It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s SUPERMAN!!!!!! Zach Snyder
and Christopher Nolan Deliver Solid Retelling of the Man of Steel Story
Review By: Brandon Porter
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| "What if a Child Was Able To Become Something Other Than What Society Had Intended?...What If A Child Aspired To Become Something Greater?"
Story
In a
distant solar system lies the planet of Krypton, a once peaceful planet now on
the verge on imminent destruction. Forced to make the ultimate sacrifice,
Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife send their newborn son to the stars thus
saving him from the planet’s doomed fate. Years pass and Kal-El (Henry Cavill)
grows up in Kansas under the name Clark Kent and is raised by Jonathan and
Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane). Over the next 33 years, Clark has
many jobs and is on a constant quest to discover who he really is. But when
hardened kryptonian warrior General Zod arrives to earth, Clark must face him
and his followers and make the ultimate choice that will shape his
destiny and change the planet forever.
Analysis
Since
being announced in late 2011, Man of Steel has had many eyes on it. Being that
the latest superman film Superman Returns left a rather unpleasant taste in
everyone’s mouth, a reboot of the franchise seemed very logical. After the
rousing success of The Avengers, more pressure was added to this film as DC
planned for it to be the anchor for their own multi-crossover film Justice
League. When the film finally hit theaters, the response was both very positive
and somewhat negative. An average score of 56% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes
overshadowed the positive feedback from audiences who gave it a solid 82%. Most
critics felt an uneasy balance between storytelling and action. On the positive
side of things, Steve Percall of the Tampa Bay Times stated that "Man of
Steel is more than just Avengers-sized escapism; it's an artistic introduction
to a movie superhero we only thought we knew." Despite its mixed reception
among critics, the film did outstanding financially. Man of Steel made a record
breaking $202.1 million on its opening weekend, including $17.5 million from
IMAX showings. The film now holds the title of highest grossing movie in June
beating out Pixar’s Toy Story 3. With critics and audiences sporting different
views on this latest take on the Superman story, It seems the rebooted franchise
has become a huge success and clearly has helped green light the much rumored,
speculated, and anticipated Justice League film.
Review
I’ll be the first to admit,
I wasn’t a big mega Superman fan when I was little. The only connection I had
to the character was the 1990s animated series. Despite my lack of Superman
knowledge, I was still plenty excited for the upcoming superman film. Having
not really watched the classic 70s or 80s films or the heavily panned 2006
film, I found this reboot to be the perfect opportunity to fully introduce me
the world of Superman. As I experienced it in IMAX, I can say any doubts I had
about this film were erased within 7 minutes in. I was amazed by this film.
Despite the fact that it was a 2 and a half hour film, I found myself totally
engrossed in the story and never got bored or annoyed. Zach Snyder did an
admirable job directing this film alongside writer David Goyer and producer
Christopher Nolan and showed his great resolve for filmmaking. I have
completely forgiven him for Sucker Punch which I regretfully saw two years ago.
Henry Cavill did a wonderful job as Superman in this film. He brought a solid
emotional and depth filled persona to the character that was done with care.
You make an emotional connection to Clark Kent and want him to succeed in his
journey which is very hard to do for some actors. I also like Amy Adams as Lois
Lane. Her great stage presence made her a joy to watch and she had great
chemistry with other members of the cast. I’m eager to see her grow in the
role. Other cast members deliver equally satisfying performances such as
Michael Shannon as Zod, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Russell Crowe’s
memorable portrayal as Jor-El, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and
Johnathan Kent. With all its solid character portrayals and engrossing story,
it’s the action that really is a showstopper. Pulse pounding, fast-paced,
emotional, and freakin awesome are all words that describe the film’s terrific
action sequences. From the start of the film, the action is both balanced and
fun. Best fight scenes consisted of Faora and Clark’s Smallville rumble to the
extremely satisfying climactic battle between Zod and Superman. Add Hans
Zimmer’s incredible score and you’ve got eargasmic pleasure to accompany
visually thrilling eye candy. Overall, Man of Steel had everything I would want
in a Superman film and then some. I think it is safe to say that a Justice
League film should and just might happen.
Rating and Final Thoughts
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The Superman film you’ve been dreaming, hoping, praying, and
searching for has finally arrived. This exciting reboot breathes new life into
a beloved character that the new generation can now cherish as their own.
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| With The Great Success of Man of Steel, All Signs Point To The Future As Warner Bros. Preps For A Thunderous Response To Marvel's The Avengers. |
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