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‘Woke’ Superman Reboot Brutally Slammed In Early Reviews As Critics Declare It A ‘Flop’
James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman movie hasn’t even hit theaters yet, but it’s already igniting major debates.
Some critics are calling the reboot “woke,” tone-deaf, and stuffed with clichés. Others are praising it as a heartfelt return to what the character was always meant to be.
With early reactions already dividing netizens, Gunn’s version of the Man of Steel might be one of the most controversial yet.
Highlights
- James Gunn's Superman reboot is being slammed by critics who call it too political and "woke."
- Early reviews have criticized the film's tone, plot, and portrayal of the Man of Steel.
- Others praised the movie for reintroducing kindness and optimism into the character.
- James Gunn has defended the film's values, stating that Superman represents decency, morality, and hope.
RELATED:
Early reviews tear into the movie for being “woke” and full of clichés
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Among the harshest criticisms was a review from The Daily Beast that was published before the movie’s embargo was lifted, which described the film as “the final nail in the grave for the superhero genre.”
The review called out the script as convoluted and humorless, and it also stated that the movie’s character development was subpar.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Most of all, the review claimed that the Superman film’s plot was filled with “fanciful nonsense that soon renders the entire affair superficial and silly.”
“Just as the seemingly indestructible Man of Steel is fatally weakened by kryptonite, so too is the once-unbeatable superhero genre gravely threatened by audience fatigue,” the publication wrote.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman also came under fire, with critics mocking the character for being a “woke” checklist of cringeworthy cliches, according to theDaily Mail.
Even Variety‘s Peter Debruge threw shade at the film while reviewing a completely different one.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Debruge praised the buddy comedy Heads of State by calling it “no sillier than Superman and a lot more entertaining.”
Scott Menzel, a movie reviewer, also stated that “James Gunn’s Superman feels like he tossed every Superman comic and his entire filmography into a blender and hit purée.”
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
“Think of it as if James Gunn’s Suicide Squad had a baby with James Wan’s Aquaman with a little bit of Guardians of the Galaxy sprinkled on top,” the reviewer wrote.
James Gunn and some comic book fans are defending the film for its message
Image credits: James Gunn/X
Director James Gunn is standing firm in defense of his creative choices. In an interview with The Times of London, he said the movie is absolutely about values, kindness, and morality.
Gunn explained that Superman’s journey is a story about an immigrant searching for a better life, driven by compassion and principle. Gunn also had strong words for critics of the film who take issue with its message.
Image credits: James Gunn/X
“Yes, it plays differently, but it’s about human kindness, and obviously, there will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But scr*w them,” Gunn stated.
Sean Gunn, who plays Maxwell Lord in the film, echoed his brother’s sentiments.
Image credits: @amuse/X
“My reaction to the backlash is that it is exactly what the movie is about. We love our immigrants.
“Yes, Superman is an immigrant, and yes, the people that we support in this country are immigrants, and if you don’t like that, you’re not American,” he said.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Some comic book fans also pointed out that Superman has always been “woke” due to his characterization.
While the negative reviews grabbed headlines, many others are seeing the film through a completely different lens.
Image credits: Fernando Gallo/X
The Sunday Times offered a glowing early review, calling Gunn’s version “a triumph” and praising it for finally giving Superman the film he deserves.
“Brandon Routh is forgotten, Henry Cavill is boring. Nobody seemed to know what to do with Superman until now,” the Times wrote.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Netizens argued that the movie might miss the superhero’s core themes
Social media users have been split about the early reviews of Gunn’s Superman film, though some social media users cautioned that the movie might be missing the core message of the superhero.
Image credits: James Gunn/X
“The new Superman film is a flop; test audiences panned it, and instead of fixing the product, the studio is resorting to the old ‘bigotry’ blame game,” an X user wrote.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
“The ‘Superman is an immigrant’ point is a misunderstanding of the character. Yes, he is technically a refugee, but he came here because his planet exploded. He was then raised with middle-America values,” another user wrote.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
“Superman should actually be about the most powerful entity known to man being a good, decent, and hopeful person because he was raised with good old-fashioned midwestern values by a pair of farmers… Crash landing in Kansas is key to the story,” another wrote.
Image credits: Warner Bros./IMDB
Regardless of the differing sentiments on the movie, there is no doubt that the buzz surrounding James Gunn’s Superman is noteworthy
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What do you think ?
Ellinor 6 months ago
These people should try to ACTUALLY read a comic book. Most (if not all) of the superheroes have been woke since the 1930's.
Nick T 6 months ago
What are you talking about? Wokeness is a mental illness, Orchestrated by a bunch of dummies that have nothing better to do with themselves but to intervene into people's daily lives. Modern films will never stand up to real films from back in the day. Go Woke Go Broke.
Load More Replies...
George Costanza 6 months ago
It's at 87% rating on rottentomatoes. How is that "getting slammed" by critics???
Michael Largey 6 months ago
Remember, folks, that "woke" always means "I'm a brainless inarticulate bigot who has nothing to support my position. So I'll use my magic word instead."
Dori 6 months ago
Does that apply to the people *being* woke or *using the term* woke?
Load More Replies...
Space Invader 6 months ago (edited)
"The ‘Superman is an immigrant’ point is a misunderstanding of the character. Yes, he is technically a refugee, but he came here because his planet exploded. He was then raised with middle-America values" And how is that not an immigrant?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
As a lifelong comic book/superheroes fan, I'm sitting over here making this exact face Lakota is making in the attached drawing. Holy jeezum. Superman IS an immigrant. He's literally not even human, but he's kind, empathic, and has devoted his life to helping his adopted people. That's not "woke", that's just "being a good person". And if there are (GASP!) people of color in the cast, that's just, you know, NORMAL? Because America is very cosmopolitan in terms of ethnicities and skin tones. Metropolis isn't a real city, of course, but it IS an American city (even though it's fictional.) I imagine there are a lot of people of color in Metropolis. Anyone who has a problem with a character in a Superman movie being portrayed by an actor/actress of color is a completely vacuous cóckwomble. tumblr_nl0...ccee91.jpg 
BeesEelsAndPups 6 months ago
I honestly had no interest in this movie at all, until people started calling it too woke. I am seriously tired of super-hero movies, but I'm even more tired of racists on the right thinking that ANYTHING that isn't anti-immigrant and pro-hate is an inferior product. I will probably hate this movie as much as I've hated every superhero movie since Avengers End Game. But so be it
nut nibbler 6 months ago
Could it be people are tired of reboots, remakes, sequels and prequels?
Ellinor 6 months ago
Well given the amount of content in the comics and the numbers of pre-existing supermans with each their own stories in the comics, it's not really a reboot of anything.
Load More Replies... Ellinor 6 months ago
These people should try to ACTUALLY read a comic book. Most (if not all) of the superheroes have been woke since the 1930's.
Nick T 6 months ago
What are you talking about? Wokeness is a mental illness, Orchestrated by a bunch of dummies that have nothing better to do with themselves but to intervene into people's daily lives. Modern films will never stand up to real films from back in the day. Go Woke Go Broke.
Load More Replies... George Costanza 6 months ago
It's at 87% rating on rottentomatoes. How is that "getting slammed" by critics???
Michael Largey 6 months ago
Remember, folks, that "woke" always means "I'm a brainless inarticulate bigot who has nothing to support my position. So I'll use my magic word instead."
Dori 6 months ago
Does that apply to the people *being* woke or *using the term* woke?
Load More Replies... Space Invader 6 months ago (edited)
"The ‘Superman is an immigrant’ point is a misunderstanding of the character. Yes, he is technically a refugee, but he came here because his planet exploded. He was then raised with middle-America values" And how is that not an immigrant?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 6 months ago
As a lifelong comic book/superheroes fan, I'm sitting over here making this exact face Lakota is making in the attached drawing. Holy jeezum. Superman IS an immigrant. He's literally not even human, but he's kind, empathic, and has devoted his life to helping his adopted people. That's not "woke", that's just "being a good person". And if there are (GASP!) people of color in the cast, that's just, you know, NORMAL? Because America is very cosmopolitan in terms of ethnicities and skin tones. Metropolis isn't a real city, of course, but it IS an American city (even though it's fictional.) I imagine there are a lot of people of color in Metropolis. Anyone who has a problem with a character in a Superman movie being portrayed by an actor/actress of color is a completely vacuous cóckwomble. tumblr_nl0...ccee91.jpg
BeesEelsAndPups 6 months ago
I honestly had no interest in this movie at all, until people started calling it too woke. I am seriously tired of super-hero movies, but I'm even more tired of racists on the right thinking that ANYTHING that isn't anti-immigrant and pro-hate is an inferior product. I will probably hate this movie as much as I've hated every superhero movie since Avengers End Game. But so be it
nut nibbler 6 months ago
Could it be people are tired of reboots, remakes, sequels and prequels?
Ellinor 6 months ago
Well given the amount of content in the comics and the numbers of pre-existing supermans with each their own stories in the comics, it's not really a reboot of anything.
Load More Replies... You May Like "Child Actors End Up Becoming Terrible Adult Actors": Stranger Things Star Brutally Slammed For His Performance In New Season "Comically Bad": Stranger Things 5 Gets Brutally Roasted Online After 'Cringe' Penultimate Episode The Greatest DC Comics Movies, According To Fans
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