Man of Steel

Release Date: June 12, 2013
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenplay: David S. Goyer
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Harry Lennix, Christopher Meloni, Richard Schiff

Man of Steel is a very good origin story. Not great, but very good indeed.

It starts with Superman being born. Of course he was Kal-El back then. He is born as the incompetence of the leaders of Krypton has let it to its imminent destruction and in the middle of General Zod’s coup d’état. His parents spirit him away on a spaceship towards Earth with the hope that he can create a new Krypton and also help humankind better itself. Suddenly we have an adult Kal-El, or rather Clark Kent, doing good deeds and trying to keep a low profile. But now General Zod is here and plans to use Kal-El to create a new Krypton here on Earth by totally eradicating the humans. Our hero is not OK with that.

Henry Cavill did an adequate job as Superman. He certainly looked the part and, despite what some promo pictures showed, he looked kind-faced most of the time. Here we are shown Clark Kent as a good man, who struggles to control himself when confronted with the assholes of the world. But he manages even if he’s not above some non-bodily harmful revenge. He acted so very human and that was awesome. That’s all thanks to the Kents. Costner and Lane were excellent as Clark Kent’s parents, specially Costner talking to kid Clark about how he’s meant for greater things so he has to protect his secret until he’s ready. By the way, all of Clark’s backstory growing up is told in flashbacks, which was well done and interesting.

Superman’s other set of parents were also great. The few moments of Zurer as Lara were very poignant as a new mother having to let his newborn go so he may have a future. Crowe was a more stoic parent as Jor-El, and his uploaded conscience acted more like a mentor than a father, but that’s what you expect for the role.

Then there was Lois Lane. Despite that Amy Adams didn’t look as we are used to Lois Lane looking (we get ginger Lois!), she did channel all her intrepid reporter attitude here. Also, she was useful. While Lois has always been a proactive woman, she also always fell into the Damsel in Distress trope. But in Man of Steel Adams’ Lois helped Superman (and the humanity by default), and even had a nice team-up with virtual Jor-El, even she also have to be rescued more than a couple of times.

The other important humans were Lois’ boss and workmates from The Daily Planet, and from them it was Fishburne as Perry White who stood up. He acted not only like a boss but as a mentor, and you could clearly see how much he cared for them.

Of course there were also the military personnel, with their own scientist included. They also did a good job at helping Superman save humanity.

On the other hand we had the bad guys. Mostly Shannon as General Zod and Traue as Faora. The later was quite the formidable warrior and she had a bit of a biff with Meloni’s Colonel Hardy. But of course, the main villain was Zod, who could be as terrifying as he was hammy. His intentions were not evil per se, but the way he went about them clearly was. And his power-ups were very interesting to watch.

That brings us to the topic of especial effects. I’m surprised by how much Krypton we saw. It was a nice piece of world-building and it showcased how alien they were despite them looking basically like us. The other great effect was Superman’s flight and how joyful he looked when he finally managed to do it. And then there was the awaited Zod fight, which while visually stunning felt too long. But also made me think we are technologically ready for a Dragon Ball Z live action. But too much style and flashiness is indeed Zack Snyder’s trademark. Because whatever some have expected, this is indeed Snyder’s baby and Nolan was only the deadbeat parent who only sees his kid once in a while.

That said, I must also mention the soundtrack, which is awesome. Hans Zimmer is not John Williams, but he doesn’t have to be. His soundtrack may be more ominous but is as epic as the one we are used to.

Finally, the movie was not that subtle about the Jesus Christ comparisons and of course had to remind us that Superman is American. BTW, I know I call him Superman a lot but that name is only mentioned once. He is mostly either Clark or Kal-El.

After this, we are so getting a sequel and a Justice League movie.

Rating: ★★★¾☆ 

mirella

YAM Magazine geek resident. Cloud Cuckoolander. Seldom web developer. Graphic designer.

6 Responses

  1. Stephen says:

    Interesting and positive review. I was utterly disinterested in the movie originally, feeling I had had enough of Superman origin stories, and didn’t like the emo-feel I got from the trailer.

    However, I actually really enjoyed the first 2/3’s of the film, as it posited some interesting and new ideas. The final 40 minutes I found to be a bit of a confused and noisy mess though. I was also a bit annoyed that this was obviously a Brainiac story that had been strangely retooled.

    My biggest criticism, and this enters spoiler territory is with Kal’s final solution to the Zod issue. I’m sorry, but that is simply something Superman does not do. It is part of what makes him unique. There is ALWAYS another way.

    • mirella says:

      @Stephen, I think Superman has killed before, at least in the Christopher Reeves movies. Heck, even Lois kills someone in Superman II and Superman kinda smirks~
      I’ll give Snyder a pass because it’s not like he wanted to kill him and Clark has been Superman for like a day.

  2. Stephen says:

    @mirella, I’m not sure just because he killed in movies is really an excuse. I didn’t like it then either!!

    Though Superman 2 was the one where he used his superpowers to beat up the diner bully also right? That was worse ;)

  3. amy says:

    I thought it was better… different than Returns, which I’ve forgotten what it was about already. What I didn’t like about this one is that the movie was too long, the fighting went on forever LOL – when that kissy kiss kiss scene began, I thought- OH, FINALLY OVER! But no!

    Surprisingly, I liked Cavill more than I thought I would. He was good, even if Superman bores me to bits. He is so vanilla. Since he’s so American, no wonder a bunch of teenaged girls in high school outfits beat the film in China.

    Anyway, I liked Amy Adams. She won me over when she said that bit about being “comparing dick size” – because, yeah! Amy Adams with a somewhat potty mouth is the best. LOL I didn’t like Fishburne as the boss, though, coz I think he’s ALWAYS playing lousy bosses lately- on CSI, Hannibal, and now this xD I’m hating him the worse in Hannibal, so I guess this one was an improvement.

    I also liked Ayelet Zurer in her short time, and didn’t mind Shannon… I almost kinda felt sorry for him.

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