The ideal Superman movie.

Rating: 10/10 (25 June 2013)

Up in the sky! Is it a bird? A plane? No, it's the best Superman movie ever! Essentially created by a pair of Jewish college students in the 1930s, Superman was pretty much the very first superhero, his comics having entertained audiences around the world for decades and helped America pull through the Great Depression. He served as an inspiration for others, both in the comics and in real life, and was a member of the Justice League. The Man of Steel also starred in various television shows from cartoon shorts to the "Smallville" series and was ever so famously brought to life by Christopher Reeves in the four live-action feature films (though the first two were big hits while the remaining two got the short end of the stick). In 2006, Bryan Singer attempted to bring back the film series with 2006's "Superman Returns", but the film only got mixed reactions and was thus looked down upon by fans. And now we have this, the ultimate Superman film that we have wanted to see for years, Man of Steel!
Now we are all familiar with the hero's back story: Kal El was sent to Earth by his parents from the dying world of Krypton where he would carry on the Kryptonian legacy by being the Earth's champion. Raised by the Kents and given the name of Clark, he eventually learns of his alien heritage and hones his incredible powers by traveling the world and helping those in need, his actions all the while being tracked by reporter Lois Lane. Just as the world begins to know Superman, an unsettling event takes place as a small army of surviving Kryptonians, led by the ruthless General Zod, arrive on the scene looking for Superman with rather hostile intentions. Can Superman protect his adopted world from his own people?
I have been waiting for Superman to get this kind of treatment for a very long time and this is from Christopher Nolan of all people after his run with the other famous superhero Batman. The film maintains the core of the hero in that he's an alien immigrant with insane powers finding his place in this world by doing what is right and becoming an inspiration to others. It also takes a realistic turn in terms of how people would really react if they find out that there's an alien living among them, that is to say with shock and awe. We also see what the planet Krypton was like, from the culture to the environment to the inhabitants, before its imminent destruction.
All the actors to their jobs well and I mean ALL of them. Henry Cavill does a convincing Superman and Amy Adams nails Lois Lane, not just there to be kidnapped but also taking a more active role, and Michael Shannon is great as a sinister yet somewhat sympathetic Zod (finally a foe Superman can find in years and not boring old Lex Luthor). The special effects are spectacular and well detailed, mostly CGI with a few practical effects here and there. The action scenes (oh, boy) are some of the best and most intense I have ever seen in a superhero movie and any movie in general. There's a lot of fighting between Superman and his fellow Kryptonians and virtually everything sight is utterly destroyed as if Godzilla did steroids and went on a rampage across the world. It's that awesome, nothing held back!
With a stellar cast, great special effects, apocalyptic action scenes, and a very compelling story, the Man of Steel is the Superman film we have been waiting for. In fact, why are you still here reading this review? Go see this movie while you still can and prepare to be blown away.