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."
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