Director: Zach Snyder
It’s
amazing to me how much baggage a new Superman movie brings with it. I almost feel sorry for the people who get
the most credit for taking it on…because they certainly stand the most to lose
in the public eye. In this case, we have
the pedigree of Christopher Nolan (as producer), David Goyer (screenwriter,
also worked with Nolan on his Dark Knight
trilogy as a collaborator), and Zach Snyder (director of such admired works as Watchmen and 300…or maligned works depending on your viewpoint). So what’s the first significant thing they
did right with this movie? Similar to
how they made Batman their own by removing his name (eventually) from the title
and sticking with The Dark Knight,
they put a similar stamp on Superman by naming the movie simply Man of Steel. I have to say I like the impact of
this. To some it probably doesn’t matter
at all, but to me it says “this is my Superman movie and I want you to know it
stands apart from the others”. Bravo
gentlemen!
And I have
to say, the changes don’t stop there.
This version of Superman is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The vision is as close to complete in detail
and emotion as I think they could possibly achieve. For starters, we get to see a fully realized
version of the world of Krypton at the beginning of the film. The story elements are all the same, but the
world is more closely articulated for a modern, more cynical audience that demands
logic wherever possible. I won’t give
anything away other than to say I appreciated the detail (specifics about why
he wears the suit he eventually wears, why there is an S on the front, and the
list goes on). I thought this was a very
inventive and creative telling of the Superman origin story.
So, here’s
my overall summary. The action is what
you should expect. They certainly don’t
disappoint in the special effects. Hans
Zimmer’s score of the film is a highlight of the movie. He uses repetitive musical queues to great
effect and keeps your emotions going.
Whether it’s on the Kent farm growing up or wandering around as a
drifter looking for work or flying above the city battling General Zod, the music
is perfectly fit to each scene. I hate to go light on the visuals and the
direction, because I felt it was all top-notch.
The movie is paced with a narrative that was definitely influenced by
Christopher Nolan and his knack for structure. And the cast assembled was very good. Kudos to scene stealers Russell Crowe, Kevin
Costner, and Michael Shannon (whose General Zod is a fully imagined, passionate
warlord who truly believes he is doing the right thing). Henry Cavill does a solid job as Superman and
I can’t say anything negative about him because my wife will surely read this
review (she’s a huge fan). So, I’ll
leave my comments about this lucky Brit at that. (I will add though that for my money,
Christopher Reeve is and will always be Superman).
The element
of the film I appreciated the most was the deft handling of both father
figures, Jor-El and Jonathan Kent.
Russell Crowe brings depth to his limited scenes and plays Jor-El like a
space-age version of his gladiator Maximus, a man of deep integrity and respect
for family. I think it’s his best
performance in years. Kevin Costner has
an even tougher job because his screen time is significantly less than Russell
Crowes, but he nails the conflict that the Kent family feels by being at once
blessed beyond belief with the gift of a son and knowing that it is only a
matter of time before he has to head out into the big, cruel world. In many ways, Superman and his legacy is more
about family and the importance of having parents who care for you, who teach
you good morals and who love you unconditionally. Superman’s strongest power usually turns out
to be his moral side and his love for humankind in whatever version you are
watching. This one is no different. And without giving away a spoiler, my single
favorite moment in this film has to do with Clark and his Kent family. It’s a heartbreaking moment that stands high
in the realm of Superman lore in my book.
In the end,
some people will see this movie and no doubt agree with me that it’s worth the
price of admission, and definitely worthy of a sequel. Some will pick it apart and complain to no
end about a handful of points that for whatever reason spoiled the whole movie
for them. I’m actually kind of glad I
let that side of myself go. I’m much
happier in looking for the things I like in a film, as opposed to what bothers
me.
So, I think
this movie gets the highest compliment an individual such as me can bestow. I want to see it again before it leaves the big
screen…and then I’ll surely own an HD copy.
