Review of Man of Steel (2013) by Joanna B — 24 Oct 2016

Proving once a b-movie, always a b-movie; director Zack Snyder's 20teens big-budget superman revamp Man of Steel comes with all the CGI bells and whistles that today's digital masterminds can deliver, but like its supposedly indestructible hero, the screenplay's DNA is flawed.

Crumpling under the kryptonite of an ill-conceived self-indulgent story, a cliché ridden script, cartoonish baddies, stereotyped hard-nosed militaria and an overt need for metaphors with not-so-hidden meanings polarising modern society values; no amount of adrenalin riddled murky visual effects can bring this juvenile escapist-fantasy in line with the inflated magnitude of expectations it shatters.

Unless you have been living under a rock since the mid-70's, the basic elements of the superman story is something we all know. A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this world which sets him on an outsider's journey of self-discovery. Compelled by his nature, he risks exposure and persecution to help those in need. Overcoming his demons and allowing the hero within to emerge, superman is tasked with saving the world from annihilation and becoming a symbol of hope for all mankind.

The mythology is intact, with an initial jaunt on the planet krypton, the circumstances leading up to why baby Kal-El is jettisoned off to Earth carrying the hopes and dreams of his father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) enraging the traitorous General Zod (Michael Shannon) are rather over explained.

Upon arrival in Kansas (which has no explanation) the child is raised by adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Coster, Diane Lane). Named Clark, he is taught not only to harness his abilities but the value of keeping then quite until exposure is truly necessary - for a woman, Lois Lane (Amy Adams).

Explaining the story any further is rather fruitless as not only is it widely known, but if you have seen even one trailer there is little mystery. As the first money-grabbing instalment of a new franchise, Man of Steel is basically a coming of age story laden with values and emphasis on relationships.

The issue with putting a serious slant on a comic book superhero is they tend to look somewhat ridiculous. Screenwriter David Goyer (attempting to follow the genetic sequence of Christopher Nolan's Batman series) uses a hap-hazard flow of flashbacks in an attempt to establish empathy with our lead. Forced and disingenuous it fails to the point where even the naturally earnest decency oozing out of Cavill's chiselled stare can't overcome.

Although I personally didn't see Adams as Lois, the leads had great chemistry and she brought a wonderfully calculated strength to the determined and far less naive character. Surprised to say, Crowe is actually appealing in one of his best recent roles while his human paternal counterpart Kevin Costner tries far too hard for gravitas. Shannon chillingly evil edge is overacted but his angular features hide it relatively well.

The verdict: Wishing during the screening that I could just propel myself up, up and away, I settled for a little nap during the seemingly eternal final battle sequence. I admit I wasn't exactly sure what was happening but it was something along the lines of superman vs. skyscrapers, superman vs. helicopters, superman vs. spaceships, superman vs. intergalactic mercenaries, superman vs.... well you get the idea. One thing did vex me however during all this carnage, like his nemesis, superman had no regard for the safety of by standing humans.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 05/07/2013.