Topic: Man of Steel - No Spoilers

[Dragonfire]

Man of Steel



This is a reboot of the Superman movies, going back and dealing with the origins of the character again.  I really enjoyed Superman Returns, though I know a lot of people didn't and the decision was made to restart the movies.  Christopher Nolan is a producer and he worked on the story as well, so that made me hopeful before I saw the movie.

Once again, the movie starts on Krypton, though more time is spent there and a little more about the planet is shared.  I liked that more of Krypton is shared and thing it looks very interesting.  Jor-El has a decent amount to do this time, something else that I liked.  A sort of hologram of him does turn up later in the movie too and it seems like it is more able to interact. Zod is an actual military general, in charge of the safety for the entire planet.  He agrees with Jor-El about the planet being in danger, but his method for dealing with it is very different and gets him and his followers sent to the phantom zone.  After the bit on Krypton, the movie jumps forward to show Clark as an adult, trying to figure out how to use his abilities.  Important moments from his childhood are shown through flashbacks.  That does mess with the flow just a bit, but it works overall.  Clark discovers who he really is and meets Lois Lane when Zod shows up.

I did end up seeing this one in 3D because of the start times.  The 3D didn't add anything, though I have discovered that fewer people tend to go to the 3D shows, so it wasn't as crowded.  The effects are done well, though I do get why some people have said there was too much focus on the effects.  Later in the movie, there is massive action that wipes out a lot of Smallville before moving on to Metropolis where several buildings are destroyed when Superman and Zod fight.  That does go on a little longer than it needed to, though I do think it is needed to show that Zod is just as strong  and he won't be stopped easily. 

While some things are the same, there are other things that are a little different.  Most of those things I think worked for the movie. Jonathan especially is shown to keep telling Clark that he has to keep his abilities a secret no matter what.  That just doesn't exactly seem like Jonathan to me.  While it is clear he loves Clark, he doesn't seem as supportive as other versions of the character have been.  A lot of people have been upset by something that happens late in the movie.  I'm not exactly thrilled by how that thing worked out, but I also see why it was done and how it will play into the future for Superman as well. 

I really like this version of Lois.  She was always capable, and smart, but somehow, this Lois seems a little smarter.  Superman does save her at times, but she isn't just a damsal in distress and she is active in an attempt to deal with Zod and everything that is going on. 

Man of Steel has a few issues, but it is a very good movie that works well overall.  It is worth seeing.



I did post a longer review on Epinions.

Man of Steel

[DJ Doena]

The 3D didn't add anything

That's my main problem with 3D, especially if it's the only option at the theatre.

That's why I'm probably going to skip Man of Steel in the theatre altogether.

[Dragonfire]

I can understand that.  Unfortunately, the majority of the live action I've seen in 3D was this way...there is no 3D going on.  To me, if a movie is in 3D, stuff should be coming out of the screen, yet the studios don't seem to think so.  Some of the animated movies have done 3D well.  For live action movies..the best use of the 3D that I've seen...hmm...Avatar was good from what I remember..and the new Fright Night had a few really cool 3D effects.

[DJ Doena]

I've just translated a blog post of mine which I had posted a few days ago in German:

http://doena-journal.net/en/1238/3d-ticket-prices

[Blair]

I really like this version of Lois.  She was always capable, and smart, but somehow, this Lois seems a little smarter.

And yet, she still can't tell even at close range that Clark and Superman are the same person because a pair of thick glasses and different hair despite being The Daily Planet's top reporter.  

(I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know if this revelation is made like in other movies.)

[Dragonfire]

I've just translated a blog post of mine which I had posted a few days ago in German:

http://doena-journal.net/en/1238/3d-ticket-prices

You made some very good points there.  For the most part, all the 3D does is jack up the price.  If 3D was just used once in a while, I wouldn't be as annoyed...but now just about every movie is converted to 3D that ends up not really being 3D.  I know the studios want to do it became they make more money and theaters are showing more in 3D to cover the price of putting in the projectors.  It still stinks though.

I really like this version of Lois.  She was always capable, and smart, but somehow, this Lois seems a little smarter.

And yet, she still can't tell even at close range that Clark and Superman are the same person because a pair of thick glasses and different hair despite being The Daily Planet's top reporter.  

(I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know if this revelation is made like in other movies.)

I do admit that her failure to see through the "disguise" doesn't say much for her powers of observation or intelligence.  Though she isn't the only one fooled by those things.  I'm not saying how that is dealt with in this movie.

[Achim]

I wen to see Man of Steel over the weekend. Unfortunately I found it rather mediocre. Well, all the bits dealing with his emotional dilemma and trying to find out who he is and what he should become are great, but the action was ridiculously over the top and, on fact, bot true to character. I have read a few Superman comics when I was young and I clearly do remember that Superman would always try to take the fight somewhere with less or no people, rather than duking t out in the middle of Metropolis, destroying the whole place and indirectly getting people killed...? Sure, one could argue, that he is not yet the Superman we know, kind of like James Bond in Casino Royale, but I am not sure I would agree with that.

[Jimmy]

I have read a few Superman comics when I was young and I clearly do remember that Superman would always try to take the fight somewhere with less or no people, rather than duking t out in the middle of Metropolis, destroying the whole place and indirectly getting people killed...?

It's the exact same thing that some of my friends said about the film... doesn't sound like a big deal, but someone who would have respected the source material would never made Superman act that way...

This is sure enough for me to skip that one and do like it was never made... maybe Superman IV was awfully made and surelly Superman Returns was boring as hell but at least the directors of those films made Superman act like Superman.   

[Achim]

It's the exact same thing that some of my friends said about the film... doesn't sound like a big deal, but someone who would have respected the source material would never made Superman act that way...

This is sure enough for me to skip that one and do like it was never made... maybe Superman IV was awfully made and surelly Superman Returns was boring as hell but at least the directors of those films made Superman act like Superman.

I have no love for Superman IV, but I definetely think Superman Returns is more respectful to the source.

Like I said, the movie is half good, all the stuff shown in the first two trailers. The other half matches the third trailer, which was super fast cut and all out action.

Jimmy, you need to Void this like the plague! It's a CGI Fest that won't be able to enjoy.

[Jimmy]

Jimmy, you need to Void this like the plague! It's a CGI Fest that won't be able to enjoy.

I have no doubt about that, it's more the completist in me who was talking

[DJ Doena]

I've read some reviews by now and also learned of the circumstances of Jonathan's death.

And I have to say: I don't like it. Where is Clark's humanity (something that makes Superman Superman) if he lets his father die because of some BS rule?

[DSig]

And to pile on this , I haven't seen it though will this week, I don't like the bit in the trailer where Jonathan acts all disappointed with Clark after saving a bus load of kids .. he says something like you have to keep your powers secret not matter what.  I am sorry but I don't believe, having grown up on Superman, that Jonathan would ever have said anything of the kind.

I liked Superman Returns.  I like the idea of starting a new 'casting/storyline' as a carry forward.  Not a redefinition of the past.

[Blair]

I was originally considering going to this solely for the expected summer blockbuster. Then I accidentally saw the RT score and a string of two-star, one-line reviews and have changed my mind (the same as I did with The Last Airbender and Green Lantern in 2010 and 2011 respectively.)

[Achim]

I've read some reviews by now and also learned of the circumstances of Jonathan's death.

And I have to say: I don't like it. Where is Clark's humanity (something that makes Superman Superman) if he lets his father die because of some BS rule?

(click to show/hide)

Well, that is actually explained. Jonathan was of the opinion, that Clark cannot reveal his identity, as humanity is not yet prepared to deal with him. So when the moment arrives Clark is ready to help, but then follows Jonathan's request (he is clearly signalled to stay away) not to, as there were bystanders who would have witnessed what Clark can do. It fits with previous conversations between the two (like the one from the trailer, where Jonathan suggest Clark may have had to let the kids in the bus die) so I had no problem with this particular moment. It's more with that raging Clark who wants revenge or something and does not pay attention to his surroundings.

[Achim]

And to pile on this , I haven't seen it though will this week, I don't like the bit in the trailer where Jonathan acts all disappointed with Clark after saving a bus load of kids .. he says something like you have to keep your powers secret not matter what.  I am sorry but I don't believe, having grown up on Superman, that Jonathan would ever have said anything of the kind.

Well, I didn't mind this part so much. I already went through some length in regards of Karsten's remark in the above spoiler, but can say the following openly.

In the scene you refer to Clark is still a kid, an early teenager, maybe. I think Jonathan is simply realistic here: what would happen if Clark is officially revealed? Humanity will be happy to have this alien among them? No, not only will the government want to examine him, but there might be serious problems otherwise, like in regards to religions, etc. At least that was Jonathan's concern which he repeatedly expressed.