I've only ever read a few specific Superman comics, but from those issues, I always knew that a better film adaptation was long overdue. Sure, Richard Donner's film was fun and imaginative, and Bryan Singer did his best to make an earnest adaptation, but every Superman film has been so cheesy, silly, and shallow that they never really stood the test of time. They may always capture the hearts and imaginations of fans, but the Man of Steel deserves more. He needs a challenge. He needs a story worth telling.
Following in the success of the Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel finally delivers an earnest, powerful, hardcore rendition of Superman. There is no camp or cheese here; this film is a straight-faced, serious, and inspiring take on the classic hero. It starts off strong on planet Krypton; it's not the lavish, dialogue-heavy, crystalline world we saw in Superman: The Movie, this is an imaginative and working society under fire, and that in itself is a sight worth seeing. Things slow down a lot on Earth, but for the film's last half, the action hits hard and fast, and never lets up until the end. It's relentless as superpowered characters slam into each other at rocketing speeds, blasting entire city blocks in their wake. In some of the most frightening and intense scenes, alien machines pummel huge parts of Metropolis to a flattened ruin. It can be rather exhausting for audiences, but this was the spectacle I always wanted out of Superman: the epic and highly-destructive clash of menacing, otherworldly forces.
Fortunately, the story for this film is quite sound as well. Some viewers might not dig it though, because nothing about it is traditional or expected. Clark Kent's origins in Smallville are told in a series of flashbacks, mixing up the narrative substantially. He doesn't work at the Daily Planet in this film, so there are no games between him and Lois Lane regarding his secret identity. Frankly, I like these directions better, because it forces the film to focus on the most important aspect: the Man of Steel himself. This film explores the main character on a more intimate level, showing the lessons he learns from living among humans, showing the importance of moral strength and moderation, and showing the emotional vulnerabilities of the character as he matures. Through it all, the traditional themes surrounding Superman emerge; he is still something of a Christ-like figure, and he still does everything for the greater good.
Many viewers will make the same complaints for Man of Steel that were already made for Sucker Punch, Watchmen, and 300: heartless, cold, and lacking in depth. Although I can understand the complaints for those films, I felt Man of Steel was the warmest film Zack Snyder has made to date. Even though the film doesn't offer a terribly complex story or any depth in minor characters, it does succeed in achieving the right level of pathos to make the audience care for the main character (something that other Snyder films always struggled with).
This film looks visually impressive, with strong photography and editing. Many shots appear shakey and jarring, but I rarely found it problematic. I really enjoyed how tight and intimate certain shots are. Acting is not bad: I felt that Henry Cavill was very good as the title character, Amy Adams played Lois Lane in a sensible manner, while Michael Shannon and Russell Crowe stole the show repeatedly. I didn't mind every other performance either. Writing is good. This production has fine-looking sets, props, and costumes; special effects tend to be a bit on the glossy, fake-looking side, but are still astounding. Even though Hans Zimmer's score doesn't offer any memorable themes the way John Williams did, I felt it was beautiful at times and appropriately bombastic other times.
More critical audiences may not see much beneath the film's nonstop action scenes, and others might be asking "why so serious?!" Honestly, this is the Superman film I always yearned for. Man of Steel delivers the gargantuan spectacle I always craved, but with just the right amount of attention to the central character.
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
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