Man of Steel (2013)

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Laurence Fishburne

Superman’s re-launch might not be as perfect / successful as Batman’s but it is indeed a good, solid beginning. 

Slow pace of the film prior to interval, detailing for Krypton, non-linear flashbacks, and Zimmer’s background score all work well in building up a ‘slightly modified’ Superman universe. You have some nicely crafted out scenes demonstrating inner turmoils of Clark, while he searches for answers assuming different aliases. Some are: Clark saving his co-workers in an oil drilling plant after a mishap, confronting a drunkard in a bar.

Though, all the build up never reaches the expected crescendo.What happened in last 45 minutes or so (especially after interval) seemed like watching two different films altogether. Fights sequences needed some more personal touch from Superman; it was more destruction than action with wrecked buildings, shattered glasses filling up the screen with too much CGI/special-effects, at times too cluttered for human eyes to register. Other than this the film is made as it should have been, lack of romance/comedy is not a concern.     

The films boasts of some A-rated cast, and most of them deliver well in their respective roles. Henry Cavill is perfect fit for the new Superman/Clark Kent. When it comes to villains, Zod of Superman 2 still remains the one to beat. Sidekick Faora did look menacing. As always, Superman’s Earth mother (Lane) and father (Costner) are his emotional support and morality beacon, respectively. Growing up with perplexities about his being, they instill in him self-belief, help him control the God-like abilities, and ultimately mould him into the righteous man he is today. Jor-El (Crowe) and his son Kal-El don’t get enough time together but Jor-El might not be done yet. However, due to non-linearity in film, none of the characters seem to have meaty roles; screen time is shrewdly shared across varying contexts.     

Moreover, the film fluctuates a lot. On one hand you have a drained out Superman—during battling with Terra-modifying ‘world engine’—soaking up the Sun against a sober BGM, you are reveling the scene, then suddenly, there is a cut-to scene and you have choppers flying, artillery blasting, and what not. Snyder perhaps does it purposely, to charge up the audience after the laid-back first half.

If you noticed the Lex Luthor logo on the tanker (or something) you know what’s coming next, not that there was much doubt. Clark Kent and Lois Lane meeting in Daily planet toward the end of film finally sparked some chemistry too. In all, by the end of film you get to see the familiar Superman all sorted out in his brain, and of course, want more.

One thing is certain. Film ends on a good, promising note and a sequel, if any, will clearly have all the right ingredients ready.

I was really hoping for some post-credits scene (especially after seeing the Luthor logo) but there was none!

7.5/10