A missed opportunity

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2013)

Note: This review doesn't contain major spoilers. However, it mentions some parts of the movie that are relevant to explain the author's opinions. So, feel free to read even if you didn't see the movie.
The film starts in Krypton, shown here as never seen before. Clearly there's an inspiration taken from other influential sci-fi movies, namely Star Wars. This new world is so different from ours that the audience quickly understands the message: Superman is not one of us and he comes from an entire different reality. This promising premise guides us throughout the movie, at least until Zack Snyder unleashes his "300ish" violence and the plot gets lost during that process.
Man of Steel doesn't have a complicated plot. It doesn't need to, we know how this kind of movie goes: the struggle to become a hero, the villain that forces our hero to be exposed and the final victory, as expected.
However, the origin story that we know from the comics and from the movies takes a twist. Reportedly, David Goyer was inspired by the brilliant comic named Superman Birthright. We see Clark Kent lost in our world, trying to find his origins. During this first half we are also presented with numerous flashbacks that explain the difficulties of growing up with super powers. We see Superman as a kid and as a teenager trying to hide them. The ideas have potential and the influence of his father (which I won't spoil) is very interesting and is somewhat similar to the Smallville series. However, with so many disconnected flashbacks interrupting the main storyline, we get a mixed puzzle that removes the audience from the plot. Flashbacks are rarely a good way to tell a story. There is one pivotal scene involving Pa Kent which should have created strong emotions. However, it falls flat. Partly because it is delivered in a clumsy way but mainly due to the fact that I didn't have the time to connect to those characters. By the end of this first half, Clark becomes Superman after a small talk with Jor-El's consciousness. Same old, same old. And yes, it was that simple. Almost as simple as Superman's learning to fly. Clearly, Snyder was in a hurry for the action sequences.
The second half of the movie opens with a grand entrance from the main villain, Zod. He is basically trying to destroy Earth, replacing it for a new Krypton. He hopes to get the support from Kal-El. There is also another reason for Zod to reclaim Kal-El to his custody, but I won't spoil that. As you should probably know, Zod usually comes with a small army whose sole purpose is to get punched by Superman. In this movie, there are not many changes to that stereotype that started with Superman II. Between these Kryptonian wars, the American army also tries to capture Clark. Again, Snyder rubs in our face the fact that Kal-El is not from our world and we, humans, would treat him as an enemy. However, this different approach to Superman mythos could have been much more interesting if it hadn't ended as quickly as I spell El. It almost seems that Pa Kent's warnings were for nothing. Another missed opportunity.
The action sequences begin and here Snyder puts on a real show. I've never seen Superman fighting sequences so well delivered, taking into consideration all of his super powers. But by the time we get here we really don't care what happens to Superman or the Kryptonian villains. We never see a real change from the lost Clark to the confident Superman. Zod just wants to destroy things and kill people, even if it doesn't bode well with his honor. Again, I've never connected to these characters. In one of those scientific explanations that are only possible in Hollywood, Superman and the Army end up finding a way to defeat the villains. I won't spoil you the climax of the movie, but I must say that Snyder failed spectacularly to nail it.
Ah yes, I didn't mentioned Lois. That's because I don't know how to react to such a lousy development from this iconic character. The romance between Supes and Lois is dealt with the subtlety of an elephant in heat. And Amy Adams, a great actress, never gives the strong performance Lois deserves. And the same can be said for Henry Cavill. He has the looks of Superman, unfortunately no one has been even close to Christopher Reeve's performance. Cavill seems like an insecure Superman throughout the movie. It fits well during the first half, but not in the second.
This movie had lots of potential. And we see glimpses of it, specially during the first half of the movie. We see Nolan's touch there, when Jor-El saves his son, when Clark struggles to deal with his super powers or when he seems lost in our world, trying to find a purpose to his life. Unfortunately, Zack Snyder wasn't able to tell this story. It seems that he is more focused on the action sequences than in the rest, even directing his actors. I fear that the next movie, without Nolan setting the story, will be a major disappointment. I hope I'm wrong.