An entertaining blockbuster but definitely not without it's flaws.

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2013)

'MAN OF STEEL': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
The much anticipated reboot to the popular superhero film series based on the iconic DC comic character. This installment stars Henry Cavill in the title role and Amy Adams as his love interest Lois Lane. The movie goes back over Superman's origins as he was sent to Earth by his parents and his coming to terms with his destiny as a savior of mankind here. The film also stars Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne. It was directed by Zack Snyder, produced by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. The movie is action packed and visually spectacular but it's also lacking in the emotional depth department. An entertaining blockbuster but definitely not without it's flaws.
The film begins with war breaking out on the planet Krypton as Jor-El (Russel Crowe) and his wife Lora Lor-Van (Ayelet Zurer) send their newborn son, Kal-El, away to safety on Earth (shortly before the planet explodes). Traitors General Zod (Shannon), Faora-Ul (Antje Traue) and their followers are also imprisoned and sent away, shortly before Krypton's destruction as well. The movie flashes forward to Kal-El (Cavill) as a young man (in his 30s) traveling from town to town working at various jobs while dealing with his past (through flashbacks) and future destiny as a hero of this planet. The safety of all of mankind is threatened when General Zod locates him on Earth and starts a war here in an attempt to make Earth their new home.
The film is full of breathtaking visuals and highlighted with a beautiful score by Hans Zimmer. Scene by scene I found it to be a very satisfying and fun movie (almost everything you could ask for in a Superman film) but looking at it as a whole film it just doesn't quite seem like a complete movie. Lois Lane is never fully developed and her relationship with Kal-El/Clark Kent is never completely flushed out. The supporting actors are all decent in the film and Cavill is the perfect Superman (despite his lacking in acting abilities). The filmmakers did away with the nerdy glasses wearing Clark Kent alter ego in this film (seeing as that was one of the most ridiculous parts of the character's mythology; the idea that people don't recognize him because he puts on glasses and acts like a bumbling dork). A lot of the magic and awe are gone from this film adaptation as well as it centers a lot more on the action (there's almost too much action as it does become a little boring at times). David S. Goyer's script is probably the weakest part of the film as Snyder's directing is once again amazing to watch. While I don't think it's as good as the original 'SUPERMAN' film or the Bryan Singer sequel 'SUPERMAN RETURNS' I still did enjoy it quite a bit despite it's flaws. It's not a perfect film but it is a satisfying action blockbuster all the same.
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