Supergirl (2026)

     Supergirl has had a rocky history. In the original comics, she was practially just a female version of Superman. Post-Crisis there was a mandate that Superman could be the only survivor of Krypton, so the new Supergirl was a shapeshifter from another dimension. Then she became half-angel. At one point they reintroduced her as a Kryptonian again, but she turned out to be an assassin sent to kill Kal-El. She just keeps getting rebooted in wacky ways. As a huge Supergirl fan, I appreciate the variety, but I prefer stability. Just let her be Kal-El's cousin, dammit!
     But I see their point. What's the point of having her around, if she's just Diet Superman? The best Supergirl comics, IMO, are the ones that emphasize how alien she feels. Superman was raised on Earth since he was a baby, while Supergirl actually has memories of her Kryptonian family. She carries barrels of grief, and Earth makes her feel like a fish out of water.
     That's the version of Supergirl they portray in the new movie, and to me, that's what makes this movie a hit. This Supergirl isn't just Superman with breasts. The difference in her attitude is a huge plot point in the movie, and contributes to her character growth over the course of the film.
     So to summarize the plot: Kara doesn't spend much time on Earth, because she doesn't relate to the people. She prefers planets with red suns, so she can get drunk. Meanwhile, Krem the Badguy kills a family of swordmakers, leaving only their daughter Ruthye alive. Taking a cue from Inigo Montoya, Ruthye vows to get her revenge.
     Then Krem shoots Krypto with a slow-acting poison dart before stealing Supergirl's ship. Kara and Ruthye have three days to track Krem down to get the antidote, or Krypto will die. So we've got a Princess Bride meets John Wick plot. Oh, and did I mention the bad guys are running a human trafficking ring? So you can add Taken as well.
     This movie is more sci-fi than most superhero movies. In fact, only a few minutes take place on Earth.  Note that movie is based on a comic miniseries called "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," which is a great read if you're interested. 
     Lobo fans should be pleased as well. This is the best portrayal of Lobo I've seen yet. He feels right out of the 90s comics.
     There are some pacing issues. The flashbacks slow the movie down a bit, but I do like this version of her origin story. The fight scenes are fun, and the special effects are fantastic (most of the time). Kara spends plenty of time both with and without powers, and her opponents are tough, so it never feels too easy.  Superman is often accused of being a walking Deus Ex Machina, but I don't see that here. This Supergirl earns her wins.
     Now keep in mind, as a Supergirl fan, I'm biased. But this is honestly one of the best superhero movies I've seen in years.

Masters of the Universe (2026 film)

     Masters of the Universe is incredibly silly, but it's fully aware of exactly how goofy it is. If you have a low tolerance for cheese, you're not going to have a good time. It reminds me of the 1980 Flash Gordon movie, but if it had modern special effects and an unlimited budget.
    It makes fun of itself constantly. A ton of the jokes center around the names of the characters. It turns out Ram-Man and Fisto were just nicknames young Adam used because he couldn't remember their real names.
    I've heard of superhero movies being described as "the film version of a kid mashing all their action figures together." Never has that been more true than here. I wouldn't have been surprised if at some point the camera zoomed out, only to show the entire movie was just a kid playing with his toys, like The Lego Movie. But that doesn't happen.
    The special effects are amazing. There's a few badly-matted shots, and a couple of CGI failures, but for the most part the movie is gorgeous and very colorful.
    Speaking of Flash Gordon, the soundtrack is very much a Queen tribute. Brian May worked with the film's composer, and it's full of electric guitar riffs that really set the mood.
    Masters of the Universe is full of fanservice. It's got plenty of obscure characters and vehicles. It's got a decent cast, including a cameo for fans of the 1987 film. I know Jared Leto has a lot of haters, but Skeletor was pretty entertaining.
    Bottom line, MotU is a lot of fun. In some ways it's a love letter to fans of the original toy line, but it might be too silly for some viewers.