Man of Steel may not be super, but it's still pretty sexy

When Superman Returns was released in 2006 (Has it really been seven years??), it opened to decent box office numbers and a largely positive critical response. Kind of funny to think of that now, seeing as how it's gotten so derided over the years, you'd think we were talking about one of the Star Wars prequels. I really enjoyed Returns though. Heck, I even saw it in theaters ten times when it was first released (I'm a big Superman fan. So sue me) Despite my outspoken love for the movie, I understand why the general moviegoing public didn't really take to it. It didn't give anyone who wasn't already a fan of the character any good reasons to become one. It didn't help that it follows Richard Donner's template for his classic, genre defining marvel of a movie Superman (1978) almost to a T, mimicking plot points beat for beat without quite developing an identity of its own. Even with these flaws though, Returns is by no means a low point in superhero cinema. Especially when you measure it up against the likes of travesties such as X-Men: The Last Stand, Batman & Robin, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and even Superman III & IV. Regardless, the lukewarm reaction and underwhelming box office numbers proved too much for even the Man of Tomorrow to handle and Warner Bros., in their infinite wisdom, saw no other option but to hit the handy dandy reboot button and start from scratch.

Enter Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer who had been developing ideas for their own take on the Superman mythos during a particularly frustrating bout of writer's block while crafting the screenplay for The Dark Knight Rises. Nolan was so taken with Goyer's ideas that he immediately phoned Warner Bros. and told them what was up. Warner Bros. didn't even blink as they handed the franchise reigns over. (One of the perks of making the first superhero movie to gross a billion dollars is that people don't tend to second guess your thought process) Zack Snyder of 300 and Watchmen fame was hired to helm the picture not long after, a choice that initially seemed to be misguided. I've got nothing against Snyder himself; he seems like a pretty hip and happening guy and he has a genuine love of cinema and the skills to deliver high-octane comic book action the likes of which the world has never seen. The problem is, he hadn't quite developed the ability to make me care about what was happening in his movies. Blame the shallow screenplays he was working with, or the mediocre talent he hired (I'm looking at you, Malin Ackerman), but there's a definite lack of humanity to all of his work and if there's one thing a Superman movie needs, it's humanity.

I was a bit discouraged by the choice to hire Snyder, but the trailers for Man of Steel gave me hope. My expecations soared, but I did my best to keep them at bay. After all, I didn't just want a great trailer, I wanted a great Superman movie.

Man of Steel is not that great Superman movie.

It is, however, a good one. A very good one, actually, flaws and all. And maybe the fact that it's not the Second Coming will be disappointing to some, but the overall package works well enough that Man of Steel ends up being quite a solid outing for our hero.

Man of Steel takes it upon itself to retell the origin story. Again. Synder/Goyer take us all the way back to the moment our hero is born on Krypton. Somehow, shockingly, the sequences on Krypton are both fast-paced and drawn out. Not sure how you manage that, but I suppose that's one of this film's great mysteries. Russell Crowe plays Superman's father Jor-El in an admirable performance and, thanks to the magic of visual effects, Krypton itself is a rather breathtaking world. We've never really gotten to see the planet displayed in all its glory before, so it's kind of a nice little treat. But, don't get too attached because it's not long before the planet goes and gets all blowed up and baby Kal-El is rocketed to Earth. The film flashes forward and we see Kal-El, now all grown up, named Clark Kent, and sporting a beard, a grimace, and a remarkable six-pack that'll make men weep and women swoon. We're treated to a number of flashbacks involving Clark's childhood, learning valuable life lessons from Ma and Pa Kent. (Diane Lane and Kevin Costner respectively) But, it's clear that he's out of place in the world. He longs to discover where he comes from and what his true purpose is. This mission is put into overdrive when General Zod (Michael Shannon) arrives to threaten the people of earth, forcing Clark to rise to the challenge and become the Superman we all know and love.

Well, maybe not quite the one we know and love. Not yet, anyway...

Man of Steel takes an intriguing approach to the Superman mythos by jettisoning a lot of the innocence and 'gee-whiz!' charm that makes this character so wonderful in favor of a more somber, grounded tone. It's not nearly as dark as some critics are complaining, but it is a bit disconcerting. The gloomier mood doesn't quite fit Superman, but the movie gets more things right than wrong and, when it works, the final product is an explosively satisyfing blockbuster extravaganza. If the storytelling elements had gelled more cohesively, we might have the quintessential take on the Superman origin story on our hands, but the film as it is still works overall.

Snyder's direction is much more understated than usual. (Thank God) He trades his trademark over-stylized nature for a more grounded, handheld approach that serves the story surprisingly well. He crafts his action sequences with a level of skill that ensures that even as they bludgeon us into submission, we are still thoroughly entertained by Snyder's craft. It's too bad Goyer's script isn't quite up to par. It almost feels like two separate films: The more thoughtful first half that focuses on developing its characters, and the more explosive second half to satisfy summer blockbuster standards. It never quite manages to find the balance between satisfying emotional moments and the gloriously mind-numbing action sequences. Additionally, some controversial story beats probably would have been more effective if the build up to them had been a bit more cohesive.

Honestly, I didn't take too much issue with the *big moments* that have caused so much controversy, as you no doubt have seen on the Internet. No, the issue I have with Man of Steel is that Superman isn't quite as selfless as I would have hoped. He's supposed to be our great protector, but he spends more time punching things than actually protecting/saving people. At a certain point in the movie, I sort of accepted that the movie was going in a less thoughful direction simply because I'd never seen this level of action in a Superman movie before and it was immensely satisfying to finally see him hit someone. Still, I really hope that come sequel time, Snyder and Goyer take a bit more time to develop a more meaningful emotional connection to the chaos. Bring some meaning to the mayhem!!

This film is not without its level of humanity though. A lot of this is due to the excellent performance of Henry Cavill as Clark/Superman. He may not have a lot to work with, but he is very clearly the right man for the job, striking the perfect balance of confidence and charisma. I truly believe that if Cavill is given the right material to work with he could end up being the best Superman since Christopher Reeve and, when it comes to playing Superman, praise doesn't get much higher than that. The other key player that contributes to this film's success is Hans Zimmer who has crafted a superb score that manages to pave its own path without making you long for the days of the iconic John Williams theme. (And that's no easy feat)

The rest of the cast is effective in their roles. Amy Adams makes a great Lois Lane. She's more directly involved in the action and, for the first time, it felt like there was a reason for Superman to be attracted to her besides her good looks and fiesty personality. I've already mentioned that Crowe was great as Superman's real father, but Kevin Costner and Diane Lane give the most touching performances as Jonathan and Martha Kent. (Wish they had more screen time, though) Laurence Fishburne as Daily Planet editor Perry White is an inspired choice as well. The biggest disappointment of the whole bunch is actually Michael Shannon as General Zod. He's one of the finest actors working today, but his performance here is a bit stiff and the screenplay never develops his character quite as much as it should have.

Overall, Man of Steel may not be the triumphant return of the world's most iconic superhero, but it's a solid outing that stands strong amongst the summer competition. Honestly, I think it's better than both Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness. (At least it takes itself seriously and doesn't replay scenes from previous movies in its series) I'm a bit baffled by the mediocre critical response it's received. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's satisfying big budget entertainment and fans of Superman should get a kick out of seeing their hero in action. Now that the groundwork is set, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the filmmakers involved will make an effort to remember that Superman is not only a Man of Steel, but a Man of Heart as well.

CONCLUSION: Man of Steel offers enough high-flying action to make up at least three other movies and Henry Cavill in the title role gives us the emotional connection we need even if Goyer's screenplay doesn't. It's not perfect, but it's definitely the best blockbuster of the summer thus far and one of the better films in the Superman franchise.

FINAL RATING: 4/5