Man of Steel 3D Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence, Action and Destruction, and for Some Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 23 Minutes

Cast-

Henry Cavill-Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman

Amy Adams-Lois Lane

Michael Shannon-General Zod

Kevin Costner-Jonathan Kent

Diane Lane-Martha Kent

Laurence Fishburne-Perry White

Russell Crowe-Jor-El

Ayelet Zurer-Lara Lor-Van

Rebecca Buller-Jenny Olson

Antje Traue-Faora-Ul

Mackenzie Gray-Jax-Ur

Christopher Meloni-Colonel Nathan Hardy

Harry Lennix-General Swanwick

Richard Schiff-Dr. Emil Hamilton

Directed by Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and David Goyer reinvent Superman for the 21st century in "Man of Steel."

Note: Screened on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at AMC Empire 25.

A man, a hero, a savior…an icon. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on Superman, like it was yesterday. In an attempt to keep me from running around the house and potentially hurting myself, my mom popped in a VHS tape (boy, I feel really old) containing Max Fleischer's classic "Superman" animated short films that were released during the early 1940s. I was immediately entranced and much to my mom's bemusement, I started to imitate Superman flying using one of my dad's old shirts as a makeshift cape. Not long after, I got my first Superman comic and yes, I remember the exact issue: Superman #74. Set during the much-hyped "Doomsday" storyline, the cover featured our titular hero using his heat vision against the monstrous brute while the bodies of several Justice League members lie at their feet, defeated. Marking the beginning of my ever-growing comic book collection, the rest (as they say) is history.

Of course, my introduction to Superman would not be complete if I didn't mention the Christopher Reeve films. The first two (released in 1978 and 1981) are instant classics and despite having seen them countless times, they still continue to resonate and leave me in a state of wide-eyed wonder. Just hearing John Williams' famous theme gives me chills. Even when the series began its decline in quality, Reeve's sincere and earnest portrayal of the Man of Steel remained a consistent highlight. Unfortunately, 1987's "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" left such a bad taste in everyone's mouths that the franchise was effectively killed off for the next nineteen years! Bryan Singer tried to revive the character for the big screen with 2006's "Superman Returns," a loose sequel to "Superman II." Although it received largely positive reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), the film failed to connect with audiences despite grossing $391 million worldwide. Much has changed in the past thirty-five years in regards to the comic book film and the unerring idealism exemplified by a character like Superman just seemed antiquated to many people. So Warner Brothers decided to take the Batman route and reboot the whole franchise. What's interesting is that the architects behind this new vision were none other than David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan, who reinvented Batman for the modern era with their recently concluded "Dark Knight" trilogy. Nolan, however, opted to serve as producer only and left the reins of the film to Zack Snyder, who directed the fan-favorite "300" and the highly-underrated "Watchmen." It's been a long journey for us Superman fans and I have to admit to feeling a bit apprehensive as the release of "Man of Steel" drew near. Well, those worries are now completely gone because this reboot is an unqualified success. A grandiose, operatic spectacle that is as exciting as it is moving, "Man of Steel" knocks it out of the park with its reinvention of one of the most enduring American icons of all time.

A dire environmental crisis has left the planet Krypton on the verge of destruction, forcing the brilliant scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) to send their infant son Kal-El, the civilization's first natural-born child in centuries, to Earth along with their world's Codex, which can be used to create a new Krypton. Meanwhile, General Zod (Michael Shannon) tries to overthrow the Kryptonian Council in an attempt to save the planet but his efforts are thwarted. He and his compatriots, led by Faora (Antje Traue), are imprisoned in the Phantom Zone for their crimes, with Zod swearing to find Jor-El's child and the Codex when his sentence is complete. Krypton is soon destroyed and Kal-El's ship lands in Smallville, Kansas, where he is adopted by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane). Kal-El is given a new name, Clark (Henry Cavill), who grows up to be a troubled young man drifting from one job to the next in search of purpose. Out of fear of humanity's reprisal, he keeps his powers a secret but cannot resist using them to help others. This draws the attention of Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams), who sets out across the country to learn more about this mysterious hero. Their meeting coincides with the reappearance Zod, freed from his prison in the wake of Krypton's destruction. Donning his father's symbol as 'Superman,' Clark is soon forced to make a difficult choice, with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance.

You know you're watching a special film when it moves you to tears in the first fifteen minutes. "Man of Steel" opens with the birth of Kal-El and even before the image fades in, we already hear his mother Lara crying out in pain, with the baby's thumping heartbeat heard in the background. This marks a significant moment in Krypton's history as it is the first natural-birth to occur in centuries. On Krypton, babies are engineered and who they become as adults is written into their genetic code. To naturally conceive a child is not only unheard of, it is considered heresy. The element of choice, that a person's fate and destiny lies in their own hands, frightens the rest of Krypton because it is different; it is an unknown variable that cannot be controlled. Right off the bat, it's clear that "Man of Steel" is an entirely different beast from the Richard Donner picture that we all grew up with. The earnest optimism that Donner brought to the character has been replaced with a somber and melancholy tone, and one of the more noticeable changes is the emotional weight the imminent destruction of Krypton brings. Lara's final good-bye to her son and the subsequent planetary cataclysm that follows will not only bring a lump to your throat, it'll leave you stunned into silence.

The actual crash-landing of Kal-El's ship is not shown; instead it cuts to the present just when it is about to impact into a certain cornfield in Smallville. It is here that we are introduced to Clark Kent, a drifter moving from one job to the next, never staying in one place for too long. Although Zack Snyder is the director, Christopher Nolan's influence is felt throughout as the story is told in a non-linear fashion, with flashbacks frequently employed to fill in Clark's childhood and the difficult journey he is on. Superman is one of the most difficult characters to adapt on film because his god-like status robs him of any drama. To reintroduce him for a modern audience, Snyder, Nolan, and Goyer (taking inspiration from Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu's 2003 twelve-part mini-series Superman: Birthright) adopt the same approach with "Batman Begins"—break down the character to his bare essentials and then rebuild him from there. The Clark Kent we meet at the beginning of the film is at a crossroads and unsure of what his purpose in life is, with the manifestation of his powers more of a curse than a blessing. Fearing for his son's well-being, his adopted father tells him to hide in plain sight because the consequences could be disastrous if he reveals himself. There's a flashback that finds the Kent family in the midst of a tornado and immediately, Pa Kent jumps into action, directing everyone to find shelter. However, he is injured while going back for the family dog and Clark is just about to rush over to save him when he calmly reaches out and silently nods to his son to stop. It's a truly heartbreaking moment and even writing about it now makes me feel emotional. There's always a personal human stake that grounds Clark and we identify with the way tragedy has shaped much of his life.

It is only when Clark finds a derelict ship from his homeworld (buried in the ice for centuries) that he starts to evolve into the Superman that we know but even then, it's not a walk in the park. Most of the time he's relying on his gut feeling and the moral principles that Pa Kent instilled in him while also trying to reconcile with the 'destiny' that Jor-El has set for him. When Superman made his grand entrance in Donner's film, the people of Metropolis celebrate and cheer him on. They accept him without question. In "Man of Steel," the American public (and the rest of the world) reacts with suspicion, even fear, with the military treating Superman as the first of many alien invaders. This is someone who wields immense power and the thought of us not being alone in the universe is terrifying because it is something completely out of our control. "Man of Steel" then evolves into a journey of acceptance and it's only fitting because Superman is essentially an immigrant who is literally torn between two worlds. It is this aspect that resonated with me the most and what I took away from this film is that even the person with the most humble beginnings can accomplish greatness. Superman represents an ideal that we strive for; he inspires us to do better both for ourselves and for others as well. These are the qualities that Snyder nails in his film and by the time the end credits rolled, I was not only convinced that a man can fly but that we needed a Superman in our world, to serve as a reminder of what we can achieve if we put aside all our differences and work together.

A common complaint of the previous "Superman" films has been their lack of action. Well, rest assured you're going to get your fill here. What's impressive about "Man of Steel" is the sheer scale of it all. Take the opening scene on Krypton for instance. The imagination and creativity that was poured into realizing this planet is astounding as we watch Jor-El ride a giant winged beast while a civil war rages all around him. It creates a palpable sense of desperation in his actions. The majority of the fights occur in the last forty or so minutes of the film and words cannot even do it justice. Each battle builds on top of each other as these god-like beings trade blows and cause untold amounts of destruction, making the Chitauri and the Decepticons look like sock puppets in comparison. The pacing is relentless, with Clark tested not just physically but morally as well. The finale will definitely be a source of major debate. Visuals and CG work are often dazzling, aided by Amir Mokri's rich and moody cinematography but the handheld, Terrence Malick-like camerawork that Snyder employs can get downright distracting at times, especially during dialogue scenes. To no one's surprise, Hans Zimmer's score is excellent and certainly ranks as one of the composer's best work. It's adrenaline-pumping and emotionally moving in all the right moments. The only major drawback is the 3D. This is a post-conversion and while it's far from terrible, the added effect fails to really enhance the experience. There's some nice use of depth here and there (particularly during the Krypton scenes) but little actually 'pops out' despite all the debris flying in our faces. You're better off saving your money and seeing it in good ol' 2D.

Snyder has taken a rather unorthodox approach in regards to his cast. Like Donner and Singer before him, he has chosen a relative unknown for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in the form of British actor Henry Cavill. Pretty much the entire film rests on his performance and you know what? He absolutely nails it and not once did I think of Christopher Reeve. Cavill at times may come off as too stoic but that's because much of what Clark is going through is internalized. This is a Superman who's not quite sure of his place in the world and you really feel that sense of longing to be accepted through Cavill. Some will find this insecure and introspective take of the character to be tedious but this is exactly what we need considering how much Superman has been turned into a joke in the eyes of the Average Joe. It reflects the uncertain world we now live in while Reeve harkens back to a simpler time where good is good and evil is evil. I've always felt Lois Lane was the harder character to cast compared to Superman. Although adequate in "Superman Returns," Kate Bosworth was just too young to pull off the role of a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. When Amy Adams was chosen to play Superman's famous love interest (trading a brunette for a redhead), I knew she would be perfect for the role and she doesn't disappoint. Adams' Lois is fearless and compassionate, and I love how the film already has her actively searching for Clark and trying to connect all the dots with this mysterious Good Samaritan. While we do see that initial romantic spark between them, this is not a Lois and Clark story. In fact, most of the romance elements are downplayed in favor of focusing on Clark's journey. However, Snyder does leave their relationship at an interesting place, setting up a very promising direction for future installments.

A hero is only as good as its villain and Michael Shannon is another inspired piece of casting. Terrence Stamp was brilliant as General Zod in "Superman II" but it was due to his performance. The character wasn't given much motivation beyond his hatred for the House of El for imprisoning him in the Phantom Zone. Shannon's Zod is not wholly evil; he only wants to save his people because that was the role he was given. He knows that his tactics are extreme but if it means the survival of his race, than the ends justify the means. What sets Shannon apart from Stamp is the way he makes Zod a sympathetic character even when he's willing to commit genocide. His actions are noble, his methods are not and that's where his conflict with Clark stems from. Equally as memorable is Antje Traue's Faora. At least Zod has a sense of morality, twisted as it may be; Faora is pure chaos and her throw-down with Superman is intense and brutal, by far one of the most memorable set-pieces in the film. The rest of the supporting cast is quite good, although some of them feel marginalized once the action gets going. Russell Crowe brings a sense of gravitas to Jor-El and no, this is not a glorified cameo like the one Marlon Brando gave. He actually has quite a lot of screen-time and even his own action scene! Diane Lane and Kevin Costner are absolutely wonderful as Clark's adoptive parents, with their performances imbuing the film with emotional poignancy. Unfortunately, they don't appear as much as they should, with Costner limited to flashback scenes. Laurence Fishburne is great as well as Daily Planet editor Perry White but his character has very little bearing on the story besides providing a human face during Superman's clash with Zod.

Released on June 14, 2013, "Man of Steel" has rather dismayingly received a mixed reception with 58% on Rotten Tomatoes. I have to admit, I am completely taken aback by all the negative reviews. Many of the complaints have centered on the film being a humorless affair, which is just not true. There are definitely some funny bits but when the Earth is about to be destroyed by a terraforming machine, it's hard to joke about that. It seems that critics aren't quite ready to let go of the Christopher Reeve films. The problem is that the audience of today is much different compared to the audience thirty-five years ago. "Superman Returns" was a great film but it wasn't the Superman people wanted. "Man of Steel" is the Superman that we deserve and if the reaction from Tuesday's advance screening is anything to go by, this film is going to open huge at the box office and possibly even set a new opening record for June. When Snyder, Nolan, and Goyer set out to reboot America's first superhero, they faced a daunting task yet they managed to succeed and the reason "Man of Steel" succeeds is because they took the character seriously. With the foundation now set, the future certainly looks bright for Superman…and for the first time in over twenty years, I'm excited to be a fan of him once more.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."