“I don’t think it’s a good movie, it’s just not horrible” – me.
I watched Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel for the first time since it came out in 2013. (Strangely, it was part of an odd double feature my friends and I planned. I don’t recommend pairing it with The World’s End.) I was indifferent going into this second viewing. When I talk about Man of Steel, I’m never surewhether it’s a putrid mess of a superhero film or an underappreciated masterpiece. That’s the problem of discussing it; those are the only sides one could take. I’ve yet to meet someone in the middle, except me. I was never comfortable to openly admit that I enjoy parts of this movie. Until now. It’s fresh in my mind, I can look at it through the lens of a jaded film critic student and I can tell you…it’s a good movie.
Here are the parts of Man of Steel I enjoyed and the parts that continue to irritate me. Since Superman is a beacon of hope and positivity, we’ll end this piece on a high note, focusing on the good. Let’s get the bad out of the way.
THE BAD
Lois Lane
I get it. She’s an important character in Superman lore. She’s Kal-El’s main love interest and confidante.. In the context of Man of Steel, she’s shoehorned into a story that is much too epic and bombastic to care about her. Honestly, I’d rather see Superman’s love interest be the teenage girl who he saves on the school bus as a kid. Of course, she’d have to be around Clark’s age when the main conflict takes place. We don’t want Superman to be a statutory rapist, now do we?
The story makes her integral to Superman’s quest to stop Zod, ridiculously so. Zod’s request for Lois to accompany Kal aboard his Kryptonian ship is:
1. Uncalled for, and,
2. Never explained, even when she’s aboard the vessel.
Her only purpose is to upload Russell Crowe (sorry I mean Jor-El) to the ship’s mainframe and help Superman gain his powers back. Even though her escape sequence with Jor-El is neat, it’s forced.
Her “hard-hitting reporter” shtick is unbelievable. Amy Adams saying “Let’s stop measuring dicks here” is easily one of the most laughable moments of the film.
It’s Doesn’t Really Feel Like a Superman Movie
After seeing Unbreakable for the first time a week ago, I feel like Man of Steel would’ve been better off being a film much like M. Night Shymalan’s,one that’s not necessarily about being a superhero, but rather a tale focusing on the psychological repercussions of becoming one. Yes, that’s an essential part of the movie, but the problem is the other story lines and Superman himself. As many fans have complained, Man of Steel never feels like a Superman movie. It’s too dark, disassociating itself from the light fun associated with Superman both in the comics and in previous films. Henry Cavill lacks the charm associated with the superhero and never comes off as likeable, only troubled. If Zack Snyder ever gets to make an original film (that isn’t in anyway related to or as bad as Sucker Punch), it should be something in the vein of Unbreakable. I know he has a good original movie in him somewhere.
The Destruction
Most people’s common complaints - “The fight scene at the end is, like, an hour long!!” “Superman’s more of a terrorist than a superhero haw haw!”
There are two sides to this (the other side I’ll get into later on), but I can see why the over the top destruction left many people uneasy. The final battle in Metropolis has 9/11 undertones and the fact that conceivably tens of thousands of people died without a mention is messed up. The fight scenes simply go on too long. The battle in Smallville runs its course after the third or fourth fighter jet going down, yet the explosions and wanton destruction continue. However, I’ll explain why that could be seen as something the film benefits from.
OTHER GRIPES
-The non-superhero fight scenes are poorly choreographed (see: Zod v. Jor-El fight at the beginning of the movie)
-The tentacles on the World Engine are unnecessary and they look ridiculous.
-Mackenzie Gray as Jax-Ur, also known as the evil Kryptonian Nazi scientist. Between Man of Steel and Amazing Spider-Man 2, I don’t know which movie has a more out of place German scientist.
-The “He’s kind of hot” line. So dumb.
THE GOOD
Clark Kent’s Upbringing and Origin
The heart and soul of Man of Steel is Superman’s origin story. Clark learning he is Kal-El and coming to terms with his extraterrestrial origins is by far the best written and acted portion of the movie. Deciding to tell a tale about an alien trying to adapt to society rather than just doing a run of the mill Superman story is one of the reasons why this film is unique to superhero movies. Learning life lessons from his two fathers*, his natural father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his adoptive father Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), creates an interesting and conflicting dynamic within Superman. Throughout the flashbacks with Jonathan and the conversations with Jor-El, we learn about the men’s two different philosophies. Jor-El wants his son to show his powers to the world to inspire them; Jonathan worries that Clark’s abilities will make him feared by everyone around him. It’s a well-executed part of the story and makes Superman a more complex and involving character than ever before.
*When I wrote that, I immediately thought about the prospect of a gay Superman. I’d watch it.
Additionally, these father roles are well acted, especially by Kevin Costner. The conversations he has with Clark are raw and emotional, adjectives uncharacteristic of Superman movies, but also of Zack Snyder movies. (You could apply the term “raw” to 300, but that’s not the type of raw I mean here.) Not only are Clark’s familial storylines well done, but so his personal story. The scenes where he’s a child at school are great. The shock and terror he experiences while adjusting to his super powers is stirring and you end up feeling bad for the poor kid. If you suddenly started having x-ray vision, super hearing and heat vision all at the same time, I guarantee you’d be overwhelmed. I’ll admit that the brief scene at school between Martha Kent (Diane Lane) and kid Clark got me a little choked up. No matter how chaotic the movie may be at times, there are always scenes between Martha and Clark that make Man of Steel personal and resonant.
Krypton
Seeing Kal-El’s homeworld on screen for the first time was a fresh surprise. I forgot how much of the beginning of Man of Steel focuses on Krypton (about 15 minutes). It’s a unique vision that fits in with Superman’s alien origins. It looks and feels extraterrestrial and alive. With Krypton’s red sun in the background, there are some incredibly beautiful shots in the opening of this movie. Snyder’s version of Krypton and the lore that came with it add an intriguing sci-fi element into Man of Steel.
Hans Zimmer
One of the most integral parts of the movie is Hans Zimmer’s score. It amplifies the excitement during the film’s most intense sequences and also manages to stir up tears during the quieter, tender moments. The main theme for Man of Steel is one of the best film compositions I’ve heard. It captures Superman’s spirit while managing to adhere to Snyder’s darker vision. Like many other Zimmer scores, it stands alone as an impressive and emotive collection of music.
The Destruction (again)
First of all, the Metropolis fight only lasts for about 10 minutes. It’s really not that drawn out.
What makes Man of Steel good (I won’t say great. I’m not that crazy.) is the origin story. We get to see an inexperienced and naïve Superman go up against his first villain. (Unless you count that douche at the bar in Alaska, then Zod would be the second villain he’s faced.) Superman makes it his duty to protect the people of Earth from a force that’s never been encountered and can only be defeated by him. Do you think that he’d use all of his strength and power to protect the one’s he loves? You’re goddamn right he would! And that’s why the destruction makes so much sense. He hasn’t learned yet to control his powers when it comes to these types of situations because he’s never been in a situation like this before! Of course he’s going to destroy a quarter of Metropolis and the IHOP in Smallville! If Superman’s main goal is to save the entire planet, then, while possible thousands died, billions get to still live because of Superman’s actions. The seemingly endless and grand scale of the destruction caused by Kal-El and Zod makes sense because that’s what would be the result of two god-like men fighting each other. It’s not going to be a tidy affair. Think about it: Zod says that Superman has taken “away his soul” with the World Engine being destroyed. He has no reason to keep on living. He’s filled to the brim with hatred and anger. Superman knows that. To prevent this maniac from murdering everyone he can, Superman must fight with every inch of his being to save everyone that hasn’t already died at the hands of Zod.
Zack Snyder
Woah. Never thought I’d refer to Snyder as a positive. But honestly, the man made a Superman movie with action and heart, albeit with some noticeable flaws. Now, I don’t claim to be a die-hard Superman fan, but I can appreciate a good superhero movie when I see one. And Snyder makes it work in my opinion. Scenes of Kal-El flying at supersonic speeds are invigorating. High energy camera movements and crash zooms make his super human feats real. His upbringing is presented with honesty and emotion, something Snyder had never done effectively until now. The gripes people have with the writing can be attributed to David S. Goyer.. Zack Snyder made Superman relevant and alive. Even with the uncharacteristically dark tone, in Man of Steel, there are ample moments of hope and awe.
OTHER PLUSSES
-The scene of Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) trying to save Jenny Olsen while Superman is fighting the World Engine still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. By far one of the most moving parts of the film.
-The World Engine sound. Love it!
- Superman first learning to use his powers.
-The Jor-El/Lois Lane escape sequence is fun. Although he’s no Brando, Russell Crowe is a good Jor-El.
-Although it may be cheesy, I love the “Welcome to the planet” line that Lois says to Clark at the end of the movie.
Rewatching Man of Steel made me appreciate Zack Snyder’s take on Superman. Clark Kent’s origin story is one filled with heart and is truly the shining part of this movie. While it has its moments of meaningless action and a few very poorly written characters, it’s a good film. I may go to Hell for admitting it and I’ll probably be outcast from the Cinema Studies department at my college, but I was pleasantly surprised the I enjoyed Man of Steel as much as I did on my second viewing.
I watched Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel for the first time since it came out in 2013. (Strangely, it was part of an odd double feature my friends and I planned. I don’t recommend pairing it with The World’s End.) I was indifferent going into this second viewing. When I talk about Man of Steel, I’m never surewhether it’s a putrid mess of a superhero film or an underappreciated masterpiece. That’s the problem of discussing it; those are the only sides one could take. I’ve yet to meet someone in the middle, except me. I was never comfortable to openly admit that I enjoy parts of this movie. Until now. It’s fresh in my mind, I can look at it through the lens of a jaded film critic student and I can tell you…it’s a good movie.
Here are the parts of Man of Steel I enjoyed and the parts that continue to irritate me. Since Superman is a beacon of hope and positivity, we’ll end this piece on a high note, focusing on the good. Let’s get the bad out of the way.
THE BAD
Lois Lane
I get it. She’s an important character in Superman lore. She’s Kal-El’s main love interest and confidante.. In the context of Man of Steel, she’s shoehorned into a story that is much too epic and bombastic to care about her. Honestly, I’d rather see Superman’s love interest be the teenage girl who he saves on the school bus as a kid. Of course, she’d have to be around Clark’s age when the main conflict takes place. We don’t want Superman to be a statutory rapist, now do we?
The story makes her integral to Superman’s quest to stop Zod, ridiculously so. Zod’s request for Lois to accompany Kal aboard his Kryptonian ship is:
1. Uncalled for, and,
2. Never explained, even when she’s aboard the vessel.
Her only purpose is to upload Russell Crowe (sorry I mean Jor-El) to the ship’s mainframe and help Superman gain his powers back. Even though her escape sequence with Jor-El is neat, it’s forced.
Her “hard-hitting reporter” shtick is unbelievable. Amy Adams saying “Let’s stop measuring dicks here” is easily one of the most laughable moments of the film.
It’s Doesn’t Really Feel Like a Superman Movie
After seeing Unbreakable for the first time a week ago, I feel like Man of Steel would’ve been better off being a film much like M. Night Shymalan’s,one that’s not necessarily about being a superhero, but rather a tale focusing on the psychological repercussions of becoming one. Yes, that’s an essential part of the movie, but the problem is the other story lines and Superman himself. As many fans have complained, Man of Steel never feels like a Superman movie. It’s too dark, disassociating itself from the light fun associated with Superman both in the comics and in previous films. Henry Cavill lacks the charm associated with the superhero and never comes off as likeable, only troubled. If Zack Snyder ever gets to make an original film (that isn’t in anyway related to or as bad as Sucker Punch), it should be something in the vein of Unbreakable. I know he has a good original movie in him somewhere.
The Destruction
Most people’s common complaints - “The fight scene at the end is, like, an hour long!!” “Superman’s more of a terrorist than a superhero haw haw!”
There are two sides to this (the other side I’ll get into later on), but I can see why the over the top destruction left many people uneasy. The final battle in Metropolis has 9/11 undertones and the fact that conceivably tens of thousands of people died without a mention is messed up. The fight scenes simply go on too long. The battle in Smallville runs its course after the third or fourth fighter jet going down, yet the explosions and wanton destruction continue. However, I’ll explain why that could be seen as something the film benefits from.
OTHER GRIPES
-The non-superhero fight scenes are poorly choreographed (see: Zod v. Jor-El fight at the beginning of the movie)
-The tentacles on the World Engine are unnecessary and they look ridiculous.
-Mackenzie Gray as Jax-Ur, also known as the evil Kryptonian Nazi scientist. Between Man of Steel and Amazing Spider-Man 2, I don’t know which movie has a more out of place German scientist.
-The “He’s kind of hot” line. So dumb.
THE GOOD
Clark Kent’s Upbringing and Origin
The heart and soul of Man of Steel is Superman’s origin story. Clark learning he is Kal-El and coming to terms with his extraterrestrial origins is by far the best written and acted portion of the movie. Deciding to tell a tale about an alien trying to adapt to society rather than just doing a run of the mill Superman story is one of the reasons why this film is unique to superhero movies. Learning life lessons from his two fathers*, his natural father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his adoptive father Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), creates an interesting and conflicting dynamic within Superman. Throughout the flashbacks with Jonathan and the conversations with Jor-El, we learn about the men’s two different philosophies. Jor-El wants his son to show his powers to the world to inspire them; Jonathan worries that Clark’s abilities will make him feared by everyone around him. It’s a well-executed part of the story and makes Superman a more complex and involving character than ever before.
*When I wrote that, I immediately thought about the prospect of a gay Superman. I’d watch it.
Additionally, these father roles are well acted, especially by Kevin Costner. The conversations he has with Clark are raw and emotional, adjectives uncharacteristic of Superman movies, but also of Zack Snyder movies. (You could apply the term “raw” to 300, but that’s not the type of raw I mean here.) Not only are Clark’s familial storylines well done, but so his personal story. The scenes where he’s a child at school are great. The shock and terror he experiences while adjusting to his super powers is stirring and you end up feeling bad for the poor kid. If you suddenly started having x-ray vision, super hearing and heat vision all at the same time, I guarantee you’d be overwhelmed. I’ll admit that the brief scene at school between Martha Kent (Diane Lane) and kid Clark got me a little choked up. No matter how chaotic the movie may be at times, there are always scenes between Martha and Clark that make Man of Steel personal and resonant.
Krypton
Seeing Kal-El’s homeworld on screen for the first time was a fresh surprise. I forgot how much of the beginning of Man of Steel focuses on Krypton (about 15 minutes). It’s a unique vision that fits in with Superman’s alien origins. It looks and feels extraterrestrial and alive. With Krypton’s red sun in the background, there are some incredibly beautiful shots in the opening of this movie. Snyder’s version of Krypton and the lore that came with it add an intriguing sci-fi element into Man of Steel.
Hans Zimmer
One of the most integral parts of the movie is Hans Zimmer’s score. It amplifies the excitement during the film’s most intense sequences and also manages to stir up tears during the quieter, tender moments. The main theme for Man of Steel is one of the best film compositions I’ve heard. It captures Superman’s spirit while managing to adhere to Snyder’s darker vision. Like many other Zimmer scores, it stands alone as an impressive and emotive collection of music.
The Destruction (again)
First of all, the Metropolis fight only lasts for about 10 minutes. It’s really not that drawn out.
What makes Man of Steel good (I won’t say great. I’m not that crazy.) is the origin story. We get to see an inexperienced and naïve Superman go up against his first villain. (Unless you count that douche at the bar in Alaska, then Zod would be the second villain he’s faced.) Superman makes it his duty to protect the people of Earth from a force that’s never been encountered and can only be defeated by him. Do you think that he’d use all of his strength and power to protect the one’s he loves? You’re goddamn right he would! And that’s why the destruction makes so much sense. He hasn’t learned yet to control his powers when it comes to these types of situations because he’s never been in a situation like this before! Of course he’s going to destroy a quarter of Metropolis and the IHOP in Smallville! If Superman’s main goal is to save the entire planet, then, while possible thousands died, billions get to still live because of Superman’s actions. The seemingly endless and grand scale of the destruction caused by Kal-El and Zod makes sense because that’s what would be the result of two god-like men fighting each other. It’s not going to be a tidy affair. Think about it: Zod says that Superman has taken “away his soul” with the World Engine being destroyed. He has no reason to keep on living. He’s filled to the brim with hatred and anger. Superman knows that. To prevent this maniac from murdering everyone he can, Superman must fight with every inch of his being to save everyone that hasn’t already died at the hands of Zod.
Zack Snyder
Woah. Never thought I’d refer to Snyder as a positive. But honestly, the man made a Superman movie with action and heart, albeit with some noticeable flaws. Now, I don’t claim to be a die-hard Superman fan, but I can appreciate a good superhero movie when I see one. And Snyder makes it work in my opinion. Scenes of Kal-El flying at supersonic speeds are invigorating. High energy camera movements and crash zooms make his super human feats real. His upbringing is presented with honesty and emotion, something Snyder had never done effectively until now. The gripes people have with the writing can be attributed to David S. Goyer.. Zack Snyder made Superman relevant and alive. Even with the uncharacteristically dark tone, in Man of Steel, there are ample moments of hope and awe.
OTHER PLUSSES
-The scene of Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) trying to save Jenny Olsen while Superman is fighting the World Engine still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. By far one of the most moving parts of the film.
-The World Engine sound. Love it!
- Superman first learning to use his powers.
-The Jor-El/Lois Lane escape sequence is fun. Although he’s no Brando, Russell Crowe is a good Jor-El.
-Although it may be cheesy, I love the “Welcome to the planet” line that Lois says to Clark at the end of the movie.
Rewatching Man of Steel made me appreciate Zack Snyder’s take on Superman. Clark Kent’s origin story is one filled with heart and is truly the shining part of this movie. While it has its moments of meaningless action and a few very poorly written characters, it’s a good film. I may go to Hell for admitting it and I’ll probably be outcast from the Cinema Studies department at my college, but I was pleasantly surprised the I enjoyed Man of Steel as much as I did on my second viewing.