The Superman film i've waited for since I was a kid

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2013)

I have followed the progress of this film since it was in its 'rumored' stages. After the disaster of "Superman Returns" I was wondering if my favorite superhero would ever get a fair shake on the big screen. This movie has everything that every other Superman film did not, and a lot more. Action, good actors, relatable and likable characters.
Christopher Reeve's Superman was iconic for its time, but the effects are extremely dated and the tone of those films was very campy. Acceptable for the old image of Superman as the stereotypical All-American hero. But after the success of Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, we wanted something "real". "Superman Returns" is hardly worth mentioning as it can be summed up in one word; bland. No action, boring characters giving uninterested performances (except of course for Kevin Spacey), and a carbon-copied story.
"Man of Steel" delivers on every front. Right off the start we get to see more of Krypton and the back story of his parents and the culture of Krypton than every before seen in any film - an important aspect of the entire film's story; not something that is forgotten about once that part of the film is done.
We get a different perspective of how it could have been like for Superman growing up. It wasn't given the teen-romance/scooby-doo mysteries treatment like "Smallville" did for it. This was gritty and realistic.
We're shown how life is not just "different" for Superman (as all other incarnations have done) but down right miserable. He hides his identity not just for some stereotypical comic book reasons - but because he's afraid of being rejected and hated by humanity. He's lonely and spends his life running and hiding.
When he finally decides to take a risk and expose himself to humanity, the reaction is treated with dignity and respect. His presence isn't perceived as "oh, a guy with super powers... that's cool. Lets get own with our day", like most incarnations. No, everyone freaks the heck out. He's treated like an enemy and a threat to the world. Something (IMO) like what would happen in real life.
The lines of good/evil are heavily blurred in this film as well. Its not cut and dry. The actions of the protagonist aren't necessarily predictable in a sense. He's given a moral choice to make. Does he rejoin his fellow Kryptonians, his kin, the only others like him in the universe - and help them rebuild their civilization? Or does he fight against them to save a world that is afraid of him and views him as a threat?
Lastly, we finally get to see the Superman we've always wanted to see. The powerful superhero that he is. We get to see his limits tested by worthy adversaries. We get to see his powers portrayed in full and in all their awesomeness.
Granted, the film has its predictable moments, and there are parts of the story that felt rushed and glossed over. Characters that would have been great, had they been given more development time. However, the flaws are dwarfed by the praiseworthy elements of the film.
This film has finally given Superman the fair chance he deserves to explode onto the big screen and blow us all away like i've always known he could.