Spoilers SUPERGIRL - 2026 DCU Movie Grade & Discussion

[Kai "the spy"]

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The wait is over. Having opened on Wednesday already in some countries around the world, the second DC Universe movie from James Gunn's & Peter Safran's DC Studios: SUPERGIRL.
Starring Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, with David Corenswet as Superman, and Jason Momoa as Lobo
Directed by Craig Gillespie
Based on the graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King & Bilquis Evely

 

[Kai "the spy"]

They certainly streamlined the graphic novel. Krem already being part, and in fact leader, of the Brigands, as well as omitting several of the more episodic issues. Also making the ending teased at the beginning of the graphic novel, as in Kara killing Krem, the actual ending, because the actual ending of the graphic novel would not have played as well in the movie. Krem killing Ruthye's whole family instead of just her father is also very Hollywood blockbuster. And Krypto's life actually hanging in the balance. I was surprised they actually still went with "three days", considering even the streamlined movie version feels like it took longer than that. But I guess, if the space travel is going at the speed of plot ...

 

[Dick Whitman]

I just got back. I really liked it a lot. Confession- I have never fully read the comic this was based on. Nice art but story never seemed that special to me. The way DC has constantly changed Kara’s backstory since they brought her back always bugged me. The first time I paged through it from library I missed Argo City flashbacks. Later on being aware of that I could see somewhat why that would be at least starting point for a movie.

I am thrilled they have gone back to original version - that she was born on Argo City long after Krypton’s destruction. Which means she really is younger than her cousin! All the contrivances to change that in the comics added nothing. I think the movie did a good job of explaining why her parents had her.

I am not good at letter grading. Still thinking about that. Numerous times while watching it I thought this is better focused and consistent than Superman was! But that does not mean I like this more. It’s a very different type of story.

edit- should add I watched Superman last night. It’s been months. Still feel the Ultraman fight could be shorter. It stops and stops what 3 times? Supergirl being under 2 hours was to its benefit. So rare these days. Very trim and focused.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Merchandising fail.

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[JoeZhang]

Literally just came out - that was a real stinker.

First a bit of praise - The Argo city scenes are really moving and I would have loved to have seen more of that. This also puts a pin in the "Oh the Jor-El file was corrupted or faked". JM is good as Lobo and Milly Alcock does the best she can with an underwritten character.

The rest is a bit of a muddled mess, it's dark and visually high generic. What puzzles me is if you are changing so much from the graphic novel, you might as well as well change the bad guys to be specific DC races - The Khund are slavers for example.

There are a couple of back group Easter eggs like Bolphunga the Unrelenting for hardcore fans.

I also don't understand why they changed the end so much and the through line from "be good" to murdering a guy - just muddled.


If James Gunn really thought this was a great script then there is trouble ahead.

 

[Rich Watson]

Just read that this opens on the second-lowest number of screens for a modern superhero movie, with only "Kraven the Hunter" (remember that one anyone?) having fewer.

Being sandwiched between Toy Story and Minions has to rank as an all-time bad scheduling decision.

 

[JoeZhang]

Someone is going to have to count up how many people Supergirl murders in this? I was trying to keep a rough count and I think I lost track at 30 or so?

 

[Guy Gardener]

It was fine.

I actually felt sorry for Sasha Calle.

Oh.

She's in Sugar Season 2.

(I am literally watching season 1 right now.)

 

[Rich Watson]

Someone is going to have to count up how many people Supergirl murders in this? I was trying to keep a rough count and I think I lost track at 30 or so?

It's astonishing. She spends the entire movie claiming revenge is wrong and then straight up murders a totally defenceless man for hurting her CGI dog.

I can't remember the last time I saw a film where every decision in the production process was the wrong one.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Kara ended a threat to the galaxy who would undoubtedly have gone on to murder more people had he lived. She saved lives. She spared her new friend the trauma and preserved what's left of her innocence a little while longer, at least.

This was not a perfect movie. But I felt things, and I'm still feeling them. A-.

 

[Rich Watson]

Kara ended a threat to the galaxy who would undoubtedly have gone on to murder more people had he lived. She saved lives. She spared her new friend the trauma and preserved what's left of her innocence a little while longer, at least.

By that logic Charles Bronson is in the right in the 'Death Wish' films.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

murders a totally defenceless man for hurting her CGI dog.

Lulz.

By that logic Charles Bronson is in the right in the 'Death Wish' films.

I must have missed the part of Supergirl that established that there was a functioning justice system and space police force operating and dispensing space justice in the area where the story took place.

 

[Dick Whitman]

It’s outer space - its not like there is really any law enforcement…

Someone will mention Green Lantern Corps. Never understood how that works in terms of what counts as their jurisdiction and what parts of space they cover. If they were really affective most DC space villains would not exist.

Clearly this is the Wild West. Which was one of my favorite parts of the movie. This is not happy go lucky galaxy of the marvel Guardians movies. Felt like a true western or even Japanese samurai movie.

I decided on A -

 

[Rich Watson]

I must have missed the part of Supergirl that established that there was a functioning justice system and space police force operating and dispensing space justice in the area where the story took place.

That was their choice to make her a cold blooded killer rather than do so.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

It’s out space - its not like there is really any law enforcement…

Someone will mention Green Lantern Corps. Never understood how that works in terms of what counts as their jurisdiction and what parts of space they cover. If they were really affective most DC space villains would not exist.

Clearly this is the Wild West. Which was one of my favorite parts of the movie. This is not happy go lucky galaxy of the marvel Guardians movies. Felt like a true western or even Japanese samurai movie.

I decided on A -

Yes, it was the proverbial Wild West, my thought exactly. There's also random space piracy that seems to occur fairly regularly.

There was no Green Lantern to be seen while girls were being enslaved and parents and other people were being murdered. If this area somehow is in their jurisdiction, the Green Lanterns were ineffectual and useless.

cold blooded

That's a misuse of that term. Lulz, again.

 

[Nerys Myk]

It's astonishing. She spends the entire movie claiming revenge is wrong and then straight up murders a totally defenceless man for hurting her CGI dog.

Seems a bit disingenuous to call Krypto a "CGI dog" since he is an actual living being with in the context of the film.

 

[JoeZhang]

Kara ended a threat to the galaxy who would undoubtedly have gone on to murder more people had he lived.

If that's the point do not do an adaptation of a story with the complete opposite ending and claim as a studio it's faithful.

 

[Mage]

and claim as a studio it's faithful.

Did they? I am not saying they did. I can't remember reading that, but I don't read every article.

PS, that might sound snarky but written word often lacks subtext. It's a genuine question.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

If that's the point do not do an adaptation of a story with the complete opposite ending and claim as a studio it's faithful.

The comic has been on my wish-list for several years now, and I've placed an order for it, in hardcover. I can't judge it sight unseen, but if it can pull off the ending that's been sketched here in a compelling way, then I'd expect to consider it worthwhile, at the very least.

Did they? I am not saying they did. I can't remember reading that, but I don't read every article.

PS, that might sound snarky but written word often lacks subtext. It's a genuine question.

Seconded. I'm interested to read what the PR has been. There are degrees of being faithful, and the list of adaptations, skiffy or otherwise, that people consider to be faithful that, to be kind, are not is long. In this case, it would seem clear that it's not completely faithful.

 

[Mudd]