People are being way overcritical, almost jaded. This is the reboot that needed to happen to make Superman less comic book silly and more real for modern audiences.

Rating: 10/10 (2 July 2013)

Everyone can agree that there's something nostalgic and timeless about the Superman of yesterday, whether it be the good old days of the old cartoon serials from the 1930's to the TV show of the 50's to the hugely popular Christopher Reeve movies of the 80's. In fact, some folks are down right emotionally attached to the old ways, and any change is regarded as an act of treason! Mixed reviews aside, even the Superman Returns rehash of 2006 didn't dare change the Christopher Reeve nods and comic booky style of the franchise. This movie was able to do what no predecessor ever has done before, which was to make it feel real and relevant to modern audiences, and do so with astonishing attention to detail. There finally exists a movie now about an alien from another planet who isn't hanging from wires as can be seen in the 80's movies, and no more goofy stuttering, stammering of Clark Kent, and no more depiction of hickish oafs, no more unsophisticated and almost sloppy lack of attention to plot consistency.
What we have here is an amazing makeover on a popular franchise done correctly. Not dark like one would expect from a Nolan vehicle, just set in a tone that modern audiences don't feel is dumbed or watered down, in a setting that is believable and emotionally grounded, well, for a superhero picture that is! Don't get me wrong I loved the Christopher Reeve movies. I loved his persona, and certain elements whether done badly or not, just reminds you of childhood. But let's be honest, it wreaks of bad production value and silliness. After Superman 2 they become barely palatable. Hey what do you want, 80's audiences weren't that sophisticated yet! Throw in a big popular comedian of the times, slap in some kryptonite, pepper in some thinly veiled technological plot that today's audiences would pick to pieces like famished wolverines, and there you have it, a Superman movie. This movie is NOT that.
I liked what they did in the '06 version, insofar as it took the old concept and polished it up, put it in a neat little package with a bow on it, and relaunched the franchise with clean lines and good intentions. The problem was, it was boring! Nuance and emotional subtlety aside, it just didn't pack the wallop that the franchise needed to relaunch the series. Maybe if it added another solid 20-30 minutes of rip roaring action then perhaps it might have done the franchise justice. Roth and Spacey did what they could with the Bryan Singer "refined fancy man" sensibilities that the movie was obviously influenced by. It really was a beautiful picture actually, just almost too clean and too pretty, but falls flat. But Man of Steel delivers on so many levels; an action packed, humanity laced, octane charged, humanity driven movie of not just a dude in tights with super powers, but an alien from another planet. It succeeds as an extra terrestrial sci-fi and action movie, as a love story, and as a spiritual commentary.
There is a thin line movies must tread when depicting alien planets and alien races, as it can lose an audience if done incorrectly, as I believe it did for some viewers with such movies as John Carter or even Avatar at a certain level. I won't go into spoilers or specifics, but the movie is big, it is nuanced, it is passionate, and takes the subject matter dead seriously and is done in a way, I believe, that puts this classic story on the silver screen in a professional and qualitative way that has never been done correctly before. It does away with the tights, instead opting for a traditional uniform given him by his Kryptonian culture. The S no longer a cheesy "hey it's Superman" S, but a symbol, a familial crest if you will, symbolizing hope. His nemesis Zod, really does believe he is doing what's right for his planet Krypton, not just a devilish and fiendish character to frighten and be eccentric for acting sake, but a person on the other side of a point of view, who also believes he is serving as an agent of good, and doing what's right for his people. I like the updated General Zod and his 2 cohorts. No longer looking like Pat Benatar in their Hefty bag outfits, but similar enough you know it's still them. It still has the sassy cute brunette short edgy haircut chick and the big big BIG guy, minus the cheesiness, and this time Zod is an actual General, not the self given title as with the original movies. All the elements of the Superman methos are there, but subtle enough to not feel contrived, not just with characterization, but with the whole theme of this movie throughout.
To sum, the movie is big, it's huge in scale, it's loud, it's got punches and people being flung through buildings, it's got laser beams coming out of the eyes, it's got all the makings of a big budget summer movie and high octane action movie. But what it also has is grounded characters that keeps feeling grounded throughout, because it doesn't forget to have heart. It is the Superman movie that needed to happen, and I am very pleased with it. Under a microscope I'm sure folks will find fault somewhere. But honestly, unless you're looking through the lens of a cynical desensitized jaded hyper sophisticated douche filter, you won't notice the cons nearly as be impressed with the pros. I believe a big visually interesting, intellectually honest, eye candy spectacular saga is reborn, with all the trimmings, and in good fashion. You will never get me to stop loving the timeless classics of yesteryear, but at least now I can breath easy not seeing wires or scoffing another hoakey line again.