Exciting, Intriguing, and Fresh. A Dual Movie Review: Man of Steel

Genre: Action/Adventure

Director: Zack Synder

Studio: Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, DC Comics

Run Time: 143 minutes

Release: In Theaters nationwide Friday, June 14, 2013

Rated: PG-13

Combined Reviewer Rating ★★★★★

Normally, we task one person to review a film. In this instance, however, two of our writers saw Man of Steel and came away with varying perspectives, so we decided to go with a joint review. Of note is the fact that despite their differing opinions on some things, both writers not only enjoyed the film, they plan to see it again.

Judy: The Fan’s Perspective

Put your preconceived notions aside that Man of Steel is another remake of the previous versions of the Superman film franchise. Instead, think of this film as a reimagining of the legend made famous by DC Comics in the days of yore. I tried not to think about all the reruns of Adventures of Superman I watched from the 1950s TV series starring George Reeves, the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, and, of course, the rebooted television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman because I didn’t want anything to taint my experience beforehand. I also didn’t read any online articles, reviews, etc. because I wanted to see for myself whether Henry Cavill would live up to the Superman character I know and love. Cavill does a superb job of embodying the young Kryptonian outcast raised by humans to become not only the honorable Clark Kent, but the super hero the world needs.

Jonathan (Kevin Costner) talks to young Clark (Dylan Sprayberry) about his abilities and keeping them a secret.

Man of Steel is an introduction to the man who becomes Superman to the world. The stories intertwine Clark’s present with his past, showing us how growing up differently, and with certain abilities humans don’t possess, helped shape him into the man he becomes, and ultimately, the hero. I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of flashbacks to Clark’s youth—first, as a young boy learning how he came to Earth from his human father Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), and then, as a young teen struggling to keep himself hidden but eager to help others. Clark’s inner turmoil, in trying to figure out who he is, takes him on a journey far away from home out to the open sea on a fishing vessel, and to small dive bars in northern Canada. And along the way, Clark can’t seem to stop helping others who are in danger. Don’t you just love a genuinely nice {hot} guy?

Elle L.: The Skeptic’s Perspective:

In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m not going to pretend I’m a hardcore fan of the Superman comics or Superman films. Actually, I haven’t particularly enjoyed any of the previous film versions; they were too slow-paced for my taste. When Man of Steel was announced, I remained skeptical. But when I attended the Man of Steel panel during San Diego Comic-Con 2012, I heard something that made me both curious and hopeful about this film: leading man Henry Cavill saying he carried the Superman fans’ expectations in his heart.

In recent years, the summer blockbuster season has been dominated by super hero movies. With so many reboots in past years, I wondered whether Man of Steel would succeed. As the film progressed, however, I rejoiced. Finally, we have a Superman film that breaks away from the shadow of the classic films and stands on its own. That said, there are a lot of heavy flashback sequences during the first half of the film that I could have lived without, and the editing (the transition into a few of the non-action sequences) seems abrupt at times.

I’d like to make it clear that I wasn’t simply swayed by Cavill’s good looks. I’d seen plenty of dashing characters at SDCC that day to fill an entire eye-candy aisle in a supermarket – truth! It was Cavill’s humility and introspective tone that caught my attention. He sounded as if he were blessed with a heavy burden making him feel incredibly responsible, filling me with respect. I mention this because Cavill’s portrayal of Clark Kent conveys those precise emotions; it’s one of the reasons I came to care about the character: how Kal-El/Kent upholds his sense of humanity in spite of being so obviously out of this world!

Man of Steel takes us through Clark’s journey of coming to terms with who he is and how to use his powers, as well as figuring out the role he must play among humans. That process is accelerated with General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his posse’s arrival on Earth, and their plans to convert Earth into a new Krypton. As key details from the past emerge, Clark will have to make a choice as to whom he should trust—the humans vs. his native Kryptonians.

Varying Opinions About General Zod and Lois Lane:

Judy: Shannon nails his performance, fully committing to portraying the overbearing general using Zod’s banishment from Krypton as the fuel behind his portrayal of the character’s endless rage. Zod was bred to be a warrior and to protect Krypton. If you’ve seen other Superman films, particularly Superman II with Terrance Stamp as General Zod, although he did a brilliant job, I didn’t fear him as much as I did Shannon. Shannon’s deep tone reverberates with a commanding force that instills a kind of unpredictable fear. I enjoyed not knowing what Zod was going to do next. I empathized with his side of the story and the reasons he wants the Codex of Krypton while simultaneously having that sinking gut feeling he’s not to be trusted. There are no apologies when it comes to the fury of Zod’s rage.

I wondered about the chemistry between Cavill and Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane, the iconic reporter from The Daily Planet who Clark meets and then aids in an unusual circumstance. I like Adams but I’m not sure she was the right choice for the role. While I wasn’t completely wowed, Adams does an adequate job of showing the gusty side we’ve all come to expect from Lois while simultaneously making the character a bit subdued.

Laurence Fishburne as The Daily Planet's editor Perry White and Amy Adams as Lois Lane — Laurence Fishburne as The Daily Planet’s editor Perry White and Amy Adams as Lois Lane

Elle L.: I took issue with Shannon’s Zod; his tirades got old for me. Towards the end of the film, however, Shannon redeems himself when the Kryptonian back-stories come full-circle. Shannon is effective in providing credible context to his character’s motivations.

Amy Adams is solid as a contemporary Lois Lane. She provides the spunk we’ve come to expect from the character while balancing Lois’ persona with the strong intuitive interpersonal skills that make her credible as a gutsy reporter, and enable her to forge a personal connection with the caped hero.

Favorite Moments:

Judy: I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of flashbacks to Clark’s youth—first, as a young boy learning from his human father Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) how he came to Earth and then, as a young teen struggling to keep himself hidden but eager to help others. Clark’s inner turmoil, when finding out who he really is, takes him on a journey far away from home out to the open sea on a fishing vessel, and to small dive bars in northern Canada. And along the way, Clark can’t seem to stop helping others who are in danger. Don’t you just love a genuinely nice {hot} guy?

Cavill’s performance is particularly magnificent in how subtly he conveys Clark’s angst. He feels like an outcast because he is unlike any human. It’s only when Clark discovers an ancient probe ship from his home planet that he truly becomes more confident in himself as a man and as a hero. I won’t bore you with gushing over how incredibly hot I think Cavill is…because I could go on and on. Needless to say, his being cast as the super hero is one of the top reasons I was drawn to this film, aside from being a fan of the Superman character in general.

Faora-Ul (Antje Traue), General Zod’s second-incommand, pulls no punches. She is one badass bitch! While I didn’t want to like her, I admired her tenacity and loyalty to Zod. Traue is fantastic and I hope to see more of her in future action films. She kicks ass and doesn’t give two cents about taking names.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention how wonderful the entire supporting cast is. While the core of the film lies with Clark’s journey to become Superman and discovering his abilities and limitations, the plot and sub-plots in Man of Steel are crucial to shaping the overall splendor of the film. I’m hope there will be more films in this franchise with Cavill continuing his role as the beloved super hero.

The essence of Jor-El (Russell Crowe) speaking with his son Kal-El/Clark

Elle L.: My favorite moments are the scenes showcasing Clark’s relationship to his human parents, Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner). I particularly enjoyed how Jonathan’s common sense wisdom shapes Clark’s choices in the future. The strong performances by the entire ensemble cast help make all the characters compelling, allowing audiences to willingly suspend disbelief in certain scenes. Russell Crow succeeds in his portrayal of Jor-El, Kal-El’s (Clark) visionary and principled Kryptonian father (although I was surprised at the significant amount of screen time he receives). And Lawrence Fishburne, as The Daily Planet’s editor Perry White, makes the most of his screen time as a caring boss.

Christopher Nolan’s involvement as one of the producers of the film is another factor that heightened my anticipation for this film. His influence is most noted in how the backstories are weaved into the action and storylines. In addition, the special effects and visuals in Man of Steel are simply outstanding!

Final Thoughts:

Harry Lennix at Man of Steel Pre-Screening - L.A. Live Regal Cinemas, Los Angeles, CA — Harry Lennix at Man of Steel Pre-Screening – L.A. Live Regal Cinemas, Los Angeles, CA

Judy: Man of Steel is exciting and packs action with such ferocity, there are moments during a few fight scenes and military air strikes that become so palpable, I cringed. At one point, I found myself clenching my fists to my jaw in anticipation of what was to come. The cinematography and special effects are tremendous. Of course, in 3D, the film is even more spectacular. The small details — like having the water tower show “Smallville” and the tanker trucks sporting the Lexcorp logo — are nods to the original comics that should make this film resonate even more with diehard fans. I cannot claim to be one of those hardcore impassioned fans, but I am fan nonetheless. For families with kids under the age of 13, I will warn you that the violence in Man of Steel is just that – violent and powerful.

I can’t wait to see Man of Steel again. I loved it and the fangirl in me is a flutter over Cavill. He wears those tights well. And that 1000 watt smile…*swoon*

Elle L.: As the film began revisiting the origins of Superman, I became antsy; I didn’t want Man of Steel to be yet another trite reboot of the classic Superman films. No offense to those who love the previous versions but in an era of on-going super hero remakes, a fresh take on the material should be a requirement. Luckily, it didn’t take me long to figure out Man of Steel is fierce and fast-paced. I became so engaged in the film, I lost track of time wondering how else director Zack Znyder and Cavill would surprise me!

Overall, Man of Steel strikes a great balance between emotion, comedy, and intense action sequences while still providing character development. For those with young children, this isn’t a kiddie Superman flick. The content and message of the film isn’t inappropriate for kids below the age of nine. Parents should also be forewarned about the film’s lengthy duration, and how the volume of the action sequences—including violent fight scenes—could be challenging for young children.

Unlike other recent super hero films, Man of Steel is a film I would see again and again.

Tell us what you think about Man of Steel. Did you love it, hate it, or something in the middle?

Follow YEC and our two Man of Steel reviewers on Twitter @YECdotcom, Judy @judybopp, and Elle L. @lutzelle

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.