Movie Review: Man of Steel

Man of Steel

Release Date: June 14th 2013
Studio: Warner Bros, Legendary Pictures
Director: Zack Snyder
Main Cast: Henry Cavill (Superman, Kal-El, Clark Kent), Amy Adams(Lois Lane), Michael Shannon (General Zod), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Russel Crowe (Jor-El), Kevin Costner (Jonathan Kent), Antje Traur (Faora-Ul) – Full list of cast HERE
Screenwriter: David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan
Genre: Acvtion | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language
Official Website: Man of Steel Warner Bros Official Site

Storyline: A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind. (via Warner Bros. Pictures)

Man of Steel has been one of the most anticipated movies I have been waiting for since I knew it was going to be made. I have always been a huge fan of the Superman movies (good or bad), Christopher Reeve captured my heart many many years ago with his portrayal of Superman and I’ve just aways loved the Superman character itself. As far as this version, I wasn’t worried like I was when they made the Superman Returns movie with Brandon Routh as Superman. That movie ended up being a bit cheesy but I still enjoyed it. I can probably say my least favorite was Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor was just annoying for me. Speaking of Lex Luthor, I’m so glad they didn’t use that character again in Man of Steel. They went with General Zod in this film. I knew that having Christopher Nolan and Jack Synder together in the making of this film, that they would get dark with this picture. They had all the perfect ingredients to do so, and they nailed it.

Man of Steel is not your typical Superman movie and its about time that it was updated to compete with all the other comic book characters such as Iron Man and Batman films. The details and depth of the storyline were great. You got to experience more of the pre-story before Superman is sent to Earth. Normally that is a quick recap and your done but not in Man of Steel. We witness the destruction of planet Krypton and the battle between Jor-El and General Zog over the future of their people. When this goes down, Jor-El and Lara genetically infuse the race into Kal-El with the Codex to preserve the Kryptonian race. This is when he is shipped off to Earth. Just before the planet erupts and diminishes to nothing. The details are incredibly vivd from the beginning to the end. Its crazy good how they show the lava erupting out and creeping closer until it just overtook everything. That’s a horrible way for a planet to go.

Cue Earth and an older Clark Kent. This film doesn’t start like most movies do from the infant phase until said person is an adult. I really enjoy how they start off with Clark grown and working. What they infuse into the film are flashbacks of his youth and growing up. Certain events will trigger a memory or just cue to that time before. It really kept the movie flowing. It captures how much Clark had to hide his true nature from everyone else to the point that something horrific happens but he is told not to show himself. So much that Clark must endure and not know who or what he is. This will set him off living a life on the go, never settling down and always trying to hide. Until the one day when everything changes. He finds something that changes the course of his life forever and who he is. Of course discovering all this while a snoopy reporter happens to be at the same place and time, doesn’t help Clark at all. This finding will also trigger something that will bring doom to Earth. General Zog has now found what planet KA-El is on and he will do everything in his power to bring him to his end, even if that means the destruction of Earth and its people. Superman will rise and he will have to defend the only planet he knows and its people, will those same people he is protecting accepts him?

If you are one of the few that have yet to see Man of Steel, I hope with this review I have convinced you to go out and see it. I cant wait to own my own copy to be able to watch it over and over again. I also want to mention how Kudos to Man of Steel! It’s a movie I recommend for the family just not children under the age of 6.