I was, truly, looking forward to seeing 'Superman' in the theaters. It's been too long since there was a good summer blockbuster, one I could simply enjoy while eating a giant tub of popcorn.
And, it's Superman.
He's awesome.
But Hollywood is incapable of just ... making movies. Movies without agendas. Movies without 'queer-coded' characters. Movies without 'representation' and THE MESSAGE. Instead, they take beloved IPs -- even Jane Austen is no longer safe -- and recreate them for 'modern audiences' that just don't exist.
All of this takes place before a backdrop of heavy politicization of film. Movies can no longer simply entertain us. Oh, no. They must advance some political agenda, because everything is political to the Left.
Even Superman.
Sean Gunn, brother of 'Superman' director James Gunn, doubled down on the politicization of the Man of Steel, saying it was an immigrant story and if you don't like that, you're 'un-American.'
This is so tiresome.
Nathan Fillion, who plays Guy Gardner/Green Lantern in the upcoming film, had a message to those of us who balked at the politicization of yet another movie:
Nathan Fillion on MAGA backlash to James Gunn calling Superman an immigrant: "Somebody needs a hug. It's just a movie guys." pic.twitter.com/MzVNZMKZ72
— Variety (@Variety) July 8, 2025
Right.
It was just a movie.
Until the Gunn brothers decided it was an allegory for immigration.
The Left always does this: they fundamentally alter a beloved IP, then when there's the inevitable backlash, they ask fans why they care so much.
'It's no big deal.'
'It's just a movie.'
'Why does it bother you?'
If it were no big deal and just a movie, the Left wouldn't politicize it in the first place. They clearly care enough to uproot years of canon to advance their agenda and spread their ideology (often offending fans and the IP in the process), and then try to dismiss backlash over it by asking their critics why such a minor thing upsets them so much.
If it's 'no big deal', Lefties -- why'd you do it in the first place?
We all know why: politics is downstream of culture. Control the culture, and you have tremendous power. The Left knows this, too.
But I digress.
I had resolved not to see it in the theater, but my 12-year-old son expressed interest in the movie, primarily because of Krypto, Superman's dog. And -- let's face it -- there's not much else out there that's family friendly. The live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' so egregiously undermines the original's concept of Ohana and family that I won't show that to my son, and the live-action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon' is a carbon copy of the animated original.
So 'Superman' might have been granted a second chance thanks to my youngest, but my expectations going into the film are low.
I also think all this political pandering is setting up the fans to take the blame when 'Superman' bombs. Early reviews from those I respect are, in a word, negative. And it's much easier to blame the film's failures on the audience who was unwilling to fork over $15 for an 'immigrant story' than it is to make something they want to watch.
Audiences and critics of 'Superman' don't need hugs.
They need a movie that is, in fact, just a movie.
