'Man of Steel' Media Review


Director:  Zack Snyder
Screenplay:  David S. Goyer
Starring:  Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Lawrence Fishburne, Russell Crowe
Music:  Hans Zimmer
Distributor:  Warner Bros. Pictures


It’s fair to say that ‘Man of Steel’ is a film with high expectations. After the nostalgic romp that was ‘Superman Returns’, many enthusiasts were left underwhelmed by the lack of action from Superman. After grappling with Zod and brawling with Nuclear Man, it seemed that the Man of Steel had less to contend with in the 21st century, aside from an overzealous Lex Luthor and his less-than-competent henchmen. So... what does ‘Man of Steel’ bring to the table? Does it have action? Does it have romance? 

The short answer to those would be “yes”, but perhaps the question we should be asking is “is it the film we (the fans) have been waiting for?” Read on...

‘Man of Steel’ follows the basic premise of most introductory Superman stories, though there are ample twists and turns to satisfy viewers wanting something different to Richard Donner’s ‘Superman’ (1978). The film opens on a dystopian Krypton, rich in plants and animals – a far cry from the crystal monoliths of 1978. As Krypton’s natural resources are exhausted by the government, the planet grows unstable, so scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Diane Lane) place their infant son, Kal in a ship and launch him to Earth. On Earth, the young child is raised by the Kent family, instilling their morals and principles in him, so that when danger - in the form of Kryptonian renegade, General Zod (Michael Shannon) - arrives, he’ll know what to do. Not unlike ‘Batman Begins’, the film employs a non-linear narrative, so that we (the viewer) learn of this man’s origin through flashbacks occurring throughout his life. It transpires that Clark’s upbringing was not an easy one, coping with bullies and isolation, and the path he takes to become Superman is perhaps the most elaborate yet. 

What this film exceeds in is reinventing the Superman mythos. Kudos to Snyder and Goyer for not being tied down by Superman lore, instead using it as a springboard to create a new tale almost completely. I was astounded by the number of changes and alterations they had made, and I mean that in a very, very positive manner of speaking.

Something most ardent Superman fans will be curious about is Henry Cavill, the Man of Steel. Having auditioned for the leading role in ‘Superman Returns’, Bryan Singer felt he was too young for the role (21). But now he’s landed the role, just how super is he? The answer to that would be... very. Cavill excels in the role, appearing physically strong but emotionally vulnerable on account of his childhood experiences. At this stage there isn’t a clear difference between Clark Kent and Superman, though there are some enticing hints along the way of what is to come. Physically, he’s reminiscent of the late Christopher Reeve, but his performance is new and profound. 

Amy Adams portrays a striking Lois Lane, determined to uncover the truth behind this mysterious hero. It’s clear from the outset that Adams was the perfect choice for the role, portraying her as both resolute but not without moments of compassion. Adams’ chemistry with Cavill is truly super, reminding me personally of Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher’s chemistry in ‘The New Adventures of
Superman’ (1993-1997). I would go so far as to say that it even surpasses that of the Reeve/Kidder dynamic. 

Michael Shannon portrays a nefarious General Zod, the villain of the film. As my favourite villain in the Superman franchise, I was keen that Shannon did the role justice. And so he did. As wicked as Terence Stamp’s depiction, Zod now seeks to destroy Superman to ensure the survival of Krypton. A truly terrifying performance, though alas, no “Kneel before Zod” this time. 
Another highlight of this splendid cast is Russell Crowe, who reinvents the character of Jor-El. I was especially enthused to see Jor-El enter combat with Zod – something Marlon Brando’s Jor-El would never have done – and it’s clear his natural will for good lives on in his son. I hope his character is expanded on in subsequent films, as he’s just about the only positive representation of Krypton to Kal-El. 

‘Man of Steel’ further removes itself from its predecessors in that it takes on a new musical tone. Gone is John Williams’ orchestral Superman march, replaced with a somewhat sombre piano leitmotif played throughout the film. Hans Zimmer admittedly left me underwhelmed by this score; I felt it was too similar to his work in ‘Batman Begins’, and since hearing Zimmer’s score for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ I fully believe he is capable of creating an iconic superhero theme. 

On a more positive note, it is worth noting that the cinematography in this film is absolutely stunning. Emphasising the darker tone to this tale, the film doesn’t use the bright blues, yellows and reds you would associate with Superman, instead taking on a more subdued, darker tone. The CGI is also first-rate, with particular reference to the Kryptonian landscape we see in the first few minutes of the film. Later on you can look forward to explosions, energy beams and toppling skyscrapers. 

Verdict: To answer my own question, “is it the film we’ve been waiting for?” the answer would have to be a resounding “no”. But that’s because I don’t think anybody anticipated a Superman film like this. Just like when Richard Donner gave us ‘Superman’, after years of associating superheroes with comedy serials, we finally had a serious feature film. I’m fairly certain that this film will be a trend-setter for all the right reasons. The standard has been set, and the bar is astronomically high. 



Rating: 4.5/5 



Theatrical Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVu3gS7iJu4