MAN OF STEEL Review: Superman Returns In This Emotionally Rewarding Action-Packed Spectacle
The reviews have been pretty mixed for the Zack Snyder-directed reboot, with some saying it's just an okay return of one of the most popular comic book characters to the big screen, whie others are praising the new take. Check out my review of Man of Steel after the jump. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Last summer, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures started promoting Man of Steel, the Zack Snyder-directed and Chris Nolan-produced Superman film, written by David Goyer. The first teaser and second full trailer for the film were quite atmospheric (especially the first one) and it quickly gained a huge buzz among the fans and online community, not just because it's a new Superman movie, but because it looked different and exciting. The film has finally arrived, and while the reviews are pretty much mixed, I rather enjoyed this new take on the character.
With a 143 minutes running time, the film is quite fast-paced. Right at the start, Snyder decided to explore more of Krypton, a dying planet, where we see Russel Crowe as Jor-El trying to save Kryptonian race and his newborn son, Kal-El. The world of Krypton is vast and visually unique and it was definitely one of the best parts of the film for me. Snyder and the whole team embrace the science fiction angle in full, and it works wondefully. Once we get to Earth, the story starts in present day, and via flashbacks, we get to see who Clark Kent really is and how he struggled growing up in a world where he is the only one of his kind. The trailers suggested a rather emotional character story, and that's what I got from this film. Character moments are written in a great way, and the film features one of the best scenes in a comic book movie ever, but more on that later on. That's not to say that this is a two and half hour drama. It's not. When there is action, it's big, it's intense and just a joy to watch. The third act of the film is truly something mind-blowing and while some will have problems with it, especially when Superman kills Zod, it's a powerful and dramatic scene that really works.
Henry Cavill embodied the character of Clark Kent/Kal-El in a perfect way. He delivers a fantastic and really emotional performance, which makes the film even better. And while Cavill does look the part, especially in costume, once you see him delivering his lines, you can just see that he made this character his own, and at the same time he stayed true to the character from the comics we all know and love. There are some scenes where Clark experiences anger, sadness, sympathy, and Cavill simply astonishes with his performance. General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, was a worthy villain. Shannon made Zod a powerful enemy to Cavill's Superman, and whenever those two share a scene together, it's epic. Zod is not a one dimensional character, so that's a plus, as he belives he can save his people and by doing that, sacrifices have to be made. It's an interesting performance for sure. Russel Crowe was good as usual, and a great fit for Jor-El. He has some great scenes at the beginning of the film. Now, let's talk about what was another big highlight for me, and that's Kevin Costner as Pa Kent. I honestly can't believe the impact those scenes between Clark and Jonathan had on me. Costner delivers a truly incredible performance, as he guides young Clark through life and helping him deal with his powers. Every single flashback scene with Costner was amazing. One in particular... and that's the tornado scene, which is the scene I was talking about above being one of the best in a comic book movie. It's really emotional and the way that scene is written is pure brilliance. Amy Adams as Lois Lane was great as well, and she wasn't there just as a love interest, but more of a sidekick to Superman, which was pretty cool. The rest of the cast did a good job, including Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue and Christopher Meloni.
Visually, Man of Steel is a stunning film. Cinematography by Amir Mokri is impressive, though maybe they shouldn't have used so much hand held camera, as it makes the action scenes look blurry. A lot of shots look like they came straight from the comic books, and it really is something special. Snyder and Mokri use that "gritter" look to accomplish the realistic element of the story, and it fits. Hans Zimmer's score delivers on every level, featuring some fantastic tracks and there was this theme throughout the movie that was just amazing. Visual effects were top notch, from the design of the Krypton, flying sequences and full-on Metropolis destruction, it's hard to find any faults in this department. The editing was a bit messy at times and there were some parts that were there just for the sake of it (like that world engine in the Indian Ocean). At times, they kept topping one big action sequence with another big action sequence and it does get a bit tiresome, but overall, it was nothing major that took me out of the film.
Man of Steel is a good first step in the right direction for Warner Brothers and their DC movie universe, so hopefully everything comes together and they will finally move forward with other properties. With a great direction from Zack Synder, a powerful script, and fantastic performances, this is a Superman film everyone should see on the big screen. RATING: 9/10
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