Awful DC fluff

Rating: 2/10 (17 June 2013)

I love most superhero movies. Movies done by Marvel has shown universal quality. DC movies were getting better and I liked Green Lantern, Dark Knight and Batman Begins. I really wanted to like this movie but it has several gaping holes that I just could not tolerate. There are spoilers so stop reading if you have not seen it. You were warned but there is no way for me to really comment on the problems without these points.
First, the good stuff. I liked the overall story. I liked the actors for roles (although Lois Lane should have black hair but Amy Adams is hot so I can tolerate that). The "fathers" (Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner) did very good and I liked Cavill as Superman. Costume was good. I liked that the Zod followers did not instantly have all of Superman's powers since he had had to learn to control the powers and taken years to master them. That felt right. With so much going for it, the problems had to be big and they were to me.
First, Superman does not kill. EVER. I collected comics growing up and Superman was one of my favorites. Many issues revolved around him having to solve the problem without killing. It was one of his constants. Maybe the recent issues have changed him since i do not still collect and read the comics but for Superman to kill or knowingly let someone die is anathema. The scene with Jonathan Kent, I could handle because he was obeying his father. The scene with Zod I could not. Superman would have found another way. Period.
Zod brings up another point. This is a GENERAL who was genetically engineered to be an ideal warrior and who trained his entire life. However, he spends the movie getting his butt kicked. First, a scientist kicks his butt handily. Maybe Jor-el's armor had enhancements or something so I will give that an "eh" but then Kal-El whups him. Twice. Zod should have been able to eat Navy SEALs for breakfast but he cannot handle a scientist or farm boy? His second in command was a terrific fighter so it surprises me she did not kill him long ago if that is the best he can do. The actor playing him did well but c'mon, that is not a Zod that is a credible warrior.
The movie cuts back and forth in flashbacks that were distracting rather than better in my opinion. The flashbacks were good but I wonder how the movie would have been if shown in a more linear fashion. Still, that is a personal preference and no reason to dislike the movie.
The fight scenes seemed to go on forever and to be basically the idea that if they blow up and destroy enough stuff, everyone will forget the lame action. Remember in the old TV show how bad guys would empty their gun on Superman then throw the gun at him? I thought was going to happen at one point (which would have been funny) but that is how the fight scenes were. Who would think "Well, I hit him with a steel beam and it did nothing so maybe if I slam him into concrete? Hmm, still nothing, I guess I should throw him into the concrete building? Hmm, still nothing, maybe I should drop the concrete on him?" At some point they should have realized "HE IS INVULNERABLE, Concrete is not going to work". Instead they level building after building after building. How many died in the buildings falling? Remember the Pixar movie "The Incredibles" where superheroes were outlawed because of the amount of property damage they caused. Maybe this was intended as a prequel for that movie.
Time after time in the movie an illogical or unrealistic (yes, I know it is a comic book movie but it can still have realism) event would take me out of the story. A movie that cannot keep me in it or that has fight sequences with such vast destruction which go on so long that I am just bored looking at the obvious CGI is a movie I wish I could have avoided. Most of all though, a movie that has Superman kill is not a Superman movie.