"Man of Steel" Review

Rating: 7/10 (17 June 2013)

"Man of Steel" is a new interpretation of Superman for the modern post "Dark Knight" age of superhero films. The story is more serious and asks the question of "will I be accepted into this world or be feared?" While I like the new take on the Superman origin story and how uniquely it's told, I found the script to be rather weak. The character moments are scarce, everything feels a bit rushed, and the dialogue comes off as super cheesy almost to the point where I was cringing. However, I am a huge fan of how this film is directed. Zack Snyder does an awesome job with what he has. The action sequences are choreographed amazingly, quit possibly the best action all year. Camera work in this film is really well done and the editing is spot on. There are some really inventive shots and the final fight sequence with Zod is riveting.
The actors do a fine job with their characters. However, no one really stands out aside from Henry Cavill as Superman. While he's no Christopher Reeve, I really like his take on the character. Amy Adams as Lois Lane is decent, but the way the character is written is kind of weak as I never really cared for her and she came off as a bit forced. Michael Shannon is pretty good as Zod, but the character could have used more screen time. Russell Crowe and the rest of the cast is solid and play their roles well.
Visual effects in this film are top-notch. From Kypton to Earth, everything from a visual standpoint is breathtaking. I've always been a fan of Zack Snyder's visual style in film and here he's put them to great use. The score on the other hand is okay. While it's great in the film, it's rather loud and forgettable.
Overall, "Man of Steel" is a solid piece of cinema and it has me pumped for more Superman movies as well as a potential Justice League film. However, it does fall short in the story department. I felt like I was going from one ride to the next without having a chance to breath. The film has some interesting things to say, but only on a few occasions does it take the time to say it and even then not very clearly. On the bright side though, we get the most action packed Superman movie and quit possibly superhero movie of all time. There's a lot of fun to be had, but if you're looking for something deeper and thought provoking this isn't the place. I give it 3.5/5, weak story that is made better with great action, stunning visual effects, and fantastic direction.