For everything that Bryan Singer and Brandon Routh did wrong in 2006, Zach Snyder and Henry Cavill did right in 2013 as Man of Steel overshadows its predecessors, ultimately creating a dark, fun, and highly entertaining gem that holds up to the crazy expectations and buzz that has surrounded the project for the better part of the last year.
The film, an origin story to its last breath, follows our hero as he narrowly escapes the clutches of death on his home planet of Krypton and is sent off by his parents to live on Earth. But life isn't easy as the newly minted Clark must learn to hide his true identity, waiting for a time when humans will be more understanding of who he is and what he is capable of. When the last survivors of his race uncover his hidden location, Clark dons the tights and cape, becoming the planet's last hope for survival.
A fast-paced, compact story and remarkable casting helps set the tone early for Man of Steel. Both Henry Cavill and Amy Adams embody the roles of Clark Kent (who got ripped for a few scenes) and Lois Lane (who got promoted from her usual gal-Friday position to a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter) flawlessly, bringing life to an age-old story as they share a unique connection that helps to bring a rare sense of raw authenticity to the comic-book influenced plot.
Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, and Lawrence Fishburne add credibility to the picture, and I credit writer David S. Goyer for flawless character management. His ability to tell such a complex story in such a concise (and sometimes simple) manner is incredible, especially for someone, such as myself, who knows little to nothing about the lead character.
I will say that the film lost its way during numerous segments as it looked to be catering to the special effects vision rather than the story itself. During these moments, it was easy to let your mind wander as you began to question other aspects of the film, most of which had no real effect on the plot's final outcome. Fortunately, the high octane action sequences helped to distract from these occasional instances, allowing the film to flow more evenly than it should have.
There is only so much you can do with Superman, a hero who lacks any true weakness or sense of vulnerability. Squaring him off against a villain who shares many of his own traits was an interesting choice, one that could have lead to a never-ending fight sequence. But Snyder found a way to make it work. It was far from perfect and will likely frustrate a few of the diehards. But at its core, Man of Steel is a valiant return for Superman, giving him an origin story to build off of and a director and cast who are hopefully along for the ride!
