Superman: Red Son Review: An Exceptional Film That Sets the Bar for Comic Adaptations

DC has a very good record with their else world stories which show cases our beloved familiar characters in a different setting which ultimately results in different situation and choices made by the characters itself. This very idea brings so many different possibilities and alternate scenarios throughout the story which gives us more depth to the core of our characters.

Superman Red Son is a kind of a movie which is very fundamental in the current scenario. We all know the origin of man of steel and how he turned out to be the symbol of hope we all love and admire but what if Superman's spaceship never landed in the farmhouse of Jonathan and Martha Kent, rather in Russia where he lived and idolized the rules of communism. This version of Superman from very begening served his nation and Soviet for the betterment of the democratic world. He had a vision, the utopian world where humanity will strive with the help of communism philosophy. But just like many philosophies have their very own darkest chapters Superman also seen the harsh reality of the co current philosophy he believed to be the most purest. He was shattered and broken. Thus began his arc of rebuilding his state and slowly, steadily going forward to control the whole world to give humanity the chance to prosper and accheive further development. What he failed to realize is that in order to create that utopian world into reality he started to become the diactator who controls people and their choices. It is because of his choices Batman started terrorist organization to kill the order and bring chaos and also it is because of his desire to capture United States and further rebuild it with his own vision he endangered the whole world.

Superman and Luthor represented two very different ideals in it's supreme glory while their lust for power and supremacy over other makes their very own choices seems hypocritical in politicial aspect. Superman being the leader of communism wanted to build a world where equality will strive and people will live under the order and they will strive together to be the better version of themselves but in reality Superman was taking very fundamental freedom from it's people. The freedom to express, the freedom to resist and the freedom to make their own choices. Lex is the ideal and classic representation of classical American democratic philosophy where but hardly keeps up with it as he sends Superman clone to fight him despite Superman saving USA from impending dangers and also sending Lantern corps.

They both believed in their own ideals but unfortunately they both crossed the line so many times. But in the very end when the world is in the blink of destruction, when all hope seems to be lost two philosophies emerged together. Lex and Superman fought together against the greater evil which represents humanism over communism or capitalism and established the essence of humanity that no matter how much conflicted we are, no matter how much more time will take, when the time comes people will stand together, not as a representative of their own philosophy or beleive but as a symbol of humanity.

However the movie has It's own share of shortcomings. The distinct animation style didn't bring justice to the brilliant artwork of the original comic. It's not bad but for a massive project like Red Son it is not simply good enough. Another shortcoming is the origin of Batman. Even though it's the story about man of steel and his different ideals and philosophy regarding communism and politics we hardly see any justified reason for Batman to kill innocent kids and civilians. Even if it's a protest against the facist dictatorial order in USR his character simply lacked the creative urge in which audience can connect with his passion and feelings. That is why he felt like a cheap, rip off fan service material in the movie.

Considering all this unique aspects and political scenarios raised by the movie which gives us the depth of every political agenda and it's outcome "Red Son" stands as one of the best ever representation of political superhero movie by DC and WB.

Rating: 8/10

By Rittik Mondal

All characters are copyrighted by WB and belong to DC comics