Not "Dark" Enough To Be Great

Rating: 8/10 (14 June 2013)

Man of Steel
Look! Up in the sky...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman! And this new franchise, in the recent trend of angst-ridden, self-tortured heroes, is dark and brooding and not exactly what you might think it is...
Is it dark and brooding? Well, in a way, but it only touches the surface of what it could have been. It does a good job through flashbacks of letting us get to know poor Clark Kent; bullied and picked on for being "different" and struggling with the "what's wrong with me" question until "dad" decides he finally deserves to know why. This could have been great, had it delved just a bit deeper, but it just scratches the surface, giving us just enough for story and character development, but leaves you wishing for more....What made "The Dark Knight" trilogy GREAT is that it "went there" into Bruce Wayne's tortured self. Just as we start feeling sorry for Clark and the story allows us to start getting close enough to really suck us in, it lets up and pulls away...keeping enough distance to divide and separate from really good to great.
Is is chock-full of over-the-top action in 3D IMAX? Well...there's TONS of really good action scenes, but they drag on just a touch too long, keeping them from being great (much like the amusement park ride that, had it finished just a few circuits sooner, would have left you exhilarated - but instead you're nauseous). Don't get me wrong - the effects aren't dizziness-inducing or sickening...just too long. And 3D? IMAX? Sure, if you want to spend the money, they'll take it BUT it's Fake3D (meaning it was digitally rendered into 3D format post-production and not shot in 3D) and Lie-Max (blown-up and stretched onto a huge screen, but NOT shot in true IMAX 70mm film orientation). I saw it in digital 2D and it was great.
Is it a familiar take on the super hero tale MOST of us know already? Well, you'd expect a bit of a back story, but you end up with TMI about the drama at the home planet and it serves to only muddy the water and confuse rather than clarify - it's as if the film wants to start telling one story but can't decide if that's what we came for or if we just need to hurry up and get to Earth for the familiar...You'd expect The Daily Planet's editor, Perry White, to be an angry old white guy, but he's played by Laurence Fishburne. You'd expect maybe some wry, cheesy, comic book comments....but it sells itself as serious drama and just when you buy into it, it slaps you with an attempt at humor that makes you groan rather than snicker.
I was expecting visual GREATNESS from director, Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300) and in that respect, Man of Steel did not disappoint! The special effects and visuals are stunning and beautifully filmed. Some imagery is just astounding. EVERY flashback scene filmed in Smallville is INCREDIBLE! It's gorgeous.
Acting was solid and the performances did not disappoint. Kudos to the two boys who played young Clark Kent - you truly feel their physical and emotional pain as they adjust to their otherworldly differences. Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner are great as Superman's two dads - sorry, it's not told THAT differently guys...you know what I mean Diane Lane as mom and Amy Adams as Lois Lane do a good job also (especially Diane Lane who makes your heart break with hers as she deals with a child who is "different").
My two biggest disappointments: "product" placement and inappropriate language. You can't get more obvious than the Sears store, IHOP restaurant, UHaul van, and 7-11 that stick out in Smallville like sore thumbs - soooo out of place and obvious in their bright colors and prominence that it's a very sad distraction. BUT MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT...an inappropriate comment made early on in the movie by Lois Lane shortly after we meet her. A reference to the size of male genitalia has NO PLACE in a super hero movie that MANY kids will surely attend. I don't care if it's rated PG-13...I'd be MORTIFIED if I was sitting next to my 13-year-old niece and she was subjected to the cringe-worthy line, let alone any other kid or teen who might go along with the family. TOTALLY inappropriate and disappointing!
So, over all, is it what I'd hoped and expected...not really, BUT it IS really good (just not great). I'll still give it a thumbs up and recommend that you add this to your Summer BlockBuster "go see" list.