A+Z Movie Review Podcast · Alex Long and Zach Cavanagh

Episode 49 - Superman

·1 hr 31 min·1 clip

This Superman is the realistic modern ideal versus Christopher Reeve's romantic ideal

Alex and Zach open by saying they are fresh out of the theater after seeing Superman. They had made it their most anticipated movie of the year. Zach spent the day basically waiting for showtime. Alex had his own prep too. He wore a Daily Planet shirt. He also listened to background material about Superman. They spent the week watching earlier cinematic Supermen, one from each of the previous major releases. Alex read one of the most seminal Superman comics James Gunn said he took inspiration from for this. The buildup was mostly self-generated, but the marketing campaign helped feed it. At one point, the hype got so high that the movie had to prove itself in real time. They talk about whether it does. The discussion moves into the film's lore choices. The Jor-El material becomes the main wrinkle. They note that it has shown up in other places, but not in a way most people would have seen it. They compare it to Smallville and the way that series handled Jor-El early on. That version of the character pushes Clark toward domination and cruelty, at least at first. They acknowledge that later storytelling often walks that back. Zach is bothered by the wrinkle, even if he likes the choices Clark makes in response. Alex sees it more as a useful story device. They wonder whether the movie is using the idea more for Lex than for a traditional immigration reading of Superman. They do not fully agree on the impact, which keeps the conversation loose. The episode also keeps circling back to their usual review structure. Popcorn comes up as they start to sort out what they liked and what they did not. Even when they are unsure, they keep talking it through. The result is a very current, very immediate Superman reaction from two hosts who clearly showed up ready to care.

As heard by us

A hype-heavy Superman discussion that blends prep, reaction, and one debated wrinkle.

Alex and Zach sound genuinely fresh off the theater run, still carrying the afterglow of a movie they had clearly marked as their biggest one of the year.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a post-theater Superman take that still sounds alive.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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