James Gunn’s Superman trailer proves he understands the Man of Steel in a way Zack Snyder never did

As a seasoned gamer and comic book enthusiast who’s seen more Superman reboots than I can count on one hand, I must say that James Gunn’s take on the Man of Steel has genuinely piqued my interest. The trailer for his Superman movie has left me optimistic, and it’s not just because of the stunning visuals or the action-packed sequences.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a tired cliche used to introduce a story about Superman! 

Anyway, the first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman movie has arrived, and you know what? It looks really, really good. I was worried about how Gunn’s irreverent sense of humor would marry with the sincerity that defines the Man of Tomorrow, but it looks like my concerns were misplaced. 

To put it simply, Gunn seems to have grasped a key aspect of the Superman persona that many filmmakers overlook in their adaptations, which unfortunately appears to be something Snyder may not have considered.

To clarify, it’s evident that Gunn understands that Superman is fundamentally a human being and a superhero as his secondary identity. In simpler terms, he recognizes Superman as a person first and a superhero second.

Superman returns!

The latest trailer emphasizes the human side of Clark, as it portrays him. Despite his appearances in a red and blue suit, his actions are remarkably human. He rescues a child from a monster, shows emotions by crying, and even shares a kiss with Lois. It appears that Gunn is intentionally highlighting Clark’s kindness and humanity throughout this trailer preview.

To put it simply, the initial scene reveals Zodd’s fragility and need for aid from Kypto. This underscores his human-like qualities and distances him from an invincible, otherworldly figure like Clark. The trailer effectively portrays Clark as relatable and ordinary, rather than a superpowered being from another realm.

In simpler terms, Zack Snyder, known for his exceptional visual style as a director, found it challenging to grasp certain aspects of Superman, whom he viewed as a figure resembling Christ, descended from heaven to save humanity. For Snyder, the ‘Super’ was prioritized over the ‘Man’, which made his interpretation of Superman (also known as Kal-El) less appealing to many viewers.

Essentially, it’s more about personal perspective, but I often find that people who view Superman primarily as an alien rather than a human are overlooking his fundamental nature. The character is intended to embody the ideal aspects of us humans, representing an optimistic portrayal of what humanity could aspire to if we nurture our noblest qualities.

It appears that Gunn interprets Superman in this way, while Snyder doesn’t. Superman isn’t inviting us to “ascend with him to the light” later on; instead, he recognizes that we’ve already reached that level, and he’s simply there to support us when we stumble. Despite the early stage of Gunn’s Superman portrayal and limited footage available, we are eagerly optimistic that superhero flying will return to our screens once more.

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2024-12-19 18:50