Ready for the sequel now

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2013)

Let's start with the overall impressions: First, I noticed that the movie felt much shorter to me than the 2hr 23min run-time. Second, while I'll probably see it in theaters one more time, Man of Steel makes me more interested in seeing its sequel instead. As an origin story, isn't that the movie's job?
A lot of the negative reviews are obsessed with plot points that weren't resolved the way the reviewer wanted them to be, such as the Lois-Clark relationship, the decisions Clark/Kal makes in this movie, and so on. Obviously, as the first movie in what will probably be a trilogy, doesn't it make sense that a lot of these sub-plots aren't going to be resolved in the first movie? This movie is meant to establish such relationships and complications, so they can be explored and resolved in the sequels, right? That's what this movie felt like to me, an introduction to Superman, not a summation of the character.
Anyway, I do have a couple critiques. I'm not sure if they are spoilers, so I clicked the spoiler box just in case. First, the shaky-cam effect is kind of jarring, especially in the opening scenes. For a moment, I was wondering if Krypton was having earthquakes and about to explode in the early scenes, until I realized the camera-work was just a visual conceit. The tremor-vision calms down eventually, and for most of the movie, but returns for little, annoying bursts when least expected.
Second, there are a couple actions that Clark takes or doesn't take - you'll understand the latter in the tornado scene - that seem a bit out of character. Maybe a lot out of character, depending on your superman- philosophy. Once again, I fall back on the belief (hope?) that these decisions will be revisited in the sequels. Superman has been around for 75 years, so I think it is hard for some viewers to recognize that this movie presents us with a neophyte hero - this is the first time he's wearing the suit and making tough decisions. As long as the character grows into the icon in the sequels, then it's a good thing. Do we really want a character, in an origin story, that has nowhere to develop?
So, to sum up, I give it 8.5 out of 10 (rounding up to 9 because I'm a geek). It's a solid movie with all the action anyone could have wanted (too much for some, but great for me, bring it on). It doesn't reinvent superhero movies but Man of Steel is certainly among the best of the genre. Sadly, the hopes and the hype were so high that the fact that it isn't overwhelmingly great has hurt the movie's reception. I recommend it to superhero and action fans without reservation. To those who aren't fans of either genre, I say this. Surrender within twenty-four hours ...