What about Superman for the older generation?

Rating: 7/10 (14 June 2013)

As with many character re-generations, I couldn't help but be caught up in the hype and debate for The Man of Steel. The reason? As an 80's child and raised with the iconic Superman, Christopher Reeve I wondered if this new franchise could bridge the gap between the original and the new.
It did not.
This is not to say that this was a bad film, far from it.Snyder combined the best aspects of the original films by giving us both an origin story and the return of Zod. But somehow it lacked all of the heart and soul that we came to know and love from Reeve's Superman. That age is gone of course and it was of no surprise to hear how Zack Snyder wanted to start over if you like. Gone was the original John Williams theme and gone with it the hairs standing on the back of your neck, gone also the name of Superman, replaced instead with the Man of Steel title. But also gone was any humour. There was not one single laugh during the film. Maybe this was a deliberate ploy, after all aren't all our comic book heroes going dark? And if so, what room for a bumbling nervous Clark Kent? Well no room at all it seems as he is not really introduced until the very end of the film.
Unfortunately on another low note is the CGI. A film on this scale and the grand scenes of carnage cannot be made without it, but in the midst of yet another blurry action scene, the city of metropolis being destroyed all around. I couldn't help wonder if I was watching footage from the editing room floor of Transformers. Luckily, Snyder seems to be wise to this and these scenes are inter mixed with one on one fight scenes in which we can see the actors actually take the stage.
Michael Shannon's performance was admirable as trying to match Terence Stamps performance would always be a difficult task, but Shannon rises to the challenge and gives a truly menacing performance.
Good notes also for Costner and Crow. But I again fall on a low note with the performance of Amy Adams as Lois Lane. The character comes across as hollow and empty and if she is to continue in the role, work is to be done.
Finally Henry Cavill. I guess the jury is still out there. I thought he was an impressive Superman, but due to Snyders script, we have yet to see his Clark Kent in action. And the strength of the character will be determined by his ability to play both roles.
I think a new generation of Superman fans will enjoy this movie a great deal, but for us with longer memories it sadly falls a little short of what we would have wanted.
7/10