Man of Steel Movie Review
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Thankfully, I'm happy to say it's a great movie! :-)
Super thanks to Nuffnang Philippines and Schick for the block screening held at Shang Cineplex last June 14.
I've always wondered what if this superheroes really exist, come to think of it, when I was a kid, I always imagine there is really a Superman out there. :-)
For the pastt 35 years since DC Comics flagship character was immortalized by Christopher Reeve in Richard Donner’s genre defining film, Superman The Movie (1978) Bless me because I get to watch this version!, Superman’s comic book adventures have continued to form some of DC Comics best-selling story lines, and his formative years were explored in the TV series Smallville, staring Tom Welling.
Bryan Singer brought the character back to the big screen in Superman Returns (2006), in a film which remained faithful to the original film series, and ultimately failed to find its own identity in the process. Now the last son of Krypton is back in Zack Snyder’s eagerly awaited Man of Steel, with Henry Cavill as Superman, in the blockbusting movie event of the year.
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The Epic Story: Brace Yourselves!
With the planet Krypton facing imminent destruction because of its unstable core, a rebel faction led by General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his sadistic second-in-command Faora_Ul (Antje Traue), attempt to wrest control from the ruling council. The scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his beloved wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) implant the genetic Codex of Krypton into their newborn son, Kal-El, before sending him to Earth in a spacecraft in order to preserve the future of their race. After his plan fails Zod and his associates are captured and banished to the Phantom Zone, before Krypton is destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion.
The craft carrying Kal-El crash lands in Kansas where he is discovered by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane), who then raise the child as their own on their farm. As the young Clark Kent (played by Cooper Timberline and Dylan Sprayberry) grows up in Smallville he struggles to control his powers, feeling increasingly like and outcast, until he finally leaves home in search of his destiny. Clark (now played by Henry Cavill) spends the next few years as a drifter, using his powers only in the most extreme of circumstances, but a chance encounter with intrepid Daily Plant reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) sets Clark on the path to discovering his Kryptonian birthright.
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On the other hand, Lois promises to keep Clark’s identity a secret, but after General Zod escapes from the Phantom Zone and his spaceship arrives in orbit, the world becomes aware of his presence when Zod hijacks the planets communication systems and issues an ultimatum to Kal-El, stating that he has twenty four hours to give himself up or the people of Earth will suffer the consequence. Superman has no choice but to surrender himself to the military, where he is interviewed by Lois, before Faora_Ul arrives to take him to General Zod.
Superman is unable to reason with Zod who plans to terra-from the Earth and rebuild the Kryptonian race using the Codex bonded to Kal El’s genetic structure. Superman attacks the General’s forces back on Earth as Zod unleashes the devastating power of the World Engine, leading to a titanic showdown between Superman and Zod in city of Metropolis itself…
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From this point, we follow Kal-El from the moment of his birth, where Krypton faces civil unrest as the planet teeters on the brink of certain destruction. This is a Krypton like no other we have seen before, a stunning mix of Star Wars and Avatar like visuals, blessed with incredible technology and beautiful winged beasts that swoop across gleaming oceans as a ravaged moon hangs in the perpetual twilight of this doomed world. I can just imagine watching this through Imax, wow! :)
For me, Henry Cavill gives a great performance as the outsider from another world; he brings a darker edge to the character, together with an imposing physical presence that helps balance the benevolent side of Superman’s character with the furious rage he later unleashes against Zod. He is without a doubt the perfect man to portray the role.
The introduction of Amy Adams as Lois Lane coincides with the moment that leads to Clark discovering his true identity, and he forges a close relationship with the Daily Planet reporter. Like any good reporter worth her salt, Lois Lane is right at the heart of the action, and doesn’t let a dressing down by her editor-in-chief Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) or the impending threat of Zod’s invasion put her off. They both have a great chemistry and I think Cavill and Adams will be a cute couple only if they were both single. :)
Man of Steel is full of standout performances that really help enhance Snyder’s new take on the mythology of the man of tomorrow, with Russell Crowe giving a stellar performance as Kal-El’s biological father, while Kevin Costner’s Jonathan Kent provides the moral compass that steers Clark along the rocky path to adulthood and the hero he ultimately becomes. Diane Lane is also exceptionally good as Martha Kent; her scenes with Henry Cavill are particularly moving, especially when Clark returns home after discovering who he really is.
I truly believe “Man of Steel” keeps that leap of faith flying steadily in the air. It will not only make you believe a man can fly. It will give you faith in more superb Superman movies to come.
Watch the full trailer here:
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