'Man of Steel' soars

Rating: 6/10 (22 June 2013)

'Man of Steel' has arrived with a lot of expectation. It has been seven years since we last saw Superman on the big screen with Bryan Singer's 'Superman Returns', but that film was seemingly loved by few (I was one of the few) and declared "a flop", subsequently rendering the prospect of a new Superman film to be a make-or-break opportunity. As the film's production progressed, anticipation rightly built and this sense of anticipation was heightened when Christopher Nolan spearheaded the movie's production, bringing Zack Snyder in to direct his proposed reboot. So, after all this, does 'Man of Steel' live up anticipation? With a sigh of relief, I can safely say that it does.
The plot of 'Man of Steel' is both familiar and fresh; we get the basic bones of Superman's origin story, but it is told in a way unlike anything we've seen before. It opens on the planet Krypton, which Jor-El (Russell Crowe) believes is on the verge of destruction. Going against the norm of manufactured birth, he and his wife, Lara (Ayelet Zurer) conceive their child naturally, and as the planet approaches its demise, Jor-El steals the planetary codex and filters it into his young son, Kal-El, before sending him into space, crash landing on Earth. Years later, Kal-El (Henry Cavill) has been raised on a farm by the Kents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) and is now drifting between various jobs, everything from a fisherman to a bartender, leaving a variety of incidents in his wake, as he searches for himself. As an award-winning journalist named Lois Lane (Amy Adams) gets on his tail, Kal-El discovers about his past, just as Kryptonian General Zod (Michael Shannon) arrives on Earth, fiercely determined to retrieve the codex.
A lot of common criticisms have been thrown at 'Man of Steel' since it premiered. Many have declared it to be "too serious" and "humourless"; many have said that there is too much action in the final act; that Henry Cavill isn't charismatic enough; that Lois Lane isn't developed enough, etc, etc. After seeing the film, I found it difficult to agree with the various and recurring criticisms. Yes, I acknowledge that this is the most serious Superman movie we've seen thus far, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This isn't intended to be Richard Donner's 'Superman', this is meant to be a new take on Superman, for a new generation. The third act is also pure action from start to finish, but this matters little, because A) we care about the characters involved, B) it's justified in the plot and C) it's really entertaining.
Even though I love his hyper-stylised adaptation of Frank Miller's '300', 'Man of Steel' is arguably Zack Snyder's finest film to date. It is also his mature; there is no slow motion or music video-like scenes; and in the quieter and more reflective moments that make up the first half, he displays both a mature tone and a clear respect for the source material. It is also a joy to look at, whether it be the beautifully realised version of Krypton or the Kents' farm outside Smallville, especially thanks to Amir Mokri's great cinematography. Hans Zimmer complements these visuals with a wonderful score that helps to further establish this as a new take on Superman, helping the viewer to instantly forget about John Williams' iconic theme tune.
However, 'Man of Steel' wouldn't be the great film it is if Krypton's last son wasn't cast right. Henry Cavill makes the role entirely his role, delivering the most developed portrayal we've seen of Superman on screen; he's by turns, confident, unsure, reflective and lost. He essentially makes a superhero often disregarded as "too perfect" into a likable character that we really root for. Despite solid performances by Amy Adams, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne, it is the superb trio of Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner that best support Cavill. The brilliant Michael Shannon gives a great performance as Zod, making him a formidable villain. Crowe's turn as Jor-El is magnetic, while Costner's turn as Superman's adoptive dad is properly touching.
'Man of Steel' was a movie that I anticipated for years and even with this undying level of anticipation, I cannot say I was disappointed at all. This film is super from start to finish, when Kal-El is and isn't in the iconic suit. Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan have truly invigorated Superman in a way that should please old fans and make new ones. With spectacle, thrills and emotion, 'Man of Steel' soars.