Let’s cut to the chase: I loved Superman. It’s hardly a secret to those who know me that Superman and Green Lantern are my two favorite DC heroes, probably my two favorite heroes period. So, we get a Superman movie written and directed by James Gunn (Slither, Guardians of the Galaxy) featuring an extended guest appearance by the most notoriously asinine of the Green Lanterns, Guy Gardner, and it all comes together to create a movie that nearly had me in tears more than once.

The plot isn’t that important. A lot of stuff happens as Lex Luthor manipulates the world into hating its beloved savior and then tries to kill the Man of Steel. There are twists and turns and complications. There is a satisfying romance thread with Lois Lane. There are the appearances of the Justice Gang (not their official name!), Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and the aforementioned Guy Gardner Green Lantern. There is an interesting subplot with cub reporter Jimmy Olsen that ends up saving the day. There are fights with kaiju and fights with super-powered others. Human and meta-human ideologies collide, and Superman is stuck in the middle.

But that’s right where he should be. Because he is Superman, as much a human by how he was raised as he is super-powered by birthright. Superman is at the crux of the conflict. Lex hates meta-humans, except for the ones he makes himself, of course. Lex thinks Superman is stunting human growth and prosperity by saving everyone and everything all the time. Lex is jealous, full of self-righteous envy. What he doesn’t understand is that Superman’s selfless example to the world of throwing himself into danger to save others has inspired others.

Most of all, however, there is a constant thread of hope running through the movie. James Gunn understands that the S on Clark’s chest doesn’t just stand for Superman. In comics lore, the symbol is the sigil of the House of El, Clark’s Kryptonian family. It is also the Kryptonian symbol for Hope. None of this is ever made explicit. In fact, Gunn goes out of his way to let us know the Kryptonians might not be as nice as we’ve seen in past versions of this story. But he recognizes that Superman’s logo, his crest, is a symbol for hope both to those in the movie and to those in the audience.

When the chips seem down, and all hope seems lost, we see children raising a banner with Superman’s S-shield upon it as they chant his name and call for help. As the last child is about to be overrun by an invading tank, Hope arrives. Just not how the children pictured it. Guy, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and their new friend Rex show up in Superman’s place as Superman battles to save Metropolis and the world. The other heroes, who had earlier preached at Superman for sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong, are inspired by Superman’s example and what they saw of the children on the TV raising the banner. Even grouchy Guy has a heart of gold.

But I would be remiss if I were to end this without praising the best side character in the movie: Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, Fair Play jacket, T-spheres, T-mask, and all. I loved Mr. Terrific back when I was reading DC’s Justice Society and Justice League books, 15-20 years ago. He’s a standout character both on the page and on the screen. And after the way Gathegi’s Darwin was treated in X-Men: First Class, it’s nice to see the actor get a comic book action role that lets him have some fun and be a hero.

Rounding out the official roster of Maxwell Lord’s Justice Gang is Hawkgirl, who doesn’t get much to do, but she does appear to be the gang’s conscience. Along for the ride is former Lex Luthor prisoner Rex Morgan, a.k.a., Metamorpho, the Element Man. When Superman saves his infant son, Rex repays the favor by helping the Justice Gang stop the militantly aggressive Borovia. Hope is rekindled in the hearts of men and meta-humans alike.

And that hope is so important. Lex Luthor is a tech bro billionaire intent on domination. The nation of Borovia is invading its neighbor ostensibly to free it from tyranny. The message of hope from Jor-El and Lara that inspired Superman to be the hero he has become is revealed to be something less hopeful. When Superman starts to lose faith, it’s not in humanity and our potential to be great. He loses faith in himself. He struggles to see how he can go on in the face of the revelations to which he has been exposed. But of course, when Superman needs to find faith and hope, he can always rely on the kindly farmers who raised him, Jon and Martha Kent.

In this film, Jonathan and Martha aren’t paragons of wisdom and virtue, as they are so often portrayed. They are good people who tried to do a good thing by raising their son with deep moral values. When Clark questions how he can continue his never-ending battle, Pa Kent just tells him that it wasn’t his origins that led him to be a hero. It was his choices. Who we are greatly depends on who we choose to be. Even Superman needs that lesson every now and then.

Some people believe the world belongs to the powerful. Some believe the world belongs to the wealthy. These are people who have stolen our world, and they want us to lose hope of ever getting it back. But stories like Superman remind us that we can all be heroes. We can pull together and use our gifts to dethrone the kings and oligarchs who threaten to dominate and destroy our world. Is Superman powerful? You bet. Is he indestructible? Undefeatable? No. He bleeds and cries and loves and makes mistakes and is scared just like the rest of us. He doesn’t know exactly what he’s doing, like most of us. But he gets up every day and says that he will work to make the world a better place.

Can we, who are real, ever match up to the story? Probably not. But, like the heroes and people of the world in Superman. we can be inspired. We can try.

You will believe a man can fly.

Look up!