Man of Steel
(2013)Superman gets a cinematic reboot, directed by Zack Snyder (Watchmen) and "godfathered" by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight). Henry Cavill (TV's The Tudors) is Clark Kent, unsure of his purpose on our planet or the extent of his powers - notions that will both be tested by the arrival of a fellow Kryptonian, the maniacal General Zod (Michael Shannon). This is the fifth Superman film after the Christopher Reeve tetralogy and Bryan Singer's Superman Returns.... More
With Krypton on the brink of a cataclysmic end, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) has taken steps to ensure the survival of his son Kal-El. As their planet teeters on the edge of total destruction, General Zod attempts an unsuccessful coup, during which Jor-El is killed - although he manages to send his son to Earth. Sentenced to the Phantom Zone, Zod and his cohorts survive Krypton's demise.
The adult Kent, having been raised by Ma and Pa (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) moves from job to job, concealing his powers but drawn to helping people in need. When he discovers an alien spacecraft in the Arctic - where he first encounters reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) - Kent discovers his origins. This hastens Zod's arrival on Earth and with the future of Earth at stake, Clark must attempt to repel an attack by Krypton's finest general.Hide
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Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Jadin Gould, Richard Schiff, Dylan Sprayberry
Written by David S. Goyer (based on characters created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel)
Produced by Christopher Nolan ('Batman Begins', 'Memento', 'The Prestige')
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 7 providers
Flicks Review
BY Dominic Corry Flicks Writer
It is ceaselessly fascinating how the specifics of the decades-long battle between comic book giants Marvel and DC are continually reflected in their respective film adaptations. While Marvel have had great success in both comics and movies by exploring the human, relatable side of their heroes, they could never quite achieve the culture-dominating status of DC’s best-known characters: Batman and Superman. Superman’s grand, mythic nature is both his greatest strength as a character and his fatal weakness. Man of Steel can’t quite overcome this, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun watching it try. ... More
Positioning itself as a “first contact” alien story is a unique (to cinema) way of exploring Supes, and director Zack Snyder offers a lot of great imagery around this idea. But it also keeps the lead character at arm's length, which (combined with his aforementioned mythic nature) makes for a somewhat distant protagonist.
But, character issues aside, this movie wholly delivers on the spectacle front. It is here where the mythic factor really sings – the sheer scale of what’s on screen here feels unprecedented. Snyder evokes the broad scope and tall building-focused action of producer Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight films, but also builds on Nolan’s style with increased pace and dexterity in the set-pieces. The grainy, blue-gray look of the film stands in marked contrast to the lush, bright colours of Snyder’s previous works, and there’s no sign of his signature speed-ramping either. His grasp of large scale action is in full-effect though.
British actor Henry Cavill looks great as Superman, but Michael Shannon gets all the most emotive actor moments as baddie Zod. The visual aspects of Man of Steel fulfil the potential of a Superman movie made in the digital era, but the emotional side of things remains a tough nut to crack. Nonetheless, this is a valiant and stupendously entertaining effort.Hide
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Man of Steel
BY Dan-Thompson superstar
Revisiting childhood heroes is risky. We want them to be as we remember them - rose tinted and shiny. How can a movie live up to expectations like these? Donner's Superman created a shadow recent interpretations have struggled to shake off. However, as a standalone film - it's big, noisy and fun.
BY Lucy-Power superstar
Very average movie. Not enough time was spent on Superman's background, and Henry Cavill was hard to like given his lack of facial expressions. Action scenes were good, although that seemed to be all the movie was about. The main villain was funny rather than scary.
BY adamatdramatrain superstar
But sadly, high production values can't hide a convoluted script that spends the first hour carefully constructing an origin story and then the next hour rushing a... More plot-hole-filled action extravaganza that really does not make a lot of sense...
Still, there's oodles of fun to be had and Hans Zimmer's score is fabulous. It might not be great - but it is great fun, vastly entertaining and, when all's said and done, a darn sight more super than Bryan Singer's sappy 'Superman Returns.'Hide
BY PeterSchibli nobody
My inner geek just loved the care and attention to detail and design that went into this. Masterfully done. Villains with meaning and purpose. A backstory that is coherent and makes sense (you get a sense of just how a large advanced civilisation can undo itself with some really bad policy decisions!). Brilliant casting. I love how you see the struggle and moral development early on. Go see. You'll enjoy and be inspired.
BY Panapple wannabe
Superman to me is the least interesting superhero, so I went not expecting much, but this film was Amazing! Amy Adams is great and was fantastic paired with the new guy. A more emotional (more personable) take on superman teamed with some great technological effects from Weta, great design, great cinematography- a couple of interesting ideas on god and society themes- a few too many exploding buildings, a bit too long at the end- but overall a really awesome story and watch!
Showing 5 of 13 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
56%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
More space opera than superhero movie… by effectively denying Superman his defining traits—his complex relationships to duty and humanity—the movie robs the character of any depth or agency. Full Review
It aches for more depth and warmth and humour, but this is spectacular sci-fi — huge, operatic, melodramatic, impressive. It feels the right Superman origin story for our era, and teases what would be a welcome new superfranchise. Full Review
This is a great, big, meaty, chewy superhero adventure, which broadly does what it sets out to do, though at excessive length. Full Review
There’s big, and then there’s this Superman. Although it does go over the top toward the end... mostly plays it smart by mixing its action deck-of-cards style. Full Review
This film is pulled in different directions, delivering satisfactions without managing to be completely satisfying. Full Review
Everything [is] almost lost in the last 45 minutes, when Mr. Snyder piles on the hammering special effects, becoming yet one more director gone disappointingly amok. Full Review
A bracing attempt to bring the legend back into contention that successfully separates itself from other Super-movies but misses some of their warmth and charm. Full Review
Gloomy, with little of the genuine wonderment the very name “Superman” calls to mind... less would almost surely have been more. Full Review
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