Man of Steel: Critics VS Fans

Rating: 8/10 (16 June 2013)

I just got home from watching the new Superman flick and I'm still reeling from what I just saw.
Let me just state the Superman is probably my favorite superhero because he was the one of the first heroes that connected to me at an early age. Images of him flying over the Metropolis (played by Christopher Reeves) brings fond childhood memories... a time of idealism... a time when anything is humanly possible. But as much as I enjoyed that movie, I'll be the first one to say that Generation X has grown and evolved since then. Along with it, superhero movies which has undergone a major make-over. These movies now have darker themes and "real-life" conflicts. After all, they too experience joy, bitterness, sadness, grief, and a whole lotta range of emotions. So going into the movie, I expected this Superman more gritty and darker than the previous ones. I mean, cmon, what do you expect especially when Zack Snyder is at the helm?
But what I don't get is until now, the critics still haven't warmed up to Snyder, who's obviously highly appreciated by fans like me? They're panning "Man of Steel" for being too dark, for being to serious, for breaking the mold and for offering extended fight sequence. But on the other hand, critics are telling us that "formula" movies are also bad, right?
While "Man of Steel" borrows much of its treatment from "The Dark Knight", I'd say it was highly effective (contrary to what the critics are saying that the script was the weakest part of the film). This Superman movie is a reboot and does not follow all Superman movies that came before it. So out with the "kiddie" elements like Kryptonite, smooth and shaved image, the red "over- wear", the chunky belt. And in with the adult themes. This movie was not an homage or a continuation of the previous movies. And as I mentioned, this fits and mostly appeals to the generation who have loved Superman since we were kids. And this is the precise reason why a lot of us hates and loathes "Superman Returns"! Because it just appeared to be a mockery of the original one and it's already irrelevant to us. (By the way, as of today, "Superman Returns" has a metacritic score of 76 vs "Man of Steel" with 55... seriously?) It's like asking a 40-year old guy to love and adore Barney (the purple dinosaur and not Stinson --- he's awesome!)
Whereas in the first few movies, Superman was the beacon of morality and unshakeable resolve. Here, we see Kal-el/Clark Kent's journey towards becoming the superman that he was destined to be. And they didn't put him in a clean pedestal. Although an alien, he was raised as a human and just like the rest of us, he feels a range of emotions. How exactly would you feel if your parents told you that you were adopted and you have to pretend someone that you're not? For the first half of the movie, it explores this conflict: A man trying to figure out who he is and what he is supposed to do. All his life, his adoptive father was trying to rein him in until he is ready. I genuinely love Kevin Costner and Diane Lane in this movie! Although they have very few scenes, they have evoked why Clark Kent grew up to be the moral person that he is.
Another complaint from the critics: where's the romance between Lois and Clark? Yes, there's very little said about it. But personally, I would have liked if they just edited out the kissing scene. It just throws you off. This movie is about his origins and they should have just stayed in there. They can always explore the romance in the succeeding movies (? -- nah! I'm sure there will be more... two, at the very least).
And so, this "Man of Steel" is an evolution of the Superman that I love. The critics can hate it for as long as they want. The critics can hate Zack Snyder all they want. But at the end of the day -- - these movies are created for us: the generation who once believed that the world should be a gentle and happy place but now finds that there is much pain and conflict in the world as there is beauty.
I can't say thank you enough to the cast and crew of this movie for resurrecting a beloved superhero.