The film changes Kara's backstory to better fit the story being told. I don't think the changes are terrible, I actually think they better fit the modern age than her comic origin story. The new origin also helps answer questions viewers had after Superman (2025). The new origin displays Kara as an immigrant that came to Earth in order to survive radiation poisoning. Her father was a scientist that wanted to help people, he saved part of Krypton, Argon, but was unaware of the future radiation poisoning. He saved Kara so she could help carry on Krypton's legacy with peace and hopefully help Kal-el be on the right path despite what his parents had wanted.
"We have to believe there's a future here"
Argon was a small piece of Krypton that was saved from planet's implosion by Kara's father. It's origins in the comics are a tad bit different, but all things must change to fit new mediums. We only got to explore Argon through Kara's eyes. There is much I wish we had gotten the chance to explore. How did they grow food? How did they stabilize the economy after Krypton's implosion? Where did they keep the animals prior to implosion? I mean they all went into the middle of a city when the shields went up, where were the animals hidden? How did they protect themselves from outside threats? Did anyone know that they were there? Did they have trade routes established? Likely not to that last point, otherwise Kara wouldn't be the last true Kryptonian.
After living on Argon in wealth Kara learned what it was to suffer. She watched her neighbors and family die from radiation poisoning; she got to experience what remained of Krypton and its culture until its dying breath. All that remains as a reminder of her home is Krypto and her memory. That's more than enough to traumatize anyone. She vaguely attempts to hide it behind a party girl persona, but it's not fooling anyone.
I love how they used Ruthie as a foil character to Kara. She's suffered similar to Kara, but Kara ultimately chooses to help preserve Ruthie's 'purity.' Kara lived in her anger and suffering; she didn't want Ruthie to do that to. She wanted Ruthie to be able to continue seeing the good in the world around her because Kara can't.
The soundtrack was a character all its own. The movie opens with "This Summer" by Sleigh Bells, showing Kara off as carefree with Krypto. Each song helps complete the scene that it appears in, while giving further insight to Kara. The music is a reflection of whatever she's feeling in the moment throughout the whole movie. We hear anger and rage during her fights. We hear sorrow and pain when she worries about Krypto and remembers Argon. The movie would not be the same without the soundtrack, unfortunately I feel that it carries a huge part of the movie on its back.
At the end of the day, the movie helps answer a simple question. How far are you willing to go to save the only thing you have left? Kara was willing to go pretty damn far, and honestly, I wouldn't have done anything different if I was in her position.
As a viewer I have lingering questions. Why was Lobo so heavily featured in the marketing? Where was Ruthie in the marketing? Will Kara try to fit in on Earth, following Clark's rules, or will she find her home off planet? I can't wait to see what happens with her character as time goes on.
This piece could have been so much longer, but I'm really trying to avoid just summarizing the whole movie. I will leave you with this one last thought though. The apartment shown at the end of the movie didn't have a couch and I think that's weird as hell.
-Lucy
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