MAN OF STEEL (2013)
Reviewed By Jerry Saravia
Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" is not like any Superman movie I've ever seen. It is a sweeping, occasionally jarring and uneven yet completely watchable tale of an alien who has to hide his superpowers so as not to divulge his true identity. As I said, this is not your typical Superman flick (the name Superman, is only said twice) and, though I had reservations a few months back about revisiting his origin and witnessing a muted red-and-blue suit, this movie bravely and often brilliantly changes aspects of our favorite flying hero and makes him more human than we had ever seen before since, well, since "Superman II." Forget the limp, forgettable "Superman Returns," this is the richest, most complex Superman movie we've had in quite some time.
Snyder starts his film in Krypton, which looks decidedly more sepia-toned and uninviting than the icy, blue hues of the Christopher Reeve version. This Krypton looks more alive with flying creatures and many unhappy residents, not to mention a council of leaders who sit and ponder people's fates (even Kal-El's mother, who gives birth in the opening scene, is joyless). Jor-El (Russell Crowe) warns the disbelieving council of Krypton's last remaining days as a planet. General Zod (Michael Shannon - superbly intense beyond the subtleties of Terence Stamp) stages a military coup while Jor-El's son, Kal-El, is sent to Earth in an ugly-looking metallic vessel. Before one starts yawning with a "been there, seen that" attitude, the film jarringly cuts to an oil rig with an older Kal-El, now known as Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), who saves workers from an explosion. Then we get several flashback scenes to Kal-El's early years living with Ma and Pa Kent (Diane Lane, Kevin Costner) where Kal-El has to keep his super strength secret, even when saving dozens of kids in a school bus or in his refusal to fight bullies.
"Man of Steel" jumps headlong into Krypton without any flashy title credit sequence or the iconic John Williams score. For a while, the movie rushes through its Krypton scenes without pausing for any real character motivation or interest - it is just the set-up. Jor-El warns the council, Zod appears and kills Jor-El, Kal-El flies into space, Zod and his minions are imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, Krypton explodes - it all happens too abruptly and in a flash. Then we see a bearded Clark Kent working a rig and I felt a little frustrated with the movie's erratic pacing and headache-inducing hand-held camera shots. Suddenly, we see ambitious Lois Lane (Amy Adams - perfectly cast), who prides herself on being a Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporter and whom we never see striking a single key in a typewriter or a computer! She gets wind of the Arctic alien vessel, sees the Superman and tries to get wind of his past history on Earth. Daily Planet editor Perry White appears but there isn't much of Laurence Fishburne in what could have been a juicy role. As I said, all this felt a little rushed and haphazard after the first half-hour.
But then there is a miracle. "Man of Steel" finds its footing after all the unnecessary exposition that we have seen before (all the codex talk is new, as is Zod's master race plans). Henry Cavill is amazingly convincing as a man who can't find his place on Earth and expresses doubt about his abilities to help mankind. When he first wears the suit and cape, he can't quite fly right - practice makes perfect. When Zod wishes to see him or else Earth will be held captive, Clark first visits the military in handcuffs and agrees to Zod's demands before knowing of the general's true intentions. One of a handful of powerful moments still has me shaking in my boots, my red boots (I wish). In one of many compelling flashbacks, Clark sees his Earth father, Pa Kent (Kevin Costner), trying to save the family dog from a major twister. Pa gives his son a look that he knows he is a goner and Clark screams with such deep emotion, your eyes will water.
"Man of Steel" has a 45-minute climax with CGI-heavy effects of Superman fighting Zod and his minions all over Metropolis, destroying half of the city and leaving it in ruins. Shots of colliding towers and skyscrapers toppling over each other as clouds of smoke and debris fill the air is a little too reminiscent of 9/11 (we obviously live in a post-9/11 world but comic-book movies have shown some of the iconic imagery of that tragic day a little too often). I much prefer the chaos from "Superman II" where Superman yelled at the villains who were ready to demolish a bus full of people: "Don't do it! The people!" In 2013, the special-effects show far more destruction than what could been achieved in 1981 but, please people, less is more. Still, it is rousing fun to see Superman beating up Zod and trying to prevent total annihilation of the human race - the action has verve and purpose and you hope everything turns out okay after the smoke has settled. There is a funny moment of perfectly-timed chaos when Zod confronts Ma Kent, wanting that damn codex. She expresses no knowledge of it and Zod gets so angry, he tosses a truck into her house!
"Man of Steel" is hardly a great movie, gets mired in much too much philosophizing, and it is not as upbeat as the Chris Reeve films (the first two have been incorrectly regarded as campy and they are not. Watch them again, Supe fans). 2013's Superman incarnation is a more elegiac rendering, has darker tones (Christopher Nolan's hand can be felt here) but it is never less than enthralling and potent. Cavill makes all the difference as Superman, showing greater sensitivity and humanity than ever before. He makes us wonder about Superman's existential musings on his purpose where his superhuman capabilities, not his identity this time around, cannot be revealed to mankind. Pa Kent tries to help him, so does Jor-El but it is up to Superman to find his inner self and expose himself as Earth's savior. It is those elements that make us care and, in that respect, it makes us believe that a man can fly all over again.
Footnote: As for the controversial ending, check out this detailed page on Superman's past confrontations with criminals and supervillains. http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/theSentry/news/?a=93008
