Movies

James Gunn Says ‘Superman’ Is an Immigrant Story

BBG News

James Gunn’s new Superman movie is a story about “basic human kindness.”

In the latest movie, a renowned director has reintroduced the superhero character on the silver screen, with David Corenswet taking up the lead role. Rachel Brosnahan portrays Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult steps into Lex Luthor’s shoes. Interestingly, the director has emphasized that the narrative of this film mirrors the saga of the United States as a nation.

He shared with the Sunday Times newspaper, “In essence, Superman symbolizes America. A newcomer who settled and thrived in the nation, yet for me, it’s predominantly a narrative emphasizing that fundamental human compassion is a virtue we seem to have forgotten …

This topic revolves around human compassion, and while there may be individuals who lack this trait and could find the discussion offensive due to its focus on kindness, I choose to disregard such people.

He commented: ‘It seems that Superman appears during times when people are experiencing a lack of faith in the kindness of others. I’m sharing a tale about an exceptional individual who embodies goodness, which is relevant now because there has been an increase in rudeness among cultural figures online.’

Furthermore, I am part of this phenomenon too. It seems endless, with countless individuals engaging in heated debates online. In such a scenario, it’s challenging for our society to progress… We find ourselves questioning the authenticity of information, which is a very confusing and difficult position for the human mind to navigate.

I’ve thought about a hypothetical situation where I could erase the internet – it’s an intriguing concept. As for my filmmaking, I don’t aim to transform the world, but if my work could inspire even a small number of people to be kinder towards each other, it would bring me immense joy.

As a movie critic, I eagerly anticipate Gunn’s Superman gracing our cinema screens on July 11! In this captivating tale, the protagonist, played by David Corenswet, grapples with the duality of his human and Kryptonian identities. Meanwhile, the mastermind Lex Luthor, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, relentlessly schemes to undermine our superhero’s rise.

Additionally, the movie features some other cherished DC characters, like Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Hawkgirl (played by Isabela Merced), and Mister Terrific (portrayed by Edi Gathegi).

James Gunn’s Supermanopens in theaters on Friday.

The Worst Performances in DC Movies

10. Dwayne Johnson, Black Adam

For several years, The Rock was linked to the character of Black Adam, initially as a possible adversary in a Shazam! film, then later as the main character in his own movie after Johnson achieved global stardom. However, when Black Adam was finally released, the role didn’t align well with The Rock’s screen presence and the charm that makes him such an engaging actor.

In Black Adam, The Rock’s portrayal of the character lacked warmth and humor. Unlike his usual performances, Johnson’s Black Adam never smiled, told jokes, or endeared himself to others through his quick wit or kind-hearted nature. Instead, he was just a big, brooding figure who destroyed things. While Johnson excels at portraying such characters, in Black Adam, all he did was snarl, punch nameless henchmen, and glare intensely for two hours. This performance, as well as the movie itself, was deliberately monotone and lacked depth.

9. Kristen Wiig, Wonder Woman 1984

Kristen Wiig is a talented comedian and an underappreciated actress. She excels in most roles, but her performance in “Wonder Woman 1984” as Barbara Minerva, also known to DC fans as Wonder Woman’s arch-nemesis Cheetah, falls short. Even before Wiig adopts cat makeup, she stands out in Patty Jenkins’ less than impressive “Wonder Woman” sequel. The film attempts a contemporary reinterpretation of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman character; portraying Cheetah as a meek and marginalized individual who discovers her inner strength. Wiig’s exaggerated acting, particularly during scenes where she acquires superpowers and adopts menacing glares, contrasted with Jenkins’ more realistic depiction of Wonder Woman and the Amazons, causing a clash in styles.

8. Richard Pryor, Superman III

It’s evident that this list of underperforming DC movies is also a reflection of some questionable casting choices. For instance, a Superman sequel prioritizes the struggles of a computer programmer character played by Richard Pryor over the Man of Steel himself. Interestingly, Pryor secured his role in Superman III following an appearance on the Tonight Show, where he expressed his admiration for previous Superman films and desire to be part of the next installment. Despite this unconventional casting, Pryor’s character seems misplaced in Metropolis. While parts of Superman III offer some entertainment, such as the clash between Clark Kent (the heroic alter ego) and a Superman affected by Kryptonite, Pryor appears incongruous within this tale of a celestial demigod.

7. Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hex

Jonah Hex was an ill-fated movie, with its original directors withdrawing and their successors being replaced for extensive reshoots. The second director, according to Josh Brolin (who played the lead role), was a poor choice who spent his nights partying instead of working. Under such circumstances, it’s no wonder that even an exceptional actor like Michael Fassbender delivered a subpar performance.

In contrast, Fassbender has often been praised for his roles in comic-book films, particularly as the intriguing antihero Magneto in the X-Men series (excluding those movies that were less than stellar). However, his portrayal of the psychotic outlaw Burke in Jonah Hex lacked complexity and resembled a villain from the 1960s Batman TV show with excessive yelling, evil laughter, and an overblown accent. Yet, even given these limitations, Fassbender didn’t give the worst performance in Jonah Hex.

6. Megan Fox, Jonah Hex

… this is due to the fact that while Fassbender may not be great, Megan Fox is significantly less impressive. Portraying Lilah, a stereotypical (to put it mildly) prostitute with a golden heart, her performance is something better experienced than explained.

Or, in even simpler terms:

Fassbender isn’t fantastic, but Fox falls short even more. As the clichéd character Lilah, a gold-hearted prostitute, her acting is best appreciated when you watch it yourself.

5. Peter Sarsgaard, Green Lantern

It’s plausible that no actor could have excelled in portraying Hector Hammond, Green Lantern’s menacing antagonist, whose appearance resembles an oversized testicle. I can’t say for sure, but it’s apparent that Peter Sarsgaard was not the right choice for the role. The casting issue persists once more here; despite being five years older than Ryan Reynolds and sixteen years older than Blake Lively, he is expected to play their childhood friend who re-enters the lives of Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris. It seems like he might have had to repeat grades numerous times?

Hector fails to convincingly portray a friend of those two characters, and his transformation into a villain after being infused with Parallax’s power (and acquiring a large ball as his head) does not instill fear.

4. Halle Berry, Catwoman

In a world where some DC movies have been notoriously bad, such as “Steel,” “Green Lantern,” “Supergirl,” “Jonah Hex,” and the initial “Suicide Squad,” Halle Berry’s portrayal of Catwoman stands out as particularly disappointing. It’s not just Berry who is at fault in this film, but her performance doesn’t enhance the subpar material she’s given. Instead, it seems that she mirrors the film’s poor writing and unusual editing, immersing herself in the mediocre script rather than elevating it. She portrays Patience Phillips, a character who becomes cat-like after receiving feline powers – she’s incredibly agile, always lands on her feet, is an exceptional basketball player, enjoys stealing jewelry, uses a whip, makes cringeworthy basketball jokes, appreciates leather… essentially embodying the characteristics of a real cat.

3. Alicia Silverstone, Batman & Robin

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Mr. Freeze in “Batman & Robin” often draws laughter due to his numerous ice-themed jokes, yet it’s important to remember that the character lacked the emotional depth of other villains like Danny DeVito’s Penguin. However, Schwarzenegger embraced the role he was given in this campy, over-the-top Batman film, reflecting its vibrant, almost nightmare-like atmosphere.

On the other hand, Alicia Silverstone’s performance as Batgirl in “Batman & Robin” falls short of expectations, as she portrayed a version of Barbara Gordon that was quite different from her comic book counterpart. Instead of the tough and resourceful Barbara Gordon, Silverstone played the carefree Barbara Wilson, Alfred Pennyworth’s niece who stumbled upon the Batcave after an unexpected visit to Wayne Manor. The Batsuit conveniently left for her by Alfred added to the film’s already crowded cast of characters. At the time, Silverstone was a rising star in Hollywood thanks to her role in “Clueless,” but her inclusion in this overloaded “Batman & Robin” wasn’t necessarily a good fit.

2. Shaquille O’Neal, Steel

In a more natural and easy-to-read manner,

Shaquille O’Neal might seem perfect for a superhero role, and he seems to be enjoying himself as the substitute for Superman in Steel, but the script is filled with too many self-referential jokes. For instance, Shaq misses basketball shots and shrugs them off, while Richard Roundtree makes jokes about the “shaft” of Steel’s hammer. Moreover, the Steel costume appears quite poor, making Steel feel more like a poorly executed, unfunny sketch on Saturday Night Live rather than an actual movie. The casting of Shaq as the lead character also seems questionable given his acting skills.

1. Jared Leto, Suicide Squad

It’s said that Jared Leto adopted the Method acting approach to portray the Joker in David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad.” As reported by co-star Viola Davis, he used a henchman to deliver a dead pig as an introduction to the cast. (Additionally, he is rumored to have sent a rat to Margot Robbie and bullets to Will Smith.) If this unconventional behavior resulted in a particularly chilling version of the Joker in “Suicide Squad,” one might argue that it was somewhat justified. However, when compared to other portrayals of the character on screen, Leto’s interpretation is widely regarded as the weakest. The character adds little to the plot, and despite all of Leto’s behind-the-scenes bravado, his Joker comes across as a generic movie psychopath with tacky tattoos. At this point, after so many compelling takes on the character, that approach no longer feels fresh or funny.

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2025-07-07 16:25

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