Man of Steel

Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Henry Cavill(Clark/Kal-El/Superman), Amy Adams(Loise Lane), Russell Crowe(Jor-El), Ayelet Zurer(Lara), Kevin Costner(Jonathon Kent), Diane Lane(Martha Kent), Laurence Fishburne(Perry White), Christopher Meloni(Colonel Nathan), Antje Traue(Faora), Michael Shannon(Zod)

Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of fantasy violence and mild language)

Running Time:143 minutes

Overall Opinion. (4 stars)

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a big superhero icon. Superman, one of the most well known characters of the superhero universe, has just touched down on a landmark of 75 years since is first appearance in comics back in 1938. That being the case, its only natural that filmmakers should yet again attempt to bring the big ‘S’ back to the big screen. Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300) and writer of the film Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins Trilogy) are picked as the team to face this feet. After numerous reancarnations, the most recent being the rather disappointing ‘christopher reeve’s copycat’ film of Superman Returns, audiences everywhere are in deep need of seeing Superman in his full glory. Thankfully, Snyder and Nolan deliver. They return Kal-El to his roots, while keeping him updated to the interests of today’s audiences. Kal-El, the sole-survivor of planet Krypton is raised by two humans, the Kents(played with simple yet brilliant realism by Costner and Lane), who raise him in the identity of Clark Kent, helping keep his powers out of sight till ‘the right time.’ Upon growing of age, he is ‘hunted down’ by reporter Lois LaneI(Adams), who may be the clue that it time to reveal himself, just as an army of soldier kryptonians, led by mega-maniac(Zod) come to earth. Nolan and Snyder give this superman the same treatment as was recently given to batman. While remaining true to the character, the story itself is given a darker, realistic, yet more personal, and therefore more relatable atmosphere. Clark/Superman is not the boy scout of the Christopher Reeves genre (Note: While always a fan of the classics, all the Reeve ‘die hard’ fans need to accept that Superman’s persona has increasing changed through the years). Cavill simply delivers as the title character. He’s buff, he’s stoic, yet down to earth as a suphero can be. He truly shows the struggle of a ‘hiding’ superhero. Isolated, yet so much wanting to show his powers in good way(saving people), and withholding from using them in a bad way(beating up a jerk alcoholic). Cavill helps show this soul aching battle without too much overreacting. While display this soulful character, Cavill also gives audiences some of the superman of old. Not wise-cracking, yet a slight sense of human, and a protector of life. Adams does the same with Lois Lane. A typical controversy of Lois has been how she is always the damsel in the distress in movies/shows. She rarely is given a role of for lack of better word, ‘meaty’ potential. This is especially agrivating to comic fans, since in the comics, while she does often get herself in danger, also has shown plenty of times she is capable of taking care of herself and others. Adams is given than chance to show the real Lane. She’s got spunk, is willing to go into danger, sometimes is in need of saving, but also shows she can do her own bit in saving the world. The chemistry between Cavill and Adams is also well-written, showing the growing dependency on each other, while not making it too clingy or physical. Could go on with all the actors in same way(quick note: Russell Crowe’s character has apparently gotten much bad rep for ‘too much talking,’ except for his first history lesson with Clark-when he tells us all that we already saw, I did not feel any of his scenes were unnecessary). The only actor I had issues with was Shannon’s Zod. Shannon makes Zod seem like a erupting volcano, with all this energy wanting to come out. This serves its purpose in the final scene, when he is indeed erupting with rage in the final battle, but majority of his other scenes make him seem like just a big over-reactor. Its true that this movie, is not the traditional ‘golden age’ of comic book movies. The film is fast pace, chopping even (and a little confusing) at the beginning with the continuous flashbacks. The fight sequences are full-frontal, finally giving comic-fans what they want to see in a TRUE superman fight (aka, him fighting someone of equal strength, not a green rock), but may seem a bit over-the-top for the faint of heart. It does not let up, and its darker, grittier take of the story could rub some people the wrong way. But at the heart of it, cast and crew work together in reminding people that while superman has had some changes through the years, he is still the man that can love and relate to straight from the comics.   

Good Message/Bad Message:

- Everyone is put on this earth for a reason

- Learn from other people’s mistakes to make a better futures

- “Sometimes to trust someone, you have to take a leap of faith.”

Content:

Violence – plenty and intense. While majority bloodless, Snyder and Nolan make you feel all the punches and heavy takedowns. A couple neck snappings and

Sex – wife giving birth at the beginning, but kept at the minimum. Other than that, typical superhero kisses

Language – typical swearing

Drugs – a few quick bar scenes at the beginning, but not really diving into the aspects of drinking

Family Rating: Not as dark as Star Trek, but still mature in nature. Introduce the kids to the more light-hearted comic movies first (Spider-man, X-men,etc) and then go from there.

Christian undertones: (SPOILERS in this paragraph)

Just the other day, a close friend of mine (knowing me to be a comic fanatic) asked what I thought of he continuous comparisons between Superman and Jesus. They do share a lot like. Each are saviors to the people, both are not of this world, both have powers beyond human comprehension, and both were sent by their fathers to make a difference on Earth. It is easy to see the similarities. Though I should note that many of comic book heroes could be used as Christ-like fictional examples of Christ, since many of them demonstrate the values of sself-sacrifice, treating others better than yourself, and turning the other cheek while still knowing what time you do need to fight. But yes, Superman is the most common comparision. My theory as to the main reason why? His place in life. All heroes have secret identities. But where other heroes are indeed two different people, Superman/Clark/Kal-El, is actually pretending. Yes he goes by all three names (hmm, trinity reference?) and they are each a part of him, but he cannot stop being Kryptonian. Batman can stop being batman and be Bruce Wayne. Green Lantern can take off his ring and be normal. Spider-man works as a science lab nerd peter parker. But Clark is always a being from another planet. He does not belong here. Yet he came here. One of the major issues brought up in the movie is the separation between human and aliens. Clark’s difference is noted by both of his fathers. Each of them have a different approach as to how to deal with it (Jonathon-hide it, Jor-El-show it). In the end while both father’s express different paths for dealing with Clark’s uniqueness, they both head toward the same goal, a better future for their son. Despite being invulnerable, Clark learns the pain of being human. Abused, mistreated, outcast. Years of blending in and taking crap, waiting for the moment of ‘greatness’ his fathers point out to him. He did not belong here, and neither frankly did Christ. Yet Christ, like Clark, came to earth, born of a human family, and was raised by human hands, becoming human, while at the same time, not human. Christ, like Clark, had powers beyond anyone’s understanding or comprehension, and suffered for that difference. Yet He chose to be here. While Clark was forced to come to earth, he could have left it if he wanted to. He could have let it fall to invaders hands, and not be blamed for his decision. We are all human, flawed, violent, stubborn, and lack the strength of wisdom and love that we need to survive. But he stayed to save us. And through the efforts of a handful of humans(parents, Lois, etc), he comes to see what about humanity is worth saving. Zod is a prisoner of his own culture. At one point, he is referred to as a ‘ghost.’ He is ghost because frankly he has no soul. Outside what he was programmed to do, he has no life. He is purely a soldier, meant for conquest and domination. When the chance to have both those things is taken from him, all that is left is rage. This makes him a pure being of destruction. Like Satan, he lost his place in the stars with his brethren, so he sees the only thing left to do is see how many people(how many souls) he can take to the grave with him. This forces Superman to put him down-yes, kill him.

Note: There was much outroar over the aspect of Superman killing someone. While at first kind of deflated by the idea(one person spoiled it for me before I saw the movie), upon seeing the movie, I was able to accept it within the context. Superman did not want it to be that way, but Zod was on the verge of killing more humans, and it became a him(a maniac bent on destruction) vs them(innocent people) thing (seriously guys, no contest). Superman hated having to do it, but his hand was forced. While we may applaud the hero who ‘always finds another way,’ I felt this approach was more realistic in realizing that in some cases, you simply don’t have one.)

Christ was brought to earth to be our Savior. He fought evil (demons-fallen brothers of his own kind, like Zod’s army), and at times was abused for His help. And yes, He too has, and will be required one day to take Satan and his angels out of the picture permanently. He is defender of good, and bring justice to all that is evil. Christ is a superhero, who took on flesh, so that He could save us. And unlike Clark, He was not brought against his will, He came of His own choice. For He knew, that only by becoming human, would we being to experience His power, and more importantly, His love for us (going as far to sacrifice Himself in order to save us), and thus seek to follow in His footsteps, so that we to, as Jor-el so fondly puts it, can one day “Walk with him in the sun.”

Scripture References: This is about Christ, so you pick for yourself the Scriptures that best point out who He is to you. A pastor tells Clark to take a leap of faith in trusting people. Christ is open to trust us, so in your own way, show others why we should trust Christ.

Final Say:

Should not miss a superhero icon on the big screen.