Review: Man of Steel

Review: Man of Steel

Plot: With the planet Krypton about to be destroyed, scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) send their only son Kal-El (Henry Cavill) to Earth. There, farmers Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) find Kal-El, name him Clark and raise him as their own. But as Clark grows older he discovers that he possesses incredible powers unlike anyone on Earth. Convinced by his father that Earth would reject Clark if he found out who he was, the Last Son of Krypton becomes a loner, holding odd jobs, hiding from society, and hiding from himself. However, when criminal and ex-military leader General Zod (Michael Shannon) attacks Earth in hopes of creating a new Krypton, Clark must decide if he will stand tall in front of the human race, embrace his destiny, and become the hero the world needs--Superman.

Review: Of all the summer movies being released in 2013, Man of Steel was definitely the one I was anticipating the most. As a critic I try not to set my expectations too high but as a fan with a passion for movies I found it nearly impossible with this film. Couple this with the less than flattering reviews online and you may understand why I entered the film with a certain degree of trepidation.

Thankfully my fears were misplaced.

Man of Steel is a rousing, dynamite thrill ride, that balances intense visceral action sequences with scenes of surprising emotion and depth. Well acted, fast paced, and definitely darker than previous incarnations of Superman, Man of Steel stands head and shoulders above any previous Superman film.

I've always been a fan of director Zack Snyder and after the vapid and worthless Sucker Punch, Man of Steel is a massive rebound for the director. While Man of Steel isn't his best film (Watchmen holds that title in my opinion) it certainly ranks right up there. Snyder's passion for Superman inundates every scene, whether it is the emotional reveal of Clark's origins by his father or an intense fight with Kryptonian baddies.

I fully believe that Snyder was hell bent on creating a Superman film that the masses could enjoy. After the boring and irrelevant Superman Returns, the expectations were high and I believe that aside from a few minor points, (such as the final fight becoming a little repetitive and going on longer than it should have) he succeeds in that endeavor. While this film may not please hardcore fans of the comic Superman, it certainly opens up Superman to a whole new generation of movie goers. Just as Christoper Nolan wasn't targeting comic book fans of Batman with his Dark Knight trilogy, Snyder does the same with Man of Steel. Make no mistake however, Man of Steel is distinctly Snyder's creation.

Most people have at least a passing knowledge of Superman's origins, so David Goyer's story doesn't stray far from the familiar. However, he doesn't retell the Superman mythology through the typical three part act that we've seen in the past. Rather Clark's early years are shown through flashbacks similar to those on the television show "LOST." This makes for a less linear telling but at the same time feels more appropriate and cohesive.

Yet the strength of Goyer's script isn't in the Superman mythos but in the man himself. This is a much more realistic approach to Superman than we've ever seen before, a man who is ultimately a lost and lonely character.

Henry Cavill is superb at portraying the isolation of Goyer's Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman. The former cast member of "The Tudors" displays serious acting acumen in Man of Steel, bringing a depth and gravitas to Superman that we've never seen before. He's a tormented soul, torn between his fear of rejection and his sense of duty to his adopted home world. And while Goyer and company did lay on the Christ comparisons a little thick, I did appreciate the analogy and to ignore the similarities probably would have been disingenuous.

With respect to the iconic Christopher Reeve, Cavill is easily the best Superman ever portrayed on the big or small screen. Let's be honest, as much as I love Superman and Superman II the strength of those movies was not Reeve's acting ability, which if you look at the series with a critical eye is fair at best. Man of Steel will no doubt propel Cavill into super stardom and I'm curious to see what other roles he'll explore next.

On a side note, I think Cavill and Man of Steel in general portrays the most honest reaction Earth would have to discovering an alien among us, namely fear, mistrust, and aggression. It's somewhat of a social commentary on how society views those different than us and it's shown by everyone, from the military to Clark's childhood classmates. Preachy and heavy handed? Maybe slightly. But Snyder's heart is definitely in the right place.

As for Cavill's supporting cast, it is a slightly mixed bag. Amy Adams and Laurence Fishburne are solid as Lois Lane and Perry White but don't get nearly the screen time they deserve. Also the romantic relationship between Superman and Lois isn't explored much until towards the end of the film which was slightly disappointing. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane shine as Clark's adoptive parents and I was emotionally captivated by every scene they were in. Equally impressive was Russell Crowe as Jor-El a man who sees the potential in Earth and how his son may help the planet. Furthermore, he's determined that Kal-El live an independent life, free to choose his own destiny, unlike the people on Krypton who live an almost "Brave New World" like existence. 

 

And then there is Michael Shannon's General Zod.  Shannon's intensity is abundant and except a for a few instances, I think he nailed the role.  The key thing was that he played the character in a vastly different way than Terrance Stamp in the first two Superman movies.  Whereas Stamp's Zod was unhinged, Shannon's Zod is a man driven by purpose, genetically engineered to be a warrior and protect his people.  It is his single mindedness that is the most disturbing because unlike Kal-El, he's unable to see the destruction he's causing.  His amorality is what sets him apart from others.  The complete genocide of the entire human race means little to him.  It's just an obstacle he needs to sweep aside to restore the Kryptonian people.  His cold calculation makes him truly terrifying.

 

Once again Hans Zimmer's score packs a punch that Superman could be proud of.  While John Williams' original score is iconic and highly recognized, I never once thought of it during Man of Steel.  That's a testament to how good Hans Zimmer is as a composer.  Equal parts moving, distinct, and uplifting while not transcending into the realm of over the top, Zimmer's score complements Man of Steel's thematic motif.

 

While fanboys and traditionalists may nit pick and complain about Man of Steel, I think it is an excellent reboot to the franchise.  I eagerly anticipate the future editions.  Let's hope they soar as high as the first one.

 

My rating:  9/10