire that is so alluring to our generation in the midst of war and
climate crisis.

The film values its characters, giving credence and motivation to the likes of
Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Eve Teschmacher. The film’s success lies majorly in
the care given to its main cast which make the film a joy to watch. The female
characters are not lackluster tropes, but fleshed out people with motivations,
ambition and wit. Eve drives the film forward in exposing Lex Luthor in the most
21st century way a person can. There’s a comedic but genuine understanding of
what this generation values which is refreshing for the genre. Mr. Fantastic is a
wonderful character to watch, already exasperated before he’s even entered the
scene, and reasonably so. Krypto is full of personality, simultaneously being fun
and frustrating to watch.

The success of James Gunn’s Superman, lies with the characters and the pure
embodiment of ways to live life that they represent. Lex Luthor is abhorrent but
an enjoyable character to watch thanks to the comedic writing of Gunn and acting
from Nicholas Hoult. His willingness to tear apart the universe to destroy
Superman is a level of dedication we can all strive to achieve. His foil, Superman,
is the embodiment of kindness and doing the right thing. Luthor feels inferior in
the face of Superman’s strength and indomitable goodness that he deems
inhuman, but Superman represents the best of humanity.

The cinematography bothers me at points, with many of the closeups feeling as
though they were filmed with a too-wide lens, but there are also particularly
striking shots such as Clark and Lois speaking with a giant monster in the skyline
background behind them, or Superman lifting Lois Lane into the air in an
embrace. The fights are fun, and the camera remains dynamic to convey the
exhilaration and adrenaline you want to feel while watching a fight scene. It is
still a Superhero film, a genre which tends not to value top-notch technical
elements, but the lighting is beautiful and the use of real sets rather than
overreliance on VFX is refreshing to watch.

Its relevance to modern politics is striking and bolder than what most filmmakers
have attempted in fear of retribution for their support of Palestine. The scenes at
the border of both countries look similar to real-life photos from the Gaza border
during the 2018 protests of Israeli occupation.

Israeli troops firing tear gas at Palestinian protesters along the Gaza-Israel border. Jack Guez / AFP — Getty Images.

Still from Superman (2025)

The conflict is driven by greed and other ulterior motives with a complete
disregard for human life. In placing importance upon Malik “Mali” Ali, another
message is repeated. A message that everyone matters, no matter how small they
are perceived to be by others. Human life is valuable and it should not be
controversial to say that out loud. James Gunn turned in his Superman script in
May of 2023, before the recent escalation in the conflict, though I think it is
entirely reasonable for viewers to draw parallels.

Overall, this film comes at a contentious time in history, where human lives have
been devalued and kindness ridiculed. A message of pure hope and value on
unabashed kindness is one to carry forth and a great message to be showing
audiences right now. If you’re looking for a Superhero film with great casting and
acting, as well as a hopeful message, then Superman is right up your alley.