Man of Steel

Man of Steel is just one star below the original Superman, and that is the highest score I have ever given a superhero film. I also gave Iron Man a 7, as well as Joker a 7. I have always thought Joker was more interesting than Batman, which I gave a 6.

Crowe's Jor-El is better than Brando for one thing, but I prefer the original Superman, Christopher Reeves over Henry Cavill by a fairly large margin. The original Lois Lane was better, as well, since Margot Kidder was more vulnerable. Perry Black is amusing, however. There was no Jimmy Olsen, which was a bit of a drawback; or if there was, he wasn't noticeable. And I believed Glenn Ford more than Kevin Costner as dad, although Costner did a good job.

The CGI is outstanding in the new one, as well it should be after forty years. The cinematography is very good as well. The pacing was a bit slow, and, of course, I am being sarcastic. Fitting two Superman films in one film requires almost the speed of light.

The writing is first-rate, as well as the Hans Zimmer music.

General Zod is done very well, and is superior to the original Zod. All in all, a very nice production.

Man of Steel is a solid and more grounded take on Superman. I like how it explores Clark's struggle to find his place in the world instead of just jumping straight into the hero stuff. Henry Cavill fits the role really well, and the movie's visuals are stunning, especially during the big fight scenes. The tone is darker than most Superman stories, but it works for what it's trying to do. The action can get a bit over-the-top, and the pacing feels uneven at times, but overall it's a strong, emotional, and fresh take on the character.

The origins of the movie and the main character is fantastic. Only downside to the movie is that Lois lane is involved a little to much for my liking. Understanding and learning his powers, who he chooses to be while taking on General Zod and the other kryptonians is a tall task. I really appreciate this movie and Henry Cavill better than Christopher Reeves hands down.

Man of Steel gets more hate than it deserves, and honestly, I don't get it. Snyder knew exactly what he was doing, this wasn't about bright colors and corny speeches. This was Superman dragged through a philosophy class, set on fire, and launched into a midair fistfight with a war criminal. The action was brutal in the best way, like watching gods beat each other into drywall for two and a half hours. And say what you want about the chaos, but visually? It slapped. The fight choreography was insane, the effects still hold up, and the destruction felt earned. When Zod and Superman leveled half of Metropolis, it wasn't just noise, it was inevitability. This was what it should feel like when titans go to war.

And yeah, you could feel Nolan's touch in the pacing. The flashbacks, the quiet tension, the weight of Clark trying to figure out who the hell he is. It wasn't a cartoon. It was a guy raised in Kansas trying not to vaporize people every time someone cut him off in traffic. Cavill was solid, not quirky, not chatty, just tired and trying, which made him way more interesting than the clean-cut boy scout we're used to. Zimmer's score deserves its own star rating. The whole thing felt like a reboot that finally took Superman seriously without sucking the fun out of it. Eight stars, easy. Let the purists cry. This one held up.

Man of Steel is Superman reintroduced for a world that's more suspicious than star-struck. Instead of the classic confident hero who already knows how to be a symbol, this movie gives us Clark Kent still figuring out who he's supposed to be - and whether humanity even wants him around. Henry Cavill plays him with this quiet heaviness, like a guy who has to shrink himself so he doesn't break the world. The parts of the movie feel almost like a sci-fi drama - he's an alien first, a superhero second. That angle makes his struggle feel more personal, not just another origin story checklist. ... It's huge. You can feel the impact whenever Kryptonians hit each other. It looks amazing, but it also makes you nervous because the movie doesn't pretend there wouldn't be consequences. When the fights tear through Smallville and Metropolis, the destruction is intense enough that you can't ignore it or pretend it's harmless comic-book chaos. That leads to the most talked-about part- the way Superman finishes the fight with Zod. Some fans hated that choice, because they see Superman as someone who always finds another way. Others appreciated that this moment is what pushes him to become the hero with stronger boundaries later on. The film ends with him still learning, not already perfect - and that makes him feel more real. And Hans Zimmer's score? It carries the whole thing. It's big and hopeful, but also kind of anxious, like the music knows Superman is one bad day from being seen as a threat. So yeah, Man of Steel isn't a warm, feel-good take on Superman. It's messy and serious and not trying to please everyone. But that's also what makes it memorable. It leaves you thinking about the weight of being Superman instead of just the cool moments of being him.