When I first saw the preview for the Christopher Nolan
produced, Zack Snyder directed version of Superman, it was almost one year ago
during the coming attractions before “The Dark Knight Rises.” Though I was enthralled with the fact that
the final entry in Nolan’s superb Batman trilogy was about to begin, I—and the
rest of the people in the theater—took a moment to cheer for Superman
nonetheless. The anticipation began that
day for the reboot of Superman—dubbed “Man of Steel”—which premiered last
night. It didn’t disappoint. Man of Steel is not only the best Superman
movie ever made, but one of the better superhero films of all time.
The film begins with a rather long, but suitable portrayal
of Krypton in its final days. While we
do see Kal-El sent flying off to Earth, we also see much more than that. We see Krypton nearing a cataclysm
caused by the misguided exploitation of its natural resources by its inhabitants—a topical,
clever choice by Snyder and co. This
vision of apocalypse and the unerring desire of Kal’s father, Jor-El (expertly
portrayed with a stalwart, solemn confidence by Russell Crowe) to preserve the
noble legacy of Krypton create a true purpose for his son on earth. Michael Shannon is wonderful as the ruthless
General Zod, whose different vision for the future of Krypton puts him starkly
at odds with Jor-El. His eventual return
as the movie’s main villain serves as an effective way of bringing full circle
the film’s central storyline: the search by Superman for a way to reconcile
his alien heritage with his life on earth.
On Earth, Kal-El is raised
to be the force for good Jor-El wanted by his homely, salt-of-the-earth
adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.
Rather than bore viewers—most of whom already know Superman’s origin
story—by forcing them to endure the Krypton story and then Clark Kent's youth in
sequential succession, the film wisely cuts straight from the former to Clark's life
as a middle-aged man, floating between blue-collar jobs. Clark’s upbringing is instead revealed during
flashbacks which interrupt the film’s modern storyline at relevant moments. These flashbacks are short, but
effective. Each gives us insight into
Clark’s character: his struggle for identity, and
his strong bond with Jonathan and Martha.
Both Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are fantastic in these moments,
imbuing their scenes with genuine sweetness.
Viewers will truly believe, largely due to the work of those two actors,
that Martha and Jonathan love Clark—even if he is not biologically their own;
they will also understand the great extent to which Jonathan and Martha’s
influence over Clark’s upbringing was responsible for his strong moral compass
and love for humanity.
Adding to the
emotional impact of these flashback sequences is Hans Zimmer’s simple,
beautiful score, which captures the spirit of the film perfectly—solemn, but
ultimately triumphant.
Amy Adams does a respectable job as Lois Lane. Lois is a difficult character to do right—she
is often insufferably headstrong and constantly in need of saving. Neither is true here: Lois is simply
portrayed as a talented, curious journalist who feels affection for the heroic Clark Kent.
Perhaps the movie’s biggest flaw is the lack of notable chemistry
between Lois and Clark. It is hard to
count this against the film too much, however; it has so much on its plate it
almost seems to have been a conscious—and smart—choice by Snyder to elevate the
Clark-centric story above romance—at least for the first of what will probably
be a two or three film saga. That said,
the seeds for the Clark-Lois relationship are sewn well enough.
Ultimately, it is Zod’s arrival at Earth that spurs Clark
forward to embrace his identity as the savior of mankind. That dynamic gives the film some of its most
triumphant moments--the first time Clark smashes into Zod at the speed of
sound to rescue Martha, for example. Even if the “hero
emerges to save the world” concept is a tad cliché, it is eminently fitting for Superman,
who arguably embodies the savior role better than any other superhero.
The film’s greatest strength is its action sequences, which are superb. This is the action-packed Superman movie that
fans have long awaited. Unlike the
dreadful “Superman Returns,” viewers will not leave the theater feeling cheated
out of witnessing the unbridled power of Superman unleashed on his foes—and of
his foes back at him. Picking Zod and
his Kryptonian soldiers as Superman’s villains for this first movie, who can
match Superman blow for blow, was thus a wise decision. Viewers have too long been deprived of a
Superman movie with the visual and graphical effects necessary to make
superhuman sparring believable. Here—especially in IMAX—every punch is felt,
their impacts gritty and visceral. Zod’s
number two, Faora, played by Antje Traue, is also a real standout here. Her menacing, monotone allegiance to the
General is complemented by her involvement in some of the film’s best action
sequences.
And how does Henry Cavill fare as Superman? Not being a huge fan of the original Superman
films, I would have to say better than any other actor so far. Truth be told, there aren’t many moments in
the script for Cavill to demonstrate acting chops. This Clark Kent is a man who keeps his
emotions mostly to himself. There are a few moments where Cavill is terrific—especially when unleashing
torrents of anger or anguish. Mostly,
however, he just spends the movie looking impossibly handsome, which one
imagines was the point in granting him the role in the first place.
Superman is perhaps the most famous superhero in
history. It is odd fans have had to wait
so long for a great movie—with suitable special effects—to do the Superman
character justice. Well, the wait is
over: Man of Steel is that movie. If
you’re a Superman fan, or someone looking for a high-quality action-adventure
piece, don’t hesitate to go and prove me right.
