Review: Man of Steel

by Trevor Kirkendall
★★★½

Superman has always proven to be one of the trickier superheroes to put on the big screen. We’ve seen a few good shows on television that have helped keep the character alive in the public’s eye for many years. But when it comes to film, Richard Donner’s 1978 version with Christopher Reeve is still the favorite among fans. The subsequent sequels, followed by Bryan Singer’s 2006 abomination “Superman Returns” ran the franchise into the ground. Today, with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe ruling the box office every year, and with the conclusion of their most recent Batman franchise, DC Comics was in need of something big that would bolster their standing. With the new Superman reboot, “Man of Steel,” they may have just struck gold.

“Man of Steel” serves as another origin story for the famous character. The planet Krypton is in disarray, and the world will soon come to an end. Fearing this, Krypton’s biggest scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) sends his only son, Kal-El, away from the dying planet and straight to Earth. In the spacecraft, Jor-El includes information that could one day help to repopulate the people of Krypton on another world. A sinister military commander of Krypton, General Zod (Michael Shannon) knows what Jor-El has done and vows to find Kal-El.

Thirty-three years later, we find Kal-El (Henry Cavill) living amongst the humans attempting the keep a low profile. He works odd jobs here and there but his special abilities keep showing up under different circumstances, causing him to move on to a new place. Flashback sequences also describe his troubled up bringing in Smallville, raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) who found baby Kal-El in the crashed spacecraft.

Elsewhere, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Lois Lane (Amy Adams) has discovered this mysterious man and begins to track him down. Once she finds him in his hometown, she discovers his apprehension about going public with his abilities. After all, he was raised to keep his abilities a secret.

This is also about the time General Zod shows up to Earth looking for Kal-El and demands that Earth cooperate with him or he’ll destroy the planet. Kal-El must now choose between helping to save the planet and the humans, or staying in seclusion.

Most origin stories can be plenty boring because the audience is already aware of the backstory, such as the case with a character as popular as Superman. But “Man of Steel” works on many different levels without boring the audience to tears. The nonstop action and breathtaking synergy between live action and CGI keeps the film on a very quick pace. Before you know it, sixty minutes have gone by. Then ninety. Then two hours. Then its done. “Man of Steel” is the fastest moving two-and-a-half hour film since “The Dark Knight.”

Director Zack Snyder (“Dawn of the Dead” and “Watchmen”) has once again proven himself to be a highly skilled filmmaker when it comes to constructing high-octane action sequences. The seamless interweaving of CGI on top of the live action is also a high point. Sure, you know what’s being done on screen isn’t possible and that its got to be computers making this come to life, but the realism on display here is exceptional. I’m not sure if Snyder will ever direct something that’s not action packed or heavy on the effects, and that’s okay. If he wants to direct every other action movie that came out, I’d be more than okay with that.

Christopher Nolan’s presence here is a welcomed asset that really helps elevate this film beyond that of other superhero films. Along with David S. Goyer, who is also credited with developing the story that made up all three films in Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, Nolan was able to craft a story that doesn’t seem like something that is utterly fantastical. Sure there are space aliens, rocket ships and a man who can fly, but the world where all this occurs is utterly real.

“The Dark Knight” trilogy worked in the same way. Gotham City is a fictitious place, and there aren’t any egomaniacal billionaires running around fighting crime (although Sergey Brin running around in his stupid Google Glass glasses could be a possible contender – but I digress). But everything felt real and genuine. “Man of Steel” as that same feel of authenticity.

Cavill and Adams worked well on screen together. Cavill’s portrayal of the man confused and ashamed of his abilities is performed with great empathy. Adams recognizes that she’s the first person he’s trusted and doesn’t hesitate to step up and make this journey with him.

Then there’s Shannon’s Zod, who not surprisingly steals the show as the films villain. Anyone familiar with this brilliant actor already knows about his intense portrayals from other works such as “Take Shelter,” “Revolutionary Road” or HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.” He’s evil as Zod, and you can see it in his eyes. He’s the perfect villain for the origin story, rather than starting with someone who might be better known to casual fans (Mr. Luthor, perhaps?).

“Man of Steel” is an exhilarating and unrelenting action film. Its a film that fits nicely into the typical “summer movie” mold, but I don’t think we should limit it as such. This is truly one of the more exceptional films of this style to come out in recent memory. I remember feeling the same way after seeing Nolan’s “Batman Begins” in 2005. We all knew we were in for a much different story of the Batman saga after that movie came out, and I think the same thing will apply here.

With a sequel already in the works (summer 2015), its safe to say that the Superman franchise finally has the film it deserves. Both Snyder and Goyer will return in their roles and Nolan will most certainly be around to lend his brainpower to the creative process. As much as I enjoyed “Man of Steel,” I’m more excited about all the possibilities this franchise has. DC Comics needed a winner, and they got it. They couldn’t sit idly by and watch Marvel have all the fun.