Real Women of Gaming

Some heroes have the power to stay with people for generations. They embody the values that society craves. They inspire people to be better, kinder, and maybe even a little softer. They give people reasons to have hope, even in the darkest of times. Right now we are in very dark times. Thankfully, one of our greatest heroes came forward to inspire once again. Superman got a brand new movie this summer, and just in time too. 

In 1938 a new hero flew into frame with Superman. The creation of two children of Jewish immigrants named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Together they crafted a man who would become the foundation for superheroes today. His popularity would help cement not only his place but the place of comics in the hearts of people for years to come as one of the three heroes that DC Comics would be built on. For years he has been reinvented to represent the times. Whether radio shows, movies, television shows, and in comics Superman has been there.

The cinematic world of DC is getting a facelift. Under new direction the universe is being reset for a new set of stories. The first movie released in this timeline couldn’t be anything other than Superman.

Superman is a movie about how hope can inspire. How love and trust really are punk rock. How fighting for others who cannot fight for themselves is the peak of heroism. How greed is the worst form of villainy. It is a movie full of color and frames that reflect comics themselves. The characters are understood and beloved by everyone involved in the project.  

I don’t want to spoil anything about the movie, which is difficult because I also just want to gush about it. I will tell you this, though. This movie feels like a superhero movie. The saturation of colors. The scope and care put into the sets, down to just how apartments were decorated. The comic-accurate costumes gave joy to comic fans and also give big clues to new fans. A lot of love and work went into this film. It is clear that it was made by fans, for fans. 

It also is an emotional roller coaster. I finally got to see it after a terrible week at work. I was laughing and crying throughout the movie. In the end I was emotionally drained but also so happy. It is exactly the kind of movie that is needed in the world right now. It lived up to every bit of hype. I kept whispering “you are perfect” or “this is perfect.”

This was exactly what a Superman movie is supposed to be. It was inspiring. It was thoughtful. It was funny. It was well made, from the cinematography to the writing. Superman was shot to look like a comic book pane, from the aforementioned use of color to the way the frames of the shots turn them into comic panels. It really added to the movie.

I am now extremely excited to see what the DCU has in store for us.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. You could see it as a person who has never touched a piece of Superman media before. Seasoned fans will have characters they love peppered throughout. It is a movie that understands itself but also has a great deal of humor.

Superman will continue to lead superheroes forward in this new age and I will continue to enjoy.

ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!!!