"Man of Steel is a visual spectacle that despite a few hiccups, transcends the inherent limitations of a superhero built upon outdated principles while managing to still capture the fundamental cornerstones of a wholesome, small-town Kansas farm boy looking to find his place in the world. "
Reviewing Man of Steel is a little difficult simply because it's tough to figure out where to even start. Should the generally poor critic reception thus far be addressed or should a review start with the fact that there's been so many prior incarnations of the character in both television and film that many movie goers inherently have preconceived expectations of what a Superman film should be? If you've followed Man of Steel's journey from concept to completion, you're quite aware that the film has this and a lot more working against it. However, two days into the theatrical release of Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder, screenwriter David S. Goyer and lead actor Henry Cavill can confidently say they've overcome a substantial list of obstacles to make the first good Superman film since 1978. Man of Steel is a visual spectacle that despite a few hiccups, transcends the inherent limitations of a superhero built upon outdated principles while managing to still capture the fundamental cornerstones of a wholesome, small-town Kansas farm boy looking to find his place in the world.
I'm of a generation that just missed out on experiencing the 1978 Richard Donner Superman film in theaters. For me, the live-action Superman that I most vividly remember is the Dean Cain Lois & Clark tv series that I watched as a kid while eating family dinner and the more recent Smallville series starring Tom Welling. Neither show is what one would say is the pinnacle of comic book interpretation. To that extent, Superman as a character, has never really resonated with me on a personal level. Growing up, Batman was everything. But for the first time, leaving the theater after Man of Steel, I felt just as interested in Superman as I was in Gotham's Dark Knight. For the first time in a long time, I genuinely feel as if maybe I should head to my local comic book shop and pick-up a Superman title. But when you flip through those pages, who will you find? The much more realistic take on a super-powered alien in Snyder's film or a Superman reverent to the classic Donner films and the Superman comic books of that era; who was apt to spout such sage wisdom as 'Always listen to your parents' and 'Doing the right thing may not always be the easiest way but it's the only way for me' while taking down the bad guys. The latter notion of the character simply doesn't resonate well with my generation or younger while older generations will never accept a Superman that has less than pristine morals and values. The discussion surrounding Man of Steel is interesting in that it's probably going to be a controversial battleground for years to come, splitting Generation X right down the middle and creating two camps comprised of those born in the 80's and later and those born in the 70's and earlier.
Man of Steel does have a few flaws. The dialogue at times was overly grandiose, especially in the early scenes on Krypton. At times, it was painfully obvious that you're watching two actors reciting memorized lines from a screenplay rather than two fictional characters standing in the middle of a planetary Civil War. I'm not sure I would ever want to see a Goyer written sci-fi film. But the nervousness of those earlier scenes evaporates once we arrive on Earth. For me, this is where the story begins to pull emotional heartstrings. Pa Kent (Kevin Costner) is so beautifully written and portrayed that I can confidently say that this take on the character will be the standard moving forward, across all mediums. Lois Lane (Amy Adams) is also written with great dexterity, she's not a meek mouse needing Superman to accomplish even the most trivial of tasks but she also has a layer of vulnerability that is needed for a character that shares such a close proximity to Superman. Clark is also captured in a satisfying manner, it's good but not necessarily iconic. However, that fits the tone of the film, of a Clark Kent who shows glimpses and flashes of being the glasses-wearing Daily Planet reporter everyone already knows, but that character arrives at the end of the film. The level of simplicity in the remaining supporting roles leaves a little to be desired but obvious, plot-moving exposition is luckily rescued by incredible performances from an insanely talented cast.
Without a doubt, the standout attraction of Man of Steel is the action and vfx , overseen by visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri of Weta Digital and fight choreographer Damon Caro. Everything from superhuman flight to alien spacecrafts and the jaw-dropping, city-devastating combat is superbly executed and at a level never before realized with human-sized characters. And as previously reported, the fight scenes are brutal but on an epic scale never before shown in a comic book movie. It's not just punch, counter and then punch, it's punch- fly through an 80 story skyscraper, counter-while falling debris and vehicles rain down on the combatants, then punch- sending your opponent into a stationary train that then erupts in a fiery explosion. And while this incredible combat is occurring, if you can stop to truly focus in on the characters, you'll notice that they're actually taking very little damage. It's a smart, calculated move on Snyder's part to place the physical confrontations in densely populated areas as the level of property destruction serves to show just how powerful these individuals are. You wouldn't be able to accurately make such an assessment if all the fights occurred in wide-open spaces, a punch that sends someone flying into a tall building that then collapses has much more 'weight' than a punch that simply sends someone flying into the air.
The cinematography from Amir Mokri is good, just short of great. There are quite a few stimulating long shots in the film such as Superman emerging from a Kryptonian ship, in costume for the first time. However, others, such as a close-up shot on Clark in a church with a slightly out of focus Jesus Christ mural over his shoulder seems overly heavy-handed. The editing from David Brenner also falls into the category of good but not great. The film is very non-linear, much more than the attriculating flashbacks of Batman Begins. But it works wonderfully, serving to raise questions and doubts and then provide timely insight and revelations just when you start to worry the film is teetering. Aside from a few blunt transitions, the editing should be considered one of the film's strengths. One area that has no weaknesses is the film's score. Hans Zimmer has executed another flawless master piece, one that even John Williams purists will find difficult to fault.
Overall, Man of Steel is a very entertaining film but one that will ultimately and unfortunately have a legacy steeped in controversy due to a very trim reinterpretation of a beloved superhero. If you check any preconceived notions upon entering the theater, you'll definitely leave with a big, goofy, Boy Scout grin on your face.
[Review first published on
Examiner.com]
MORE REVIEWS FROM AROUND CBM
RorMachine: "Snyder has delivered a gorgeous looking/sounding, engrossing first chapter in DC's shared cinematic universe, and a damn fine Superman movie. Oh, and the very last scene? Approaching perfection."
Danny Mac: "The special effects are the best I've ever seen. The flying.. oh my GOD the flying. It was incredible and often."
Oxbow: "Origins are good and fine, but its always nicer to play chess than set up the chessboard."
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Release Date: 14 June 2013 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner,Russell Crowe, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Richard Schiff, Harry Lennix
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Christopher Nolan (story), David S. Goyer (screenplay)
"Man of Steel follows the Last Son of Krypton on his epic journey to become mankind's shinning beacon of hope for a brighter future. With the beliefs and values instilled by his adoptive parents Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent, a young Clark (Henry Cavill) sets out to find his place in the world. But when the nefarious General Zodd (Michael Shannon) arrives on Earth, Clark will have to choose between being a normal human or Kal-el,son of Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and humanity's greatest protector and champion. Filmed in IMAX and shot in Vancouver, Chicago and Plano, Illinois, Man of Steel will be released on June 14, 2013 by Warner Bros. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) with a screenplay by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) the Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception) produced feature film will surely be the summer blockbuster of 2013."