Up in the air... It's a bird; It's a plane...

#3:

Man of Steel

In a time when Hollywood has little originality left, they have turned to the reboot. Now this is different than a remake, as a remake is taking a single movie and reimagining it for modern audiences. This is huge especially in the horror genre. A reboot however, is taking a franchise that is long been forgotten or has failed lately that we would like to forget it. Following in the footsteps of James Bond and Batman, Superman has its reboot now.

Ever since he was young, Clark Kent has always felt that we was different. As hard as he tries, Clark never feels like he belongs. With the help of his father and mother, Jonathan and Martha, Clark attempts to hide his differences and blend into his surroundings. As Clark grows older, however, he finds that he really is different and not only different but an alien. Years go by and Clark is on a search of where he really belongs. Clark is then drawn to the discovery of an unidentified object buried in the Artic snow. There he discovers a spacecraft that responds to him and actually speaks to him. Clark learns who he is, that he comes from a planet named Krypton, and why he was sent away from his home. Not long after his encounter with the spacecraft, more Kryptonians arrive on Earth in search of Clark. However, these Kryptonians are not friendly and plan on turning Earth into Krypton. Clark must now protect the planet that he calls home from the only other people like him.

I think what I liked best about this film, is that they tell Superman’s origin in a different way. In Richard Donner’s 1978 film, they breezed right through it, showed Marlon Brando placing a baby in a spaceship and launching it into space. Here in Man of Steel, they go into more detail. Show the planet of Krypton, given reasons on why Jor-El sent his only son off planet besides the planet blowing up. They explain why General Zod is the bad guy. The film provides you with a little bit more emotion toward Clarks Kryptonian parents. Also, for those of us that know Superman’s origins, it provides new information than what we already knew and shows Clarks time in Smallville in flashbacks so us nerds don’t have to relive all that again.

I will fully admit I was a little worried with the choices of actors in this film. Henry Cavill isn’t an American household name, Amy Adams isn’t brunette, and Kevin Costner hasn’t been decent in anything since Robin Hood. However, I was pleasantly surprised by all three. Cavill plays Kal-El with great emotion. He manages to really show the audience Clarks dilemma of trying to help a place that doesn’t really know how to accept him. Amy Adams finally plays a Lois Lane that is a reporter. After viewing the film, I walked away asking why Lane hasn’t been portrayed like that before. She is a go getting reporter and it shows in this film. Without any spoilers, when you see the movie you’ll understand what I mean by this. Costner was my biggest surprise in this film. I have never hid the fact that I don’t like Kevin Costner. I don’t like him as a director and I don’t like half of his movies he acts in. But, I do like him here. Just the way he manages to depict a father that loves his son but knows that his son will never have a normal life. He tries very hard to protect his son, to shield him from a world that will never understand him. The one person in this film that I think has earned his right to be a movie star is Michael Shannon. Shannon plays General Zod, the villain of the film. Zod is the high general of the Kryptonian armies that wants nothing more than to protect and serve his fellow Kryptonians. Terrence Stamp played Zod in Superman II as an evil tyrant who wants nothing more than to destroy. Not Shannon. Shannon plays Zod as a guy that is simply misunderstood. He is just doing what he feels in his heart is right for his people. Of course he loses sight of this toward the climax, but for most of the movie he is just a man with more pride than anyone else.

In my opinion, I thought that Zach Snyder was the perfect choice to direct this movie and he didn’t disappoint. Having a comic book fan direct a comic book movie was genius.  Am I saying that this film was better than The Dark Knight (the greatest comic book movie ever made)? No. Though I do think that Snyder and David Goyer, the writer of the film, gave us comic book nerds a glimpse of what comic book movies should be. Like the Dark Knight films, this led with story and not the special effects. This was about every one of us and how we struggle everyday with trying to fit in.

If you enjoyed the new Batman movies, then I highly recommend this film. It follows almost the same formula, which is focusing on the story and what drives the characters rather than focusing on the amazing things comic book characters can do on film.

Verdict: Worth Your Time.