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For someone whose expectations weren’t too high to begin with, I was completely blown away by Zack Snyder’s brilliant reboot of the Superman franchise. Backed by producer Christopher Nolan, I should have been expecting this as an end product. But in all honesty, I was never a huge Superman fan to begin with. But I have to say, with the new Man of Steel, Warner Bros. and DC Comics finally has someone besides Batman to contend with the ever-expanding Marvel Universe. A film that breathes the much needed life back into a superhero that seemed burned out after Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns. But if this is the new “Supes,” I’ll take it!
The planet Krypton is on the verge of destruction. Jor-El’s (Russell Crowe) wife, Lara Lor-Van (Ayelet Zurer), has just given birth to the first naturally born infant in centuries. At the same time, General Zod (Michael Shannon) is busy committing high treason in his search for the Codex that can save their people, which has been taken by Jor-El. Jor-El manages to send their newborn son, Kal-El to Earth, along with the Codex, sending Zod into a fury, killing Jor-El before he’s sentenced to 300 cycles of reconditioning — aka frozen.
Next we get caught up to speed with the now grown Kal-El, living in Smallville, Kansas, under the name Clark Kent (Henry Cavill). After being found by his Earth parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent (Diane Lane, Kevin Costner), he was raised to hide his alien powers because the world would be changed forever if they knew what he was and what he can do. But leave it to The Daily Planet’s Lois Lane (Amy Adams) to track him down, right before General Zod makes his way to Earth, along with his badass sidekick Faora-Ul (Antje Traue), in search of Kal-El with a maniacal plan to wreak his havoc.
The biggest surprise Snyder gives us with Man of Steel is its ability to tug at the heartstrings. The relationship between the Kents may be shown in flashbacks, but always with the most critical timing for the biggest emotional payoff. There is a very particular scene that may seem too soon after the devastating recent events in Oklahoma, but this only serves to make the scene hit as hard as it’s supposed to and is in no way disrespectful of what’s happened in real life.
Packed with enough dazzling special effects to boggle the mind, they pulled off some of the stunts and a knock down drag-out finale that gives the Avengers a run for their money. Everyone involved with Man of Steel — from Snyder to Nolan, DC, Warner Bros. and scripter David S. Goyer (who’s far better with a pen than behind the camera, Blade: Trinity anyone?) — deserves a round of applause for giving us one of the summer’s, and the year’s, best pictures. Man of Steel is a Superman that even I can believe in.
Photos courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Hi “Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman / Kal-El:” i really wanted Superman to roar like lion, but henry cavil, in all the stills posted, looks “NERVOUS”, rather being “Bold or Confident”, i doubt this might be a big “CONCERN” for screen image of Superman in Silver screens. Henry Cavil fails to showcase the “Charismatic” looks of “Christopher Reeve”, but Christopher Nolan Story Style might make this Superman to swing Good!!!!!, I believe.
Hope Nolan should bring the magic of the “Batman begins”, “Dark Knight” and “Dark Knight Rises”, for “Man of Steel” too.
Next time “Zack Snyder” should ask the Character of Superman in the Cast, to shape up well, not only in body type, but “In Looks, too”, and make sure 100% Screen Presence”.
Zack you can’t bring “Christopher Reeve” again, at least, you should have made a feel of “Christopher Reeve” in Henry Cavill
After combing through several mixed reviews of the New Man of Steel movie it seems obvious that the so call professional critics are divided into two categories, those who love the campy prototypes ( which this movie is not) and those who love the BIG action. But, at the end of the day I believe this is one movie that the critics will have little or no impact on. What the average movie goer has to say to his or her associate will carry this movie over the billion dollar mark, and realistically after watching the movie I believe the majority of audience goers will love it. The movie is fresh, with new twist on the Super Man lore without completely moving away from the origins. The action sequences are big, and todays audiences have been trained to love special effects over story line. Critics you can rave on all you want for good or for bad, this movie will make it with or without you.