India, July 16 -- When James Gunn's Superman arrived in theaters, it was marketed as a reintroduction of the Man of Steel for a new era. What's become increasingly clear in the weeks since its release is that the film doesn't just reboot a character - it confronts the socio-political world he now inhabits. Several moments in the movie have stirred widespread attention for their apparent commentary on modern-day conflicts, nationalism, immigration, and morality.

While James has stated that the film is more "about morality and kindness," audiences and commentators have latched onto its political undercurrents - and, in some cases, stormed into full-blown debate.

Among the film's most widely discussed sequences is the military conflict bet...