OK, let's tone it down next time...

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2013)

Good, Mr. Snyder, you have given us the Superman movie we thought we wanted. If other reviews are any indication, some are having their regrets, seeing that the realistic, non-campy Superman can at times be as unpalatable as campy (Donner) kind. It may be that Superman, the original superhero, through his films manifests the sheer difficulty of translating the comic-book to the screen. We just cannot be pleased regardless of the interpretation. But to this film's credit, it almost breaks this curse.
Let's take moment of silence for the many thousands of mortals who lost their lives in this film. Upon reflection, the wanton destruction that unsettled me in the theater is not really mindless. If two super-powered beings were to engage in open combat in an urban environment, buildings are bound to fall on people. There is a slight chance that Zack Snyder, a more thoughtful version of Michael Bay, may also have wanted us to be unsettled (though I doubt this). Man of Steel might actually be the most realistic comic-book movie ever made, if only because it realizes just how terrible the consequences of having a alien "superman" on earth can be. Still a memorial service for the fallen would have been nice--even Star Trek managed to do that.
Despite overcompensating for its dull precursors, this film has many positives. The action scenes, though there were far too many of them, were well-choreographed. The plot makes the best of its absurd source material (though it gets ridiculous in the third-act), and so do the actors--there are a good number of touching moments that allow a respite from the ultra-violence. This film certainly does not deserve some of the scorn it has been given. It is a solid beginning to a trilogy that suddenly makes Superman relevant again, with a charismatic lead and supporting cast. I just hope Snyder uses less explosions next time.