Summary of "The Michael Knowles Show" Episode: Michael Knowles Reviews The New "Superman" Movie (2025)
In this episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles delves into a critical review of the 2025 release of the "Superman" movie. Approaching the film with inherent skepticism towards the superhero genre, Knowles offers a comprehensive analysis that touches upon the movie's political undertones, character portrayals, technological advancements, and philosophical themes.
1. Initial Impressions and Expectations
[00:00]
Michael Knowles begins his review by setting the stage, acknowledging his general disinterest in superhero films but committing to a fair assessment despite his biases. He shares his initial expectations based on prior information about the movie's thematic direction.
"I generally don't care for these superhero movies. Some of them have been okay. They're not really for me." — [00:00]
He was informed that the new "Superman" would be heavily influenced by contemporary sociopolitical issues, branding it as "super woke, super anti-Trump, super pro-immigration."
2. Themes of Wokeness and Political Commentary
[04:15]
Contrary to his expectations, Knowles finds the film only mildly incorporates the anticipated "wokeness." While there are elements that touch upon modern sociopolitical discourse, they fall short of being pervasive.
"I went into this movie being told this was going to be super woke, super anti Trump, super pro immigration really woke. And it was a little bit of that." — [04:15]
He reflects on his wife's insight that studios might be leveraging "woke" content to spark controversy, a strategy he perceives as somewhat evident in the film's execution.
3. Character Portrayals and Social Critique
[10:30]
Knowles highlights the introduction of a character resembling Tucker Carlson, a right-wing pundit, suggesting the film's attempt to mirror real-world media figures.
"There was a Tucker Carlson character that's like not even count that as a spoiler. There was a character who was a right wing pundit who was obviously supposed to be Tucker." — [10:30]
He extends his critique to the portrayal of journalists within the film, drawing parallels between Lois Lane's relationships and his broader criticism of modern journalism.
"All journalists are operators. All operators are journalists these days." — [12:45]
4. Special Effects and the Impact of Technological Advancements
[18:50]
A significant portion of Knowles' critique centers on the diminishing effectiveness of special effects in modern cinema. He attributes this decline to the rise of AI technology, which has democratized special effects creation, thereby reducing the studios' unique advantage.
"With AI, I can make that now in about five minutes and I can post it on Twitter. So I think that the writing is going to have to get better now because the studios don't really have any advantage over some dude in his basement with a decent midjourney subscription." — [18:50]
He laments the shift from dialogue-heavy scripts to visuals-centric storytelling, emphasizing the necessity for improved writing to compensate for the ease of generating special effects.
5. Analysis of Dialogue and Writing Quality
[22:10]
Expanding on the repercussions of technological advancements, Knowles critiques the current state of screenplay writing in superhero films. He notes a deficiency in meaningful dialogue, which he believes undermines the depth and engagement of the narrative.
"The dialogue was not there for this movie. Some of the writing was a little better than some superhero movies." — [22:10]
While acknowledging slight improvements over certain Marvel productions, he maintains that the overall writing falls short of expectations, leaving much to be desired in character development and plot progression.
6. Plot Spoilers and Critical Insights
[28:40]
Transitioning into spoiler territory, Knowles reveals pivotal plot points that reflect the movie's engagement with political and ideological themes.
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Government Overreach: Superman is arrested without Miranda rights on the basis of being an alien, symbolizing critiques of anti-immigration policies and government overreach.
"The government arrests him without reading his Miranda rights because he's an alien and aliens don't have rights." — [30:05]
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Identity Crisis: The film introduces Superman facing an identity crisis upon discovering that his mission includes deceptive and tyrannical directives from his birth parents.
"Superman isn't that guy. Superman became Superman. He doesn't have to be what his father planned him out to be." — [35:20]
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Nature vs. Nurture Debate: The introduction of an evil clone serves as a narrative device to explore the dichotomy between predetermined destiny and personal choice.
"Superman meets a clone who's the thing he could have been. Now, in the classical way we understand human nature, this is just a could have been." — [38:15]
7. Philosophical Themes and Societal Reflections
[42:50]
Knowles delves into the film's exploration of deeper philosophical questions surrounding identity, free will, and the essence of being human. He critiques the adoptive father's dialogue, which he perceives as underselling the impact of upbringing and parental influence—a stance he associates with classical liberalism.
"Parents aren't for telling their kids who they are. Parents aren't for that." — [45:30]
He argues for a more nuanced portrayal that acknowledges both nature and nurture in shaping an individual's identity, highlighting the film's shortcomings in this regard.
8. Conclusion and Future Outlook
[55:00]
Wrapping up his review, Knowles summarizes his disappointment with the film, citing its mediocre depiction of sociopolitical issues and flawed philosophical undertones. However, he expresses optimism that the evolving technological landscape will compel studios to enhance their storytelling and scriptwriting quality.
"I'm hopeful these movies are going to have to get better because the studios can't just lazily fill up two thirds of the movie as if that's going to dazzle us." — [58:20]
He concludes with a desire for a return to the foundational themes of truth, justice, and the American way, hoping that future iterations of the Superman franchise will better embody these ideals.
"I hope it returns to tr. There's a... It's like it's trying to get back to truth, justice in the American way." — [59:50]
Key Takeaways
- Moderate Wokeness: The film incorporates some sociopolitical themes but lacks the depth and pervasiveness expected.
- Character and Journalism Critique: Reflects Knowles' skepticism towards modern journalism and its operators.
- Technological Impact: AI advancements are leveling the playing field in special effects, necessitating a stronger focus on writing and dialogue.
- Philosophical Shortcomings: The movie's handling of identity and free will is seen as incomplete and ideologically skewed.
- Hope for Improvement: Despite criticisms, there's optimism that technological shifts will drive better storytelling in future superhero films.
This episode offers a thorough critique of the 2025 "Superman" movie through Michael Knowles' conservative lens, blending film analysis with broader cultural and political commentary.