Man of Steel

Superman is not an interesting character at all.  He's just too powerful to be humanized, like Batman.  His power is also his weakness as he isn't interesting and he's always a goody two shoes.  Well, Superman will be turning 76 during the 2014 year, so I guess that's an honor within itself.  Man of Steel is the reboot to the Superman film franchise after the flop, Superman Returns.  With all this hype, including a production from Christopher Nolan, it's pretty fair to say this was one of the most anticipated films of 2013.  All this pressure rode on 2 men.  The writer and director needed to be perfect for the job.  We need someone who can blend action well with a plot.  So who do we hire?  Zack Snyder and David S. Goyer.  I had fears that this would be bad.  I had some really huge fears.  And, well, Man of Steel is a disappointment.  

The first 15 minutes of this film is set on Krypton, featuring an all out CG fest.  We follow Superman's dad, played by Russell Crowe, as he ventures to find the Codex, which for some stupid reason, holds the DNA of all the Kryptonians. He then gives it to his son, the only naturally born Kryptonian.  Then, he sends him off to Earth.  However, General Zod, a rebellious Kryptonian played by Michael Shannon, is angry at Supe's dad for doing the things he's doing.  An altercation occurs and Zod is sent into cryostastis forever.  That is, until Krypton blows up 20 seconds later.  Zod, who desperately wants that Codex, searches and finds Superman on Earth.  He plans on killing people if Superman doesn't show his face.  Will Superman do it?  Of course he will.

Yeah, a major problem I had was the beginning: the planet Krypton is going to be destroyed, and no one can be saved except one baby, presumably because they don't have any spacecraft. Oh but wait, they do have spacecraft. In fact, they have so much spare technology they use it to send criminals into space... so that they will survive and provide enemies for Superman later in the movie.  Also, Superman's dad steals the Codex, which apparently contains the DNA of the Kryptonian race. Somehow, there are no backup copies. Oh but what about the actual Kryptonians who are running around destroying things... surely they each have their own DNA? Apparently not, somehow. And how about that baby-making machine in the scout ship: what was it supposed to use if there's only one Codex?

At the end, when the world engine is working, Superman flies into its gravity beam where his powers shouldn't exist because the conditions it's creating are like those of Krypton. But after being unable to do anything, he somehow just decides he's going to do it, and then instantly destroys the machine. Because if you really really decide, then you can do anything. General Zod's ship will be flipped back into the Phantom Zone if its drive field comes in contact with another drive field of the same type, as found in Clark's baby spacecraft. But wait, don't all their small spacecraft use the same engine? Why don't they cause the same problem?

Well, there is one saving grace in this film: the action scenes.  I'm pretty sure that they were the only good thing in this film, which is a shame.  I mean, the cinematography has this bleak sense and it is good, but at the end, the only thing you remember from this film is the action.  The fights scenes are fast pace, making it seem as the most realistic representation of Superman.  It has this very sense of DragonBall Z mixed in with The Avengers, and it's pretty fun.  Unfortunately, the last fight scene totally rips off the Matrix Revolutions' final fight, and it goes CG overboard.  It really dampers with the film because the last fight scene should be a good closer.  That's not the case here.

Overall, Man of Steel is a dumb film.  It's nothing revolutionary as one would hope.  It's also Christopher Nolan's first technically bad film.  Well, first bad film with his name attached.  It's plot never soars (no pun intended).  Also, Amy Adams' Lois Lane was a huge middle finger to people who have half a brain.  She has some very bland attempts at humor and that's what killed her character for me.  Also, I kid you not, this is the exact words she said: "They say it all goes downhill after the first kiss."  David S. Goyer, kill yourself.  You're not funny.  This idiotic film is practically saved by the action scenes, which make up for some of the plot inconsistencies in this film.  If you're looking for a dumb fun film, here you go!  If you're looking for something smart, look away.

4/10