By Lottie Merchant, second year, English Literature.
James Gunn’s Superman (2025) carries a persistent and necessary optimism that outweighs the controversies and criticism it has faced since its release this July. With political subtext sparking discourse around parallels to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and many fans comparing it to previous adaptations, the film has received a mixed reception.
What stayed with me most, however, was not the superhero action sequences, but the film’s advocacy for good and Superman’s objective morality. Despite criticism of its convoluted plot and overcrowded cast of characters, the hope-punk tone of Gunn’s film proves to be its greatest strength. It leaves viewers with a grounding sense of optimism in spite of its fantastical elements. For students beginning their first term at Bristol, there are a few values from Superman worth keeping in mind: both from the character himself and the film’s broader message.
With so many representations of masculinity in cinema favouring the brooding, macho stoicism of Batman or Bond, there is something refreshing in the warmth and kindness of David Corenswet’s Superman. The power of a ‘good’ role model is often overlooked for men. Gunn’s almost goofy and earnest depiction of the character marks a clear development from Snyder’s conflicted, ruminating Man of Steel, and is not only more faithful to the original comics but also a more positive representation for men in mainstream media.
Superman’s open love for Lois Lane and his refusal to cause harm to any living being position him as a male lead who is both unwaveringly kind and unquestionably masculine. This moves away from hegemonic notions of gender, presenting kindness as more powerful than physical strength. Gunn frames this as Superman’s most valuable asset, restructuring what it means to be a superhero and making the film more impactful for audiences, who can aspire to benevolence rather than unattainable strength.
Gunn has stated that he wrote the fictional Boravian and Jahanpur conflict before the real-life Israel-Palestine war reached mass media attention. In some ways, this elevates the political impact of the film. If Superman is an objective good hero who overlooks political nuance and simply recognises the relentless attacks on Jahanpur as morally wrong, then the film is, whether consciously or not, presenting comparable real-life conflicts as equally corrupt.
The analogies drawn to the current invasion of Palestine are certainly pertinent, but if this was not Gunn’s intention, the oppression and invasion of Jahanpur plays an even more poignant role, as it is not bound to one single conflict. Gunn’s Superman is heroic not because of his infinite power, but because of his ability to see through socio-political and historical complications and recognise depravity for what it is. His unfailing integrity, even in the face of adversity, is a value increasingly vital in modern society — and arguably the most powerful lesson to be taken from the film.
You could also argue that Superman has always been a political character: he is an immigrant to Earth, as Lex Luthor relentlessly reminds us through his use of the pejorative ‘alien’. Luthor’s blind hatred of Superman’s otherness becomes the central conflict, and Superman’s strength to continually resist this malignancy and discrimination emerges as another of the film’s most powerful values. Despite the public turning their backs on him when Luthor claims he was originally sent from Krypton to conquer Earth, Superman never falters in his willingness to save them.
Although alien by blood, in the denouement Superman declares his ‘humanness’ as the most defining part of his identity. Instead of super-human, Superman is deeply human — and that humanity is another of the film’s central values.
The values that enrich this adaptation — kindness, integrity and hope — elevate the impact of James Gunn’s work. The film reminds us that it is not Superman’s powers but his human values that make him a hero. For first-years seeking a fresh start at the University of Bristol, James Gunn’s Superman offers a fitting reminder of the principles worth carrying with you.
Which of Superman’s values will guide you as you start your university journey?
