Superman without the camp

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2016)

I have enjoyed most cinematic Superman movies. I even find the much criticized Superman IV watchable (though I can see how easy it is to pick flaws in it). Man of Steel removes one of the more obvious sources of fun and easiest methods of derision of the previous movies: it does not present itself as camp or tongue-in-cheek. That's not to say it isn't fun to watch; it's just a different kind of fun. The entertainment here comes much more from the action, drama and thrills; and a bit less from the obvious poster boy for the red, white and blue homely good boy presented in earlier incarnations. This film uses that image cleverly. We are still presented with a Superman who represents truth, justice and the American way. It is just unfortunate for him that he gets treated as an 'alien' while doing this. This helps keep the movie engaging and adult.
The only downside that I can think of (and I know it's silly) was that I did tend to miss the old John Williams Superman fanfare... da da da da daaa, du du daaaa, etc....