Man of Steel
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.
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.
- Director:
- Zack Snyder ('Sucker Punch', 'Watchmen', '300')
- Writer:
- David S. Goyer
- Cast:
- Henry CavillMichael ShannonAmy AdamsDiane LaneKevin CostnerRussell CroweLaurence FishburneAntje TraueJadin GouldRichard SchiffDylan Sprayberry
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksIt 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.
Okayman
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.
Super cinema spectacle
Beautifully crafted popcorn fare. Henry Cavill owns the man-in-metallic-tights role. Michael Shannon rocks as the snarly bad guy who's convinced he's doing good. Amy Adams is a breath of fresh air as a journalist not so dumb as to be fooled by a pair of spectacles, and Kevin Costner manages to make sappy dad dialogue work. But sadly, high production values...
Epic. Inspiring. Beautiful craftsmanship.
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...
Brilliant
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...
Too alien not enough super man
I'm a big superman fan and this movie does not depict the sensitivity and nerdy character strength that Christopher Reeve portrayed. I missed the real superman! Anyone who knows their superheroes, knows that the charm is in the subtle hint of difference and not depicting superman as an alien.
Variety
pressGloomy, with little of the genuine wonderment the very name “Superman” calls to mind... less would almost surely have been more.
Total Film
pressA 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.
The New York Times
pressEverything [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.
The Guardian
pressThis is a great, big, meaty, chewy superhero adventure, which broadly does what it sets out to do, though at excessive length.
Los Angeles Times
pressThis film is pulled in different directions, delivering satisfactions without managing to be completely satisfying.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThere’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.
Empire Magazine
pressIt 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.
A.V. Club
pressMore 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.
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksIt 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.
Variety
pressGloomy, with little of the genuine wonderment the very name “Superman” calls to mind... less would almost surely have been more.
Total Film
pressA 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.
The New York Times
pressEverything [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.
The Guardian
pressThis is a great, big, meaty, chewy superhero adventure, which broadly does what it sets out to do, though at excessive length.
Los Angeles Times
pressThis film is pulled in different directions, delivering satisfactions without managing to be completely satisfying.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThere’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.
Empire Magazine
pressIt 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.
A.V. Club
pressMore 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.
Okayman
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.
Super cinema spectacle
Beautifully crafted popcorn fare. Henry Cavill owns the man-in-metallic-tights role. Michael Shannon rocks as the snarly bad guy who's convinced he's doing good. Amy Adams is a breath of fresh air as a journalist not so dumb as to be fooled by a pair of spectacles, and Kevin Costner manages to make sappy dad dialogue work. But sadly, high production...
Epic. Inspiring. Beautiful craftsmanship.
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...
Brilliant
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...
Too alien not enough super man
I'm a big superman fan and this movie does not depict the sensitivity and nerdy character strength that Christopher Reeve portrayed. I missed the real superman! Anyone who knows their superheroes, knows that the charm is in the subtle hint of difference and not depicting superman as an alien.
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