Superman v. Superman
The DCEU gets a shot of much-needed optimism
Zack Snyder's vision for the DCEU was always a controversial bet. When I saw how much Warner Bros. used Man of Steel as a template for the DCEU, it felt wrong. I can appreciate Zack Snyder's style on its own. It's unapologetically big, bold, dark, and edgy with machismo reminiscent of 80s action flicks. It has its niche and fits well with properties like 300. It can also be unfit for nearly everything else. The greatest example of a misfire is when Snyder applied his stylistic bombast to Watchmen. It squeezes most of the substance out of the work, despite being undeniably entertaining. Applying that style to a property like Superman, a character known more for a lighter, idealistic tone, created more limits than it was worth. Warner Bros. tethering the entire cinematic universe to a darker tone provided contrast to the MCU, but at the cost of creating a sandbox less attractive to play in. The resulting momentum was an uphill battle that couldn't help but exclude audiences. Add that to trying to catch up to the MCU, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Man of Steel is a film that I like, held up well by the performances of Henry Cavill and Michael Shannon. Henry Cavill's casting as Superman is as fitting as Pierce Brosnan's casting as James Bond. Despite that, Man of Steel is one of the worst representations of Superman ever put to film. It’s Superman becomes a cog in a machine of chaos and destruction that’s more reflective of a war film than a superhero fantasy. Cavill is now twice someone who was perfectly cast in a large franchise role, who found himself more in tune with the franchise's heart than the filmmakers surrounding him. Clear contrast is provided with the latest Superman, which finally puts the compromises in those creative choices into perspective. It gives me great hope for what's to come in the films to follow.
James Gunn presents a style of comedy and irreverence that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he can temper his style with his unique knowledge of the properties he works with. He provides something that has the kind of emotional depth, sense of fun, and levity that a much wider audience can jump into. It's not about power fantasies or morbid introspective reflections on a broken world. The new Superman is wonderfully optimistic and a much-needed boost of joy in an otherwise chaotic and frustrating time culturally. The movie spares us an origin story that we've seen time and time again. It makes it clear that we're dealing with the hero who has the qualities that we expect from Superman. Someone resilient in the face of a challenge. Someone fearless in the face of danger. Someone who gives themselves to others, all while making it clear that they're not invincible and that they can be vulnerable.
The film is filled with plenty of setups with unique characters and concepts that have the touch of a creative team that knows what it's like to work in an extended universe, but without the level of desperation present in efforts like Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. It's safe to say that the DCEU is no longer on the defensive and can now focus on providing a fun sandbox with interesting films and characters to work with. As much as I like James Gunn, I hope that an ambitious variety of filmmakers have an opportunity to contribute to the universe, leaving James Gunn similar to Kevin Feige, where he can architect the universe without having to have his particular tone or style in every subsequent film.