An important, albeit imperfect, game-changing chapter of the Superman saga

Rating: Null/10 (13 June 2013)

Zack Snyder's superhero spectacle serves as an epic and often overwhelming response to those who criticized Superman Returns for playing it too safe. There is no doubt that Man of Steel stands as the definitive Superman film in terms of action, transcending our wildest expectations of what we ever hoped to see Superman capable of. Unfortunately, and despite an incredible ensemble, the film relies too much on that notion, forfeiting restraint and levity in favor of a special effects overkill that chokes the story in its final act.
The story falls into two halves and sometimes feels at odds with each other in its attempt to connect the two. The first half standing as a origin story heavily rooted in science fiction. We see the final days of a fully realized Krypton, as Jor-El (Russell Crowe) fends off fascist General Zod's (Michael Shannon) rebellion and places the last hope for the Krypton's existence in the hands of his infant son, Kal-El. Once on Earth, the story follows Clark Kent, Earth's surrogate son and would-be superhero Messiah, as he journeys to find the hidden answers to why he was placed on our planet. His childhood is relived through a series of flashbacks triggered by images Clark witnesses around him.
The second half is a punch-heavy parade of action as Snyder digs deep into what he knows best. Shannon's turn as Zod provides a perfect counter to Cavill's Superman as the insanely loyal and genocidal General. The Kryptonian outcast brings out the fire in Superman, ultimately forcing him to wrestle with an extremely heartbreaking decision. Shannon's scenes with Crowe also merit attention, as the two wax philosophical with theories on how to save their race. Antje Traue backs Zod's ferocity as Faora-Ul, Zod's ruthless and lightning fast sidekick, and chews up scenery in many of the film's best fights. And my God there are a lot of them. The film ends on a lighter note, promising the opportunity for an expanded relationship between Lois and Clark, as well as a new vocation and warm welcome to the Planet (Double entendre intended).
Henry Cavill deserves all the praise bestowed upon him. His interpretation of Clark/Superman is complex and hits all the right notes, bringing to light many of the emotions that remained absent in previous translations of Superman. Yes, he is introspective at times but the response is understandable given his life experiences. This is a ghost of a man who has disconnected from the world, carrying a heavy burden as he honors his surrogate father's request to wait until the right time to reveal himself. We haven't reached the point in Clark's trajectory as a superhero where he can enjoy life on Earth. There are much more important matters to attend to. It isn't until he meets Lois Lane that he learns to trust a human independent of his family. In many ways, Lois saves Superman as much as he does her. All of Cavill's moments on-screen are remarkable, whether he is offering sensible and sweet dialogue to Lois Lane or Ma Kent, or when he is finally unleashing years of pent-up aggression towards Zod. If there's one complaint to be made regarding his character, it's that we're missing the lighthearted notes Reeve offered as Kent, but that has more to do with the story and is of no fault to Cavill. He emerges as a worthy Superman for a new generation.
With that said, the story's faster than a speeding bullet pacing prevents Man of Steel from truly rising above the clouds and suffers from the law of diminishing returns. A non-stop explosion extravaganza may sound thrilling to anyone who found Superman Returns to be impotent, but trust me when I tell you it gets to be a tedious exercise. The first time you see Superman battle Zod and his army, your mind will be blown. After over an hour of seeing two essentially equally powered titans smash through skyscraper after skyscraper in the destruction of Metropolis, it's hard not to feel a bit concussed. Man of Steel offers everything we've ever wanted to see in Superman as a powered-up superhero, but it also could use a little less brawn in favor of some brains. We're also never really given an explanation as to how Superman, who has little experience as a fighter, can match a battle-tested General. Zod evens asks as much. Christopher Nolan struggled with fight scenes in the Batman franchise but you at least got to see Bruce Wayne cut his teeth on way to becoming the Caped Crusader. But it's Superman so we'll give him a pass.
Overall, Man of Steel deserves credit for being its own film and refusing to yield to its predecessors. It's not without its slip-ups but you have to respect Snyder for having the heart to take risks. The film puts the Superman franchise back on course, will make Warner Bros. tons of money and finally offers Batman a worthy ally in the Justice League movie that waits further down the road. If Snyder and Goyer can let off the gas once in a while and lighten the tone up a little bit, allowing the sequel to breathe, they just might have what it takes to offer a chapter in the Superman saga that rivals The Dark Knight. That alone should be enough to motivate you to see the film.