Rebooted and 'vulnerable': Superman is back on screens

Paris: A rebooted Superman is flying into cinemas around the world this week, with critics mostly positive about the latest version of the caped hero...

Paris: A rebooted Superman is flying into cinemas around the world this week, with critics mostly positive about the latest version of the caped hero who has been updated for the modern world.

Director and screenwriter James Gunn said he set out to make the benevolent world-saver "a little less powerful" in what is a tenth silver-screen version of the original 1930s DC Comics character.

The 1978 classic starring Christopher Reeve remains the reference point, but other outings include the little-loved 2013 "Man of Steel" by Zack Snyder, 2016's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and 2017's "Justice League".

Gunn's Superman, played by square-jawed David Corenswet in his biggest role to date, appears at times naive and awkward, and has to contend with criticism on social media and angry talk shows.

"I wanted Superman to be vulnerable," Gunn told Rolling Stone magazine last month.