When news first broke of a new Superman film, I have to be honest, I didn't really care all that much. I was excited about the prospect of an eventual Justice League film, but as for the Man of Steel himself, I could not have cared less. He's too overpowered, I thought. Every challenge is no real challenge for him, so there's never any sense of danger or excitement. Unless, of course, someone finds one of those shiny green rocks. It's been done again and again and again. Who cares anymore?
But then Warner Bros. brought on Christopher Nolan, the director of the phenomenal Dark Knight trilogy, as a producer, mentor, and godfather to the project. That was good news indeed. Perhaps he could help to revitalize Superman the way he had for Batman. And then David Goyer, Nolan's creative cohort, was hired to write the screenplay while Zack Snyder was hired as director to bring the same eye for action to the film as he had brought to other comic book adaptations 300 and Watchmen.
But then Warner Bros. brought on Christopher Nolan, the director of the phenomenal Dark Knight trilogy, as a producer, mentor, and godfather to the project. That was good news indeed. Perhaps he could help to revitalize Superman the way he had for Batman. And then David Goyer, Nolan's creative cohort, was hired to write the screenplay while Zack Snyder was hired as director to bring the same eye for action to the film as he had brought to other comic book adaptations 300 and Watchmen.
My curiosity was piqued, certainly. Could there truly be a glimmer of hope for a thrilling Superman film?
My friends, it is no longer a dream, but a hope now realized. In other words, Man of Steel was pretty great.
The film begins on Krypton, giving a pleasantly surprising amount of screentime for the legendary Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as Jor-El, Superman's father. We're not on the alien planet long, but the design of the planet and its creatures are so masterfully constructed I honestly wish we could have explored Krypton more.
My friends, it is no longer a dream, but a hope now realized. In other words, Man of Steel was pretty great.
The film begins on Krypton, giving a pleasantly surprising amount of screentime for the legendary Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as Jor-El, Superman's father. We're not on the alien planet long, but the design of the planet and its creatures are so masterfully constructed I honestly wish we could have explored Krypton more.
From a dying Krypton we follow Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman to Earth, where is adopted by humans and taught to use his supernatural alien abilities for good, but also to use them cautiously. The idea that Superman is in fact an alien is something relatively unexplored in mainstream entertainment (I can't speak for comic book content), but his attempts to fit in and humanity's reactions to such a revelation are ideas accomplished in Man of Steel more effectively than even in 2011's Thor.
Unfortunately for Superman, he doesn't have long to celebrate a discovery of his origins before a fellow Kryptonian, General Zod, finds him and his new home on planet Earth and becomes bent on replacing humanity with a repopulation of his own, displaced people. What follows Superman's attempts to stop Zod is an hour-long climactic showdown which can hold its own with the finale of last year's The Avengers. I seriously have never seen so many buildings destroyed in a long time, yet it really gave the audience a sense of what it would be like if two demigods were to do battle in the midst of human civilization.
Such a long battle may seem excessive, but let's be brutally truthful, Man of Steel needed to compensate for all the times in previous films where the only climax was Superman rushing to stop a missile and Lex Luthor running around smacking our hero with Kryptonite. So I except Man of Steel's over-the-top enthusiasm for city razing as recompense for the past.
So, let's recap, an interesting origin tale for Supes and a pulse-pounding battle for the survival of the planet. What else?
Acting? Everyone, from Henry Cavill (Immortals) as Superman to Amy Adams (Enchanted) as Lois Lane, does just fine. No one really stood out as amazing, but no one flopped either.
The only issue that may interrupt your focus is trying to keep up with the details of the alien technology and how it affects certain things happening in the story.
Even though I already knew the origin story of Superman, it was exciting to actually see it unfold and exhilarating to witness Superman having to push himself to the extents of his abilities to overcome a real threat.
Acting? Everyone, from Henry Cavill (Immortals) as Superman to Amy Adams (Enchanted) as Lois Lane, does just fine. No one really stood out as amazing, but no one flopped either.
The only issue that may interrupt your focus is trying to keep up with the details of the alien technology and how it affects certain things happening in the story.
Even though I already knew the origin story of Superman, it was exciting to actually see it unfold and exhilarating to witness Superman having to push himself to the extents of his abilities to overcome a real threat.
If Warner Bros. can get their act together and follow this up with equally entertaining stepping stones to a Justice League movie, DC Comics may actually find itself in a position to compete with the company that has paved the way for the creation of superhero cinematic universes, Marvel. I'm not saying it will happen, but it would be cool if it did.
Regardless, in the here and now, Man of Steel is and will likely remain to be the pinnacle of the 2013 summer box office.
The Final Word: 4/4 - Go buy a ticket, the poster, and the DVD.
Regardless, in the here and now, Man of Steel is and will likely remain to be the pinnacle of the 2013 summer box office.
The Final Word: 4/4 - Go buy a ticket, the poster, and the DVD.
Good review Ethan. It wasn't perfect, but it was still a fine movie in it's own right. However, could have definitely been better.
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