An underrated masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2013)

This wasn't an origin story. It was a trial by fire. So intense and gripping.
Man of Steel is the story of Clark Kent, a young man with no sense of who he is or direction in life, whose desire to find the answers to those questions leads him to a top secret site where a ship of unknown origin -- previously buried under 18,000 years' worth of ice -- has been discovered. Once in the ship he discovers the key to who he is and his greater purpose. Becoming Superman and serving the people of Earth.
But it doesn't come cheap or easy (this isn't a Disney movie) because in unlocking this Kryptonian ships secrets he inadvertently leads General Zod and the rest of his twisted fiends to Earth where they will not only threaten the life of Clark, or should I say Kal, but those of every single life-form on Earth. Ironic, isn't it? That's part of what made Man of Steel so enthralling. It was Clarks fault. And it wasn't. It's not a simple black or white movie. Furthermore, Clark wasn't ready to be Superman much less fight a bunch of Kryptonian soldiers and save the world. He was just a young man trying to find himself who ended up in over his head. He's Alice in Wonderland. Neo in The Matrix.
More generally:
Man of Steel was slower paced than I remembered and apart from the action scenes felt more like a drama than a tentpole movie... until the last hour when all hell broke loose. Then it became a tense and at times jaw dropping Sci-Fi action movie. The scene where Zod announced to the world that "You are not alone" and gave the ultimatum to hand over Kal-El or else, gave me chills
Apart from The Dark Knight, Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame, I don't think there's another Superhero movie that was more jaw dropping and awe inspiring in its scale and gravity. Great performances by all involved both in-front of and behind the camera. Especially big props to Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Zach Snyder, and Hans Zimmer, who all killed it.
Now on to rewatching BvS...
(Review after 5/25/20 re-watch)
(Originally watched at a 9:30 AM showing @ the UA Court Street 12 & RPX Brooklyn NY, June 2013)