Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel is undoubtedly the movie every person has been waiting for since we learned of its conception from producer Christopher Nolan (director of the Christian Bale starring Batman series) and director Zack Snyder (the guy behind Watchmen, 300 and Sucker Punch). If you know anything of these two it’s that they know how to make an excellent and action-packed feature, which is what we have in Man of Steel. Man of Steel has been highly anticipated by a plethora of individuals, all with a varying degree of insight into the importance of this feature and the DC universe. A lot of hopes have been hinging on the success of this feature so that Marvel doesn’t hold the crown for superhero awesomeness in film. The main reason being that every successful enterprise needs a little bit of good-natured rivalry so that it can stay on top of its game and here DC have accomplished this task. Competition is healthy, especially in the film business, because it prevents either from becoming stale and means that we viewers get the best of what both Marvel and DC have to offer. But enough with the logistics behind why this Superman franchise had to succeed (if you would like a more in-depth explanation then click this link HERE), let’s get on to why it did.

The story in Man of Steel is a cohesive one with very little plot-holes for the less DC-crazed of its viewership to get stuck in. The film starts with Kal-El’s (Superman’s Kryptonian name) genesis on the dying planet of Krypton where we learn the story behind his journey to Earth. Jor-El (played by a wizened Russell Crowe) realises that his planets only hope for survival lies within his new-born son and so he sends him (along with a funky gadget that holds all of his planets genetic coding called the codex) to Earth and into the caring and diligent hands of Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent. As we watch the newly-christened Clark Kent grow into an awkward teenager struggling with his superior abilities we learn more about his reasons for remaining anonymous on the planet Earth. However this anonymity cannot last when Kent meets Lois Lane (played by plucky and head-strong Amy Adams) and reveals his superior abilities to her, along with the aircraft that once belonged to his now-deceased father Jor-El. Now that Lois knows that life exists beyond the human race she is determined to reveal this secret and tracks Clark down until finally she turns up at the farm where he was raised. As you can guess, however, Clark manages to convince Lois that revealing his existence is not something Earth is ready for, and the two form a quick alliance that develops as the film progresses.

Michael Shannon is excellent as the crazed General Zod yet even he manages to imbue the maniacal character with some purpose and if it weren't for the whole wanting to commit genocide thing then you might even feel sorry for the guy. As it is genocide is just a hurdle many can't make... Better luck next time pal (well, actually...maybe not!) 

The bad-guy in this stylish set soon makes himself known and when General Zod (Michael Shannon) demands that Superman give himself up to the only surviving members of the Kryptonian race Superman selflessly does so, thinking that his surrender will ensure the safety of his beloved Earth. This quickly proves to be a ruse however and Superman and Lois find themselves in a battle to save the planet and prevent General Zod from obtaining the codex and destroying the human race so that he might replace them with the Kryptonian one. This results in a series of action-packed fight sequences within the film which were seriously impressive, if not a little overwhelming in their frequency. If I could say one thing about the film then it would be that I would have preferred an emphasis to be placed on the relationship Superman has and forms with various characters, particularly Lois’. However when it is shown by Snyder it is portrayed very believably by the two actors whose sizzling onscreen chemistry was a highlight of the film. But back to the action sequences for a moment – these were quite extraordinary in their destructive force and must have taken a remarkable amount of CGI to achieve. Just picture for a moment a crumbling Metropolis with barely a single building left standing and a vast landscape of ruin in the wake of Earth’s battle against the Kryptonian race. It’s quite a vivid image and one which was painstakingly created by the talented makers of this film. To put it plainly the visual quality of this film is, in my opinion, award-worthy and will leave DC fans watering at the mouth for the already eagerly anticipated sequel.

These two played off each other beautifully which makes me very excited for the next in the franchise. Bigger and better things are what I predict...

As for the cast behind this mammoth-like production, all I can say is that I have no complaints. The man in that blue and red suit is the embodiment of the hopeful symbol that is Superman (hey, for those that didn’t know, that’s what the “S” stands for – hope) and any protestations that Henry Cavill makes that he “Just got lucky…” when he was cast in this role are, with all due respect, wrong. Talent earned him this coveted role and rightly so for he brings to it an endearing mask of strength and humility which perfectly capture the duality of playing a character that is superior to the human race he fights to protect and wants to be a part of. Amy Adams as Lois Lane sounds unconvincing on paper (or at least it did to me) but here she proves her worth in this strong-willed role and her intrepid nature is brought to life onscreen by Adams. For those who held similar reservations on this casting choice you need not fear, Adams does justice to the role. The supporting cast is equally as impressive as the main, with convincing turns from the likes of Costner, Crowe and a personal favourite of mine – Laurence Fishburne (Bobby, The Matrix). Each brings these comic-book characters to life with remarkable ease and adds an ounce of esteem to this already respectable production.

All in all Man of Steel is hugely impressive and an excellent addition to what I’m sure will be a lengthy and successful franchise – at least here’s hoping. Though it was a little action-heavy for my liking in parts the film did leave on a nice and highly suggestive emotional note for Clark Kent’s and Lois Lane’s characters, which left me satisfied for their future within the franchise.

To cut a long story short…
Would I recommend this film? Definitely, I’m very excited for the future of this franchise and especially impressed by the actors who brought these larger-than-life characters to life. 
A film ramblers star rating? 

That's it for now folks...

P.S. For all the Smallville lovers out there a member of this shows ensemble cast, Alessandro Juliani who played Dr. Emil Hamilton  makes a cameo in the film as an IT tech guy. He even shares a scene with the actor who has taken over his role within the film. I guess that's Snyder's way of saluting the long-running show and its fan-base, many of whom, needless to say, have been eagerly awaiting the release of a new Superman. 

P.P.S. For DC lovers who still need that superhero kick on the small screen you should check out the TV show Arrow, it follows a character those Smallville fans will recognise: Oliver Queen. Its a gripping addition to the superhero kick our screens are seeing lately...

Okay, that really is it for now folks...