Like many, I eagerly awaited the release of Zach Snyder’s adaptation of Man of Steel. For months I had seen and been touched by the black and white trailers. The shadowy images of a cape draped boy bounding across the back yard, the haunting music increasing in volume as the pictures flicker on the screen until there is only a gray sky with a vapor trail as the man zooms through dark clouds towards the heavens.
With Christopher Nolan of Batman legend producing and co-writing the screenplay, how could this not be the best movie of the summer, maybe the year? Simple…
Expectation letdown… the downfall of many films, books, albums, etc. We build these works of art to standards they can never meet upon first viewing, reading or listen. In all of my movie going days I don’t ever think any blockbuster has lived up to the hype I myself gave it, except maybe Empire Strikes Back, but I was much younger then and movies were less expensive. However, over time, most of the movies I hoped to be great have become so. How, you might ask?
I break down the film by characters, score, scenery, and dialogue, and look at each piece on it’s own merit.
I saw the movie once in the theater and twice on DVD. I enjoyed it the first time but it didn’t really jump out at me. However, after watching the DVD, I am convinced that, Yes, it was the movie of the summer.
Man of Steel has a phenomenal look. There is an edge to every shot as glimpsed through Zach Snyder’s eyes. Some scenes are grainy, gritty, dark and morose, while others are sharp, colorful, and stunning.
I have always been a Kevin Costner fan but don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. He has the weathered, rough look of a farmer, but also the angst riddled, troubled face of a man that holds a secret most in our world could never understand. Not only is his son going through the ritual trials and tribulations of childhood, he’s having to grow up knowing he is not only unique and different from others but he is from another world.
Henry Cavill, Superman, is wonderful in the title role. I remember him as sixteen year old Albert Mondego in The Count of Monte Cristo and my has he grown up. Not only is he chiseled like the Greek statues of gods and heroes, but he is wonderfully expressive. Much of his story can be seen in his eyes, his face, his body movement. He wants to be helpful and give of himself but at the same time has to hold back from fear of the world knowing his true identity.
One of my favorite moments in this film, a moment that I believe finally gives Superman redemption and worth is after a brutal battle with General Zod and his forces. Zod has fled and Clark is coming out of a destroyed building surrounded by armed forces when colonel Nathan Hardy steps up to him and says, “This man is not our enemy,” to which superman replies, “Thank you, Colonel.” The dialogue is so simple yet so powerful.
The score? Well… Hanz Zimmer is all that needs to be said. He is, in my opinion, amazing. If I could choose someone to compose the score of my life, it would be Hanz. His haunting, soul reaching scores flow through and speak to me, pulling memories not only from my brain but also from my heart.
The plot of the film basically combines the first two Christopher Reeves projects but does so in a way that isn’t comical or corny like those did. Instead, it takes the viewer on a journey through the eyes of the fathers, Jor-El and Jonathan Kent, and shows us how difficult life’s decisions can be, not only in terms of their son but also in terms of the world. Each wanted the best for their child while knowing that one day, this boy would change the perspective of a planet.
The story itself is entertaining and approaches the relationship with Lois Lane in a very cool way, and of course I love Diane Lane but I feel the real message here is hope. Jor-El, Jonathan, and Clark all make promises and are willing to make sacrifices to make a better world for all.
