Everything right and wrong with MoS

Reflecting back on 2013, a year of polarizing superhero movies, Man of Steel stood out as the most extreme of them all.

Not only was it a new Superman film after a long absence (I will not count Superman Returns. Will. Not.) from the big screen, it is heralding what may be an ambitious project to create a DC cinematic universe.

As with such movies, there were many great and bad moments in this film. Having seen the movie in theaters thrice (all times in 3D) and bought the BluRay, I will give my thoughts on it….

(SPOILERS FOLLOW)

EVERYTHING RIGHT……………

1. The costume

It helps in making you believe that you’re actually watching Superman, and not some pretender (‘cough’ Superman Returns 'cough’).

While it's origins are still suspect (they should have said something like the ship has an AI threading device or something...), it looks great. The contrasting shades as well as Henry Cavill looking like Superman in it all helps.

Whether in flight, battle or the calm moments, it all looks like it's the Man of Steel.

2. The visual effects

Never have before a movie felt like a comic book come alive. Krypton was actually shown to be an alien planet inhabited by strange creatures and formations, unique in it's own way.

The battles in Smallville and Metropolis came straight out of a comic book and were brilliantly choreographed.

3. Lois Lane

She’s intuitive, smart and resourceful. I never bought how she was so easily fooled by Clark’s elaborate excuses and this film addresses it by making her a part of Clark’s and Superman’s life without compromising on her character.

The fact that Zod recognized this and brought her onboard as a safety measure and bargaining chip against Clark, and which ultimately backfired, was a great plot point.

4. General Zod

Most people failed to see Zod for who he was. He wasn’t a supervillain bent on controlling an alien world only to be thwarted by the hero. He was just a man trying to save his race and Shannon portrayed that beautifully.

Yes, his plans were corrupted by his hatred of Jor-El and his son, making Earth the focus of his rage. The fact that he was willing to forgo the powers Earth’s unique environment gave him so that adaptation to this planet would be easier for the rest of his race was commendable. Instead of everyone needing protective suits and military training, the Kryptonians would be able to live normally.

Also, special mention to Antje Traue as Faora. She owned every scene she was in and is hopefully a template for how they show Diana aka Wonder Woman.

5. The realistic responses

Jonathan Kent’s fears of losing his son to oppressive and dangerous forces are very relatable and true. Pa Kent is just a man, not anything more, and it’s clear how much he loves Clark. His warnings to Clark may not have always been the best, but it was real.

Perry’s fears of alien exposure on the world leading to mass hysteria are also a good example. Everything isn’t perfect with the world, and the metaphorical threat of something more advanced than ourselves is frightening. As was the mining of resources leading to Krypton’s demise, a subtext for our blatant misuse of Earth.

Clark’s development of his Earthy given powers was also deftly shown. While the closet scene could have been better handled (the trailer portion was excellent!), his fear and start of his control was done carefully and not as a ‘look, I got powers!’

As for the Kryptonians, their use of adaptive suits was a good device to par them with Clark on a power level reaching him. Zod being able to adapt after a brief stint in the suit followed by using his military training to control his newfound abilities was also well done.

EVERYTHING WRONG………….

1. Sub-par leading man

While Henry Cavill looked the part, he failed to elicit any of the acting chops that would have helped us understand him. Whether it was happiness, sadness or agony, Henry failed in every acting department, making him a very bland lead.

2. No balance of light and dark

This was a dreary film. Instead of contrasting shades, Clark and the rest always felt like they were fighting a losing battle thanks to the film contours. 

This works with Batman because of the world he inhibits, but for Clark and Metropolis, the brief light at the end wasn’t enough.

3. Some horrible contrived circumstances

Pa Kent’s death falls in this category. I would have understood Clark being too late to save his adoptive father, but the series of events that led to this death felt forced and the emotional resonance was lost. The philosophy of hiding his powers also was understandable, but Jonathan Kent came off more as a man with a death wish than a protective father.

Lois’ involvement was also suspect. Her presence in the cave when Clark found the ship and when Zod was killed at the end all felt forced. Also while I loved Russell Crowe as Jor-El, his prominent presence and involvement in saving the Earth lessened his death.

4. Heroic qualities missing

Clark started off well on the path of a hero with the bus accident, but the Metropolis battle had one detrimental effect to it. We didn’t see Superman save people. I think Clark’s position of helplessness and the film’s conclusion would have had better effect if we had seen him saving some bystanders, maybe failing in most cases.

5. No reflective scenarios

While I fully understand Superman’s situational agony in killing the last of his race to save his adoptive one, a prolonged reflection of his actions was needed (something I hope is done in the sequel).

He not only participated in the destruction of Metropolis and Smallville, he was an unwitting cause of the attack and had to commit murder at the end. Yet after that moment, we are treated to a flippant scene and then fast-forward to a healing Metropolis and Clark’s first day on the job at Daily Planet. The shift is jarring and rushed.

CONCLUSION…..

While visually it is the best superhero film I’ve seen and includes some great performances and plot points, there are some heavy flaws in those departments as well.

I’m hoping Snyder’s team can rectify the flaws and give us an awesome sequel.

Onward Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice!