The world felt so lived in. It wasn't a car commercial film, you know? there was cracked paint on Lois's door jamb, and the Kents' house looked like a house anyone I know might've grown up in in the 90s, and everyone was driving shitty, normal cars.
(more spoilery thoughts under the cut)
Also loved all the little world details like Lois's license plate being Delaware and the highway sign giving exit directions to Gotham (as a die hard Gotham-Metropolis twin cities on either side of Delaware Bay truther). The confrontation between the Justice Gang and Supes taking place in the Stagg Industries building despite (iirc) Simon never once actually being mentioned by name (of course, neither was Sapphire, but we also got to see her for like 10 seconds, six of one, half dozen of the other). The billboard for Big Belly Burger and the Kaiju being originally spotted in a Jitters. Markovia being the third country visible in Eve's map leak. Like the movie had whole and total respect for the fact that it is part of a universe, and that that is not Our universe trying to put up with superheroes, but a universe all its own and there's something absolutely refreshing about seeing that in a giant live action format.
Tiny disconnected thought -- Lois said she was just some kid from Bakerline, so like... was General Lane stationed at whatever Fort surely must exist in Metropolis's proximity or is DCU!Lois not an army brat?
Anyway:
A lesser film more cued into public perception of DC comics rather than the vast richness and opportunities actually available would've had the Mr Terrific role just be Bruce, or would've had it be a character called "Mr Terrific" but who was actually just Batman clone 328. And instead it was actually Mr Terrific, badass and surrounded by his T-spheres as intended.
Jimmy!! I have no words!
Lois and Clark having a big dramatic emotional scene while crazy technicolour battle was happening outside the window, both of them completely unfussed about it.
Perry just sitting and listening to Jimmy and Lois's pitch for their article while all of Metropolis is evacuating around them, also unbothered.
Rex!!!! Joey!!? Like has that kid been seen anywhere since that BoP arc in 2003?
Spending the whole movie wondering why Clark was letting his dog live in the Fortress, alone, without any training or manners, only to Understand Completely in approximately 10 seconds at the end.
I did also appreciate the Ultraman fakeout and him being a clone instead of from Earth-3. It's too soon to be pulling in the multiverse, y'know? But for my money, since he was cloned "wrong" I'm going with he's gonna come out the other side of that black hole as Biz, because I think that would be fun. Although, y'know, with the sick '90s flow, could also be angling closer to Henshaw. I look forward to seeing.
The Engineer was so perfectly unsettling, and since she's not dead, and they've apparently got an Authority movie on the docket upcoming, I have to assume she'll be part of that, right?
And final thoughts before I make myself go to bed:
Nicholas Hoult was extraordinary as Lex, truly he was, and also I barely noticed because David Corenswet was so phenomenally perfect as Clark. It is the only time I've ever seen a live-action Superman lean into the part where Clark says "golly" as an oath, and fully sell it. Like of course Lois (Rachel Brosnahan, also perfect) would have difficulty admitting to herself/him that she's in love with him. He's ridiculous. He's a ridiculous person. Absolutely absurd. Physical embodiment of hopepunk, and also broke into her apartment to make breakfast at night. Did you know, he can be a real jerk sometimes 🥺
marion and the gentleman’s post-campaign story is so iconic like…pussy so good he faked his own death and abandoned his criminal empire just to be her boy toy for the rest of his life 🙌🏻
