Not horrible, but not my kind of Superman film.

Rating: 6/10 (17 June 2013)

I was excited when it was announced that DC would reboot Suoerman. He has always been my favorite superhero. I still think that Superman: To me that is the best superhero film ever made. I liked that Christopher Nolan would be involved. He had done such a great job with the Dark Knight trilogy that I thought he could bring back the greatness of Superman. But also, he was only an Executive Producer. The fact that it was Zack Snyder that was chosen to direct worried me. He is not a bad director but the only film of his that I actually like us 300. I didn't like Watchmen at all and Sucker Punch was just as bad. I went in with nervous expectations.
The film is a variation on Superman's origin story. In the beginning we see Jor-El sending his infant son Kal-El away from Krypton to save him from the planet's destruction. General Zod leads a rebellion but it is defeated and he is sentenced to the phantom zone. Kal-El lands in Smallville and he is found by the Kents and they raise him as their own. They name him Clark. He grows up an isolated young man that slowly discovers his powers. Jonathan finally reveals Clark's origins to him but urges him not to show his powers. At one point there is a tornado and Clark has a chance to save his father but Jonathan wavs him off and dies. Feeling guilty, Clarke leaves Smallville and travels around in several disguises. He occasionally uses his powers to save people in situations which he is close to, but is always unsure of his actions. He later gets a job at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane receives a tip to investigate a Kryptonian ship in the Canadian Arctic. Clark goes there in disguise and discovers the ship's central computer and is greeted by an AI version of Jor-El. He explains to his son that he was sent to earth to help its people. General Zod escapes the phantom zone and finds out the whereabouts of Kal-El. He broadcasts a transmission globally that Kal El's surrender or risk attack. At this point Clark has worn the suit given by Jor-El and tests his powers. Zod has his scientist create clones from Kal El's DNA that will destroy humanity. Zod has a weapon called the world engine that can convert earth into the new Krypton. Superman the confronts Zod and destroys the world engine. Zod and Superman fight in an endless action sequence that literally destroys most of Metropolis. Zod tells Superman that he will destroy the Earth just to spite him. Superman kills Zod. The film ends with Suoerman asking the government to let him work alone so as long he doesn't turn against humanity.
That's it. Pretty good story right? It would be fine if the film would have been much less of a downer!!! The fact that Zack Snyder made this Superman such an unsure, brooding character is really unfortunate. I get that they were trying to make Clark's transformation into Superman more serious but presenting it as such a negative thing was offputting. There is no joy in the film, even the portrayal of Superman's actions are almost an afterthought. He is presented as a threat, not really heroic. Even the final battle with Zod when there is nothing but destruction and people in danger all around Superman is oblivious to it. I understand that the The Dark Knight films took Bruce Wayne's burden of being Batman in the same way, and that works for that character. He became Batman because he witnessed the murder of his parents, he has no special powers, he is a vigilante. This approach for Superman just doesn't work. Is the film horrible? No, it is somewhat involving, the cast is good, Henry Caville does what he can as Superman but he is mostly just brooding and depressed for the whole film. He doesn't embody Superman the way that Christopher Reeve did so beautifully. Not my kind of Superman film!