A Conflicted Alien Rises to Battle Evil While Ridiculously Handsome
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PREFACE: I don't usually review movies, even comic book movies, and I had no intention of reviewing Zack Snyder's Superman epic, Man of Steel, but because of the inanity of reviews of movie critics and the disparity between them and the movie-going public I felt compelled to throw in my two cents. Now on occasion I'll do a quick review of comic books that are noteworthy but I've refrained from movie reviews because who wants or needs another blogger sharing their opinions on the latest superhero movie? It wasn't until a movie reviewer, someone actually paid for their published opinion, wrote "I like my superheroes light and sweet" and Man of Steel "skimps on fun and romance" that I was so enraged that I looked closer at the critics and found a disconnect between what they expected and what was actually on screen. The final evidence was found on Rotten Tomatoes where critics' aggregate score was 56% (four points short of Certified Fresh) while the Audience score was 82%. Something was amiss and I soon realized that many were hoping to see a remake of the 1978 Richard Donner classic, Superman: The Movie. A film that also told the origin story of Superman and along the way found romance with Lois Lane while battling a campy version of Lex Luthor. Critics were rudely awakened this time when writer David S. Goyer brought the famed Kryptonian to a cynical Earth.
REVIEW: The movie begins on Krypton and we get to see not only that world like never before on screen but we also get to see Jor-El's status as a badass scientist. Played with calm elegance and controlled fury by Russel Crowe his warnings of a depleted planet soon to explode fall on deaf ears on the council which leaves the treasonous General Zod to stage a bloody coup. Michael Shannon does a great a job as the imposing and mercurial General. He attempts and fails to A.) Arrest Jor-El and B.) prevent Jor-El's newborn son to be shipped off the dying planet. He subsequently kills Jor-El. His coup falls short too and he and his band of soldiers are sentenced to the Phantom Zone much like in the 1980 film but without the flying guitar pick. Some critics found these scenes long and unnecessary. I thought it set the stage just fine for the rest of the film and helped define the ruthlessness of Zod.
Sidenote: Jor-El rides a fucking Kryptonian dragon. How can that be bad?! Critics suck while dragons rock!
After Krypton explodes to pieces we cut to a grown up bearded grungy-looking Clark Kent (the distractingly handsome, clef-chinned Henry Cavill) who through his meandering across America we see his superhero exploits before donning the cape. He's just a guy trying to help people in danger (or messing with the douchebag at the bar he worked). There are also flashbacks to his childhood where he felt like a freak because x-ray and heat vision are just not typically of grade schoolers. This is where I felt the filmmakers did a genius job of presenting action early in the movie. Oftentimes, with origin movies the audience has to wait for the lead to acquire his powers or don a suit. With Superman as both an adult and a child in flashback we get to see acts of heroism sooner than usual. It keeps the audience engaged and at the same time gives them vital information about his upbringing during his formative years. Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) provide the guidance to the young Clark Kent and reveal to him how he arrived to them. Fearing he would be taken away from him and put in danger, Pa Kent continually reminds Clark to resist "coming out" regardless of the situation. This was painfully illustrated during a tornado that cost Pa his life.
During an icy excavation, the resourceful Lois Lane finds her way on board and soon comes to follow our stubbly-faced hero into what is revealed a scout ship embedded itself in the ice for over 20,000 years. There, Clark is reunited with the phantom of his dad, Jor-El, and receives a history lesson as well as the reason he was shipped off to Earth in the first place. Now if you wanted to be honestly critical of the film, instead of ridiculous complaints of missing red undies, then I would offer this about the problem with ALL origin films: the exposition. While I know it's necessary to explain things to the character about his background it also gets rehashed to the audience. We just saw young Kent aka Kal-El rocket off Krypton now we have to hear about again. It's a cross we all have to bear.
Sidenote: Unlike some critics I found Lois knowing Superman's identity in the beginning made more sense than insulting her intelligence by trying to disguise him with glasses and hair gel. She's a not a fucking moron!
Amy Adams as Lois is quite excellent as I expected. She adds a gravitas to the role with confidence without trying very hard. She's very natural in the role of a relentless reporter. She too comes to learn of Kent's alienness while on that ship but then is whisked away without knowing his identity. Meanwhile, Kent/Kal-El pilots the scout ship away to icier waters. Lois, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, begins to retrace the steps of the enigmatic stubbly-haired wonder leading her to the Kent farm. There Clark pleads for her to stop from exposing him as it could cost his Earth-family harm. Cue the bad guys to muck things up.
Sidenote: I did not miss Jimmy Olsen one bit. What does he add to the story anyway? Lois is quite capable taking her own photos and I don't need a fucking ginger to get in the way!
While Kal-El learns to fly, which is a fantastic sequence, it becomes apparent to the US military that something is amiss around the moon. Soon we learn that General Zod and his co-horts are free and looking for Kal-El to surrender or the Earth gets it. Kal does surrender to the military and Lois. The scene with her in the interrogation room is one of the lighter moments and a highlight. Critics say there isn't much humor or charm but this was one of those times there definitely was. I think critics wanted more romantic shenanigans but there's an alien warlord aiming to destroy the Earth and they want The Notebook to break out. There's work to be done and so Kal and Lois surrender to Zod. While on Zod's ship they learn that he wants to turn Earth into the new Krypton and with some help from Phantom Jor-El they both escape.
Let me try and wrap-up what happens next. What ensues is some the most exhilarating action scenes ever seen in any Superman movie. Kal's trail leads Zod and Co. to Smallville where the fight ends up on main street and introduces audiences to one of the baddest, ass-kicking female villains in movie history. Faora, Zod's right hand Commander, relishes conflict and after adapting to the atmosphere shows she's more than capable of fighting off dozens of military personnel and firepower all on her own. Her ruthless cunning and adept fighting is probably a better skilled fighter than Zod himself. Antje Traue plays her wonderfully. She has few lines but uses her facial expressions to express so many emotions all within the same scene it's a joy to watch. It easily could have deteriorated into campy Power Ranger-style theatrics but Traue maintained a steely fierceness. It's difficult enough to have one strong female character in a blockbuster film but here you have two with Lois and Faora.
Sidenote: At some point, Hollywood will get their heads out of their asses and realize that women, strong women, as long as you give them good material can be a draw at the box office.
The action eventually reaches Metropolis. After stopping the expansion of the Earth and sending Zod's minions through a black hole or something, Supes and Zod square off in a bare knuckle brawl through the air and buildings of Metropolis. (Now I will admit I'm sensitive to those unnerved by the images of buildings falling left and right during that fight. You're well withing your rights.) However, it's the Superman we fans have been begging to see for decades. After the well-intentioned but awful Superman Returns where he threw zero punches it was exciting to see not only fight but fight a villain his equal. The next 40 or so minutes are filled with unbelievable mid-air punching sequences, both being thrown through multiple buildings, and just a constant barrage of aggression. Some critics said it was overkill and perhaps it was but when you have two virtually invincible super-aliens duking it out in downtown Metropolis you should expect a drawn out brawl.
Sidenote: To those unwilling to evolve with this version of Superman I say grow the fuck up! You can't expect Kal-El, a guy who just starting playing superhero openly for a couple of days, to have the wherewithal to tell Zod "Timeout! Let's move the fight over a desert or something so we can avoid citizens down below."
Zack Snyder's technique and skill at action films really shines during the final sequences. A lot of people were worried he'd employ his slow-to-fast motion technique he used during 300 but he refrained and instead showcased CG work that was flawless. The destruction looked realistic and the speed with which punches and bodies were thrown were not cartoonish in the least. Some said it resembled a video game. To that I would say some video games trailers and vignettes showed what was capable of DC Comics character given the chance to engage each other. Some fans were clamoring for that kind of action. But it's more than that. This was a chance to really expand on the most powerful superhero in popular culture. Why continue to hold him back? Especially against a villain like Zod. The best way to start a new film franchise is to let Superman be great and spectacular for the world to see. Pa Kent wouldn't approve of course. Superman has a conscious and killing Zod was the only way to prevent him from killing again. It pained him. It may not be the Superman some wanted to see but it was the one that had to emerge in this day and age. And a franchise is reborn.
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