Superman (2025)

We didn't hate this update of the classic superhero movie with David Corenswet in the title role, Rachel Brosnahan as love interest Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as villain Lex Luthor, heading the cast of over a hundred actors, including Bradley Cooper as the voice of Jor-El AKA Superman's father.

Director James Gunn is credited as the screenwriter, based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Siegel and Shuster were Cleveland natives and Jack's and my favorite element was the Ohio locations featured prominently throughout the movie, particularly the Cleveland Arcade, Cleveland Public Square, Cleveland City Hall, and Cincinnati's Museum Center (its former Union Terminal).

David Fleming and John Murphy's score, which can be streamed on Apple Music and elsewhere, includes John Williams' original Superman theme. Reference to that and much more is included in the trivia, which fan-girls and -boys will enjoy combing through.

Cinematographer Henry Braham does good work here, too.

Brosnahan was last blogged for Yearly Departed, Hoult for The Menu, Cooper for Maestro, Gunn for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Fleming for Hillbilly Elegy (co-scored with Hans Zimmer, who scored the last Superman movie), Murphy for Kick-Ass, and Braham for The Legend of Tarzan. We apparently saw Corenswet in Twisters and eleven episodes of The Politician. But his name just makes me think of "corn sweat," the phenomenon contributing to this summer's midwest heat wave.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics are steely in their support, averaging 83%, while its audiences are even stronger at 90. We rented it on September 2. Do be sure to keep it running for the bonus in the end credits.