Movie Review: Man Of Steel

It's been a long time since I've truly appreciated Superman in the big screen, let along believe a man could fly since Christopher Reeve, and after the somewhat lacking tribute movie that was Superman Returns, something BIG finally happened and literally flew me past the edge of my seat.

For those who don't know, June 12 was officially "Man Of Steel Day" worldwide, and most theaters in the world have or are preparing to screen one of the most anticipated movies of the year - "Man Of Steel". I've been fortunate enough to see this film twice: the first time during the June 11 IMAX 3D premiere c/o Warner Bros. Philippines, and the first regular showing in 2D theaters in opening day since it's a national holiday (Indepedence Day in the RP). Both showings have definitely given me the insight I needed to properly review this film, and it's definitely bigger than it gets now with all the expectations piled up with the superhero movie franchises these days.

So without treading into spoilers from the onset and prior to starting the review proper, I'll give a brief general opinion about the film. Simply put, it's PHENOMENAL, and the kind of Superman film that makes good on its promise to bring the best out of the DC Comics character everyone worldwide has grown to cherish - both visually and on an emotional storytelling level. It's definitely an experience one has to judge for themselves once you see this movie personally, but there's no doubt that anyone who's enjoyed Superman in comics, film, or the various forms of media will be pleasantly surprised by what the filmmakers have built with this one. It's heroic, and full of HOPE as the "S" symbol that represents the House of El.

And with that said, it's time to get down to the story itself. Here's my review of the Superman film "Man Of Steel".

Man Of Steel

Directed By: Zack Snyder
Produced By: Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Deborah Snyder 
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Lawrence Fisburne, and Russell Crowe

Release Date:  June 12 (RP) June 14 (U.S)

Directed by Zack Snyder of "300" and "Watchmen" fame and Produced by Christopher Nolan of "The Dark Knight Trilogy", Man Of Steel is not just a unique retelling of the Superman origin story known by several generations. It's an elevating journey that holds the tried and true concept intact while injecting new conflict and storytelling for the viewer to grasp and appreciate on a raw and emotional level. In many ways, it truly is a story of "Hope", "Strength", and "Faith" on what one can accomplish and do to better themselves and others - qualities that have immortalized the character as a hero who's known and loved by many worldwide.

Despite striking on its own and sporting an entirely new origin for the man who would be Superman, Man Of Steel pays tribute to its roots and the entire Superman franchise history as a whole. Familiar moments and elements in the film pay homage to previous films in the past, most notably the Richard Donner directed and Alexander Salkind produced 1978 classic "Superman: The Movie" and its sequel, "Superman II". Indeed, majority of Man Of Steel echoes familiar characters and conflict that echo what's seen in those two aforementioned films, but Snyder and screenplay writer David S. Goyer take the journey of Kal-El/ Clark Kent to a completely different level, taking what's known in the surface of Superman lore and molding the clay into something that's completely new, different, and full of potential that strikes out as a wonderful achievement in superhero moviemaking.

Man Of Steel Trailer #3
Cast as the new Kal-El/ Clark Kent/ Superman is young British actor Henry Cavill, best known for his work in the film "Immortals" and the TV Series "The Tudors". His performance is simply amazing and, for lack of a better word, SUPER. He has the looks, grace, and imposing stature necessary to convey a powerful role like Superman into the big screen, and each passing moment looked on at the different stages of his life makes for good nods and tributes to the different kinds of Supermen we've seen in Film and TV, including the late and great Christopher Reeve and even Tom Welling's portrayal  of Clark Kent in the Smallville TV series. Much like Christian Bale taking on and embodying the role of Bruce Wayne/ Batman in The Dark Knight Trilogy of films, Henry Cavill will make you believe through his journey that he is a good man seeking his destiny, from his alien origins as The Last Son of Krypton to being raised as a Kansas farmboy with the right values and morality that make him a hero on his adopted homeplanet Earth. There's plenty to say about Cavill as Clark that's great, but thumbs up also go to the young actors and babies who portrayed Kal as a baby and Clark as a young kid, giving us an emotional journey that makes the character and his journey relatable to the audience.

Aside from Cavill in the main role, Man Of Steel has a stellar All-Star cast ensemble of actors and actresses that made such an extravagant movie to behold with every step of Clark Kent's journey. Chief among them of course is Academy Award winner and new Lois Lane actress Amy Adams, who lends an inquisitive and determined performance in bringing Superman's well known love interest to life. Despite being much older than Henry Cavill, Adams has a tenacity to blend into her role and has great chemistry with the Superman actor. In fact, the dynamic and relationship between Clark and Lois is explored quite differently in MoS. She's not the weak "damsel-in-distress" type, but gets her fair share of close calls that requires her heroic significant other to intervene and save her.

Next to Adams, there are three legendary Hollywood actors and Academy Award winners also playing pivotal roles in Superman's life, and they're none other than Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, and Diane Lane - who play Jor-El and Jonathan and Martha Kent respectively. Unlike the late Marlon Brando's performance, MoS's version of Jor-El is younger and defined by Russell Crowe's natural and intense acting capabilities. He takes a more active than passive stance in trying to save Krypton and his son's future, and despite falling in his quest to achieve those goals, his legacy lives on in Kal-El's growth to adulthood and eventual rise to become a hero. Conversely, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are the instruments which play an important part in developing Clark Kent's character as a good person. Their portrayals of Jonathan and Martha are just as impactful and important in shaping the destiny of the man who would be Superman. There are differences in upbringing and background, yet both parties send out the important message that whether related by blood or not, family will always play a part in fostering a child's development into what they become in the future.

And then comes the antagoniost himself, General Zod. Terrence Stamp brought that name to infamy with his portrayal of the character in Superman: The Movie and Superman II, immortalizing the line "Kneel before Zod" and setting a precedent for many other interpretations to follow soon afterward. Revolutionary Road and Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Shannon steps up to take on the role for Man Of Steel, and his version is as uncompromising as he is intelligent and unrelenting in his quest to bring glory back to his race and people of Krypton. Much like the original Superman movies, Zod's history with the El's plays a strong part in Superman's relationship with the military leader, but it's taken to greater lengths and becomes more personal with Man Of Steel. An Unrelenting and unforgiving villain, Shannon's performance is as great as Stamp's, and will be memorable for fans of the franchise.

Of course, there's plenty more roles in the film played by fine actors and actresses who have brought their own A-Game into several films and TV series. Lawrence Fishburne of The Matrix Trilogy and CSI fame in particular is the version new editor of The Daily Planet, Perry White, in the Man Of Steel universe, and lends his determination and acting savvy into the role just as well as he did when he played Morpheus in The Wachowski Bros. signature Sci-Fi film series. His fellow Matrix star and actor Harry Lennix stars as General Swanwick, while Christopher Meloni of Law & Order SVU fame plays Colonel Hardy. The supporting female cast also lends ground, with Ayelet Zurer playing Jor-El's wife Lara Lor-Van and Antje Traue as Zod's right hand woman Faora. The latter in particular is menacing as she is cunning, and dishes out punches and mayhem in ensuring Kal-El bows down to Zod's rule.


> Man of Steel - "Fate of Your Planet" Official Trailer
Speaking about The Matrix, there's plenty of nods and precedents that Sci-Fi film has set with its three films that give influence to how strong and visually impacting Man Of Steel is. From the flying scenes to the titanic battles and the way Krypton and its technology come across, here we have a very different take of Superman and his legacy that simply shows how much filmmaking and special effects have come forward to allow us to see stuff that just couldn't be done decades ago in Superman: The Movie. Thematically, the movie also shares that "Messiah" outlook many see in Superman and his capacity to do great things with his powers. Much like how The Matrix films explores Neo as a messianic figure and being "The One", the same holds true with Man Of Steel and how Superman becomes an inspirational figure and the child of two worlds who ultimately forges his destiny as a savior and protector.

Like a powerful sonic boom impact in the sky, Zack Snyder has done what he set out to do by delivering a strong and potent Superman reboot in Man Of Steel that signifies a good direction Warner Bros. can tap into (hopefully a shared DC Movie Universe finally), with possibilities left to the imagination and hopes of viewers who come out of this film happy and reassured of their faith as comic book or movie fans. With input by producer Christopher Nolan of "The Dark Knight Trilogy" fame, MoS carries the torch quite well, and modern audiences will appreciate this new take on Superman, who displays a sense of morality and weakness despite all the powers he is blessed with due to his Kryptonian physiology. He may be strong and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but there's no denying that Superman can be flawed and make mistakes like the rest of us, and this film shows that journey to rekindle and reconcile all differences to become his own man with great capacity and potential.

Despite the powerful facade it promotes, Man of Steel does have its shortcomings that make it hard to accept it as the "Best Superhero Movie Ever". As epic as Superman's story may be here, it's a title that sounds too good to be true, and doesn't necessarily apply thanks to certain elements in the movie the felt too over the top to contain and appreciate. For starters, the fight scenes were a bit too fast and shaky to fully appreciate and enjoy, particularly the final conflict at the end which also seemed a tad too much and anti-climactic. Superman and Zod square off in what seemed like a good last battle between the two mortal enemies, but it turned into something that I personally didn't have to see overplay itself and linger onward, especially with how the end result turned out. The pacing of the movie was brilliant already from the start with how we were introduced to Krypton and Clark Kent, but everything screamed of an Independece Day/ Matrix Revolutions redux on the final act that pretty much overshadowed what was already established as a SOLID Superman tale. Also, Lois and Clark falling for each other that quick seemed a tad cliche and underdeveloped compared to previous incarnations of the romance (particularly in the Reeve films), but there is definitely more chemistry to be had here than what was shown in Superman Returns. All those nitpicks aside, everything turned out well and made the film great, but not too perfect in the long run.

With no question whatsoever, Man Of Steel is definitely a step in the right direction for Warner Bros. and DC Movies, especially those aspiring to hold and share a common universe. On that note, there's plenty of easter eggs to behold on this film that may lead to something in the future, and as Zack Snyder said in one interview, he's left the proverbial "Creak in the Door" for others to explore and create one shared "DC Movie Universe". In fact, WB has fast tracked production for a MoS sequel and a "Justice League" film with Snyder and Goyer returning, so one has to wonder what the future will bring to this franchise and beyond. Maybe a Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, or even a new Green Lantern movie? All I can say is the best of luck goes out to everyone, and a job well done here for a Superman story we'll surely remember for generations to come. It's all about "HOPE" here, and as we have trusted and loved Christopher Nolan and his success in the Batman films, so too can we have faith for the DC Universe in film to rise up and accomplish wonders. Definitely see this one in the big screen, and whether it's 2D or 3D, you will believe a man can fly and accomplish wonders.

Rating - 4/5