Poor casting

Rating: 1/10 (20 July 2013)

Do not watch this movie. I watched it, and I ended up caring more for general zod and his crew rather than for the protagonists.
This movie has been raved by the masses as being philosophical, 'deep,' and theological. What can pass as being philosophical could be just how much the movie butchered the American superhero by perfunctorily blazing over the American ideals. Superman going to church? Superman being bullied as a kid? There is absolutely nothing heroic about Superman in this movie, but I will discuss that when I do plot.
There is no doubt that the filmmakers tried and the acting was satisfactory (although the gloomy adult Superman smiling did make me wince at how awkward he looked). But what can pass for good acting was negated by poor plot and directing. Cameras were all over the place. Costume design was not only pretentious, but ugly! The director's vision for this movie was to try to not only make the audience feel bad, but to make all the characters feel bad at some point.
The plot is basically a lose-lose situation for both parties. Superman has his hands dipped in blood judging by just how much collateral damage he caused, whereas General zodd loses everyone left from krypton, including the ability to recreate kryptonian civilization. Superman's own name is not mentioned until well into the movie, and when it is, it is presented as a laughable, ridiculous name. Many would also question why Superman's father is allowed so much screen time. Not only did Superman's father kill a dozen kryptonians in the beginning, he helps lois kill half a dozen more in the middle... while superman manages to kill only one. The plot devices are inconsistent and ridiculous. The hi-tech suits of the kryptonians have variable reliability, ranging from being invincible to blunt impacts from superman, to being paperthin to missiles and machineguns. Superman's powers are also butchered. There is nothing ubermench about him. The only cool ability about him is his lasers, and even those have the weakness of disorienting him. What happened to his ice-breath? his time-travelling capabilities? his mind-reading? his iconic glasses disguise? There were so many deus-exmachinas in this film, I'm not sure why these integral pieces of Superman's powers were discarded. Not to mention just how unappealing Lois Lane looks in this movie (she looks like a fleshy Mary jane). Also, why waste the almost a third of the movie starring Superman's father? The depiction of that Kryptonian society made them look medieval, which should be strange considering how much technology they have. I watched this in French, and those voice workers decided, appropriately to give the Kryptonians a regal-medieval drawl --- which only made the first 30 minutes just that much more unbearable to watch.
The first 30 minutes would also repel many a viewer by just how laughably ridiculous the scenario was. For some reason, the director decided to make the ruling government of krypton a cult lead by some elderly crones. Put many explosions, a few cannon-fodder bad guys here and there, and some cheesy dialogue and we have a wrap!
I would give it 2 stars, but I am just unsatisfied how high the score is right now.