Review of Man of Steel (2013) by Kevin P — 02 Feb 2018

Strengths: We all know Christopher Reeve was the original, but Henry Cavill (Clark Kent) might be the best Superman ever. Not only does he look the part, he's good at nailing some of the key emotions Clark must show. Outside of the Cavill, the cast is ripe with talent. Kevin Costner (Jonathan Kent) and Michael Shannon (General Zod) were the standouts from the supporting cast. Shannon brought a complex character to the forefront and portrayed him with the right blend of sorrow and villainous tendencies. Director Zack Snyder is always great at making sure his action scenes deliver and that was evident here. Almost every scene involving some sort of fight was well done. The same goes for the special effects of the film. It all looks great.

Weaknesses: I've always had an issue with Superman. He's so powerful that it never feels like he's in peril, so I can't get invested in anything involving him. That's not exactly a knock on the filmmakers, just on the character. Snyder's story doesn't break any new ground and falls along the lines of something generic. Storytelling is just not Snyder's strong suit. I was also surprised at the lackluster Amy Adams (Lois Lane) performance. I really like her in most films, but it felt like we weren't getting anywhere near her best effort in this. The same goes for Russell Crowe (Jor-El).

Overall: The DC movie universe got off to a good start. It just never sniffed being great or on the level of most Marvel films. Henry Cavill gives a strong performance and the action sequences are a highlight. The story just lacks to put it over the top.