Meh! Another film which uses CGI instead of plot

Rating: 3/10 (13 November 2013)

Saw this movie on a plane. It started out well. We get the basic point: They wanted a grittier and more flawed Superman. Now cutesy scenes like in the Christopher Reeves Superman films where Clark Kent would save Lois Lane as she fell down a waterfall. The start of the movie was great. They really try to avoid the pat scenes of Superman we have engraved in our minds. But then, things go terribly wrong. There is nothing but constant, relentless CGI. The character and story development are minimal. Yes, we want a grittier Superman but this is so far removed that you could put Will Smith in the film fighting these evil doers and it would make no difference. There is way, way, way too much backstory. Yes, they didn't want geeky Clark Kent running around so instead they hit you again and again with the theme: He wants to use his power but he can't because people won't understand, blah blah blah. Then we have the fact that everything happens directly to the folks Superman/Clark is supposed to be involved with - Bam, Lois meets Chris Meloni, bam they are at center. Bam, over with Martha Kent, bam attack at Daily Planet. It's the kind of "coincidence" central to ridiculous action movies. The Russell Crowe role as Jor El is beyond cheesy. Yes, he is supposed to be a spiritual adviser to Kal El but he appears and even tells Lois where to fire her gun. Then he engages in this long and ridiculous conversation with General Zod. Then, Jor El and Zod make countless bombastic speeches about the future of our people blah blah blah. You will feel bored instead of inspired. The central conceipt of the film is bizarre too. Zod wants the Kryptonians to move to earth but they can't with the same atmosphere - apparently. Not sure if Jor El wants this or not. Much of Metropolis is ground to dust, apparently with many thousands of casualties. Also, apparently, Daily Planet Building - but no biggie - Superman just puts on his glasses and settles in at the Daily Planet moments after the conflict and all is peachy. Let's not and say we did.