Man of Steel (2013) Review

 

Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel follows Clark Kent, a child from Krypton sent to Earth, who must defend those he cares about and the world that has taken him in from General Zod.

I’ve said it since 2013 and I will continue to say it for years to come—this is Superman done right. Admittedly, for a Superman origin story this is pretty fast paced and throws us into the action about halfway in, but once it gets going, it’s unstoppable. Clark’s buildup is a bit rushed, throwing him into his role as a hero quite early on, but it’s done right. He isn’t all powerful and gets his ass handed to him for most of the movie, but when it counts, he always gets back up and is a beacon of hope for the world. For him more than anything, it’s a coming of age story to become the man his father knows he will be.

I normally hate it when superheroes movies give their heroes villains that are essentially just opposites with the same powers, but Zod is a solid villain who is a genuine threat. It creates for some amazing fight choreography and causes Clark to make life or death decisions that muddy his own morality.
The score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL is also quite possible one of the best superhero scores in existence, being a powerful addition that elevates every scene to greatness.

It’s got a great cast that includes Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, and Henry Cavill. As I said before, Cavill is excellent, giving Clark an innocence and hope that doesn’t make him a perfect hero, but a good hero, who will stop at nothing to save the world. Shannon was also remarkable as Zod, bringing a fury and purpose to a usually one dimensional character. Costner as Pa Kent additionally adds a great father figure and moral compass for Clark and he is a standout addition.

Man of Steel, directed excellently by Zack Snyder, is an inspirational and intense origin story for the son of Krypton that provides a darker and more realistic look at what makes Superman, Superman, in this fresh take on the man of steel for a new generation.

8.5/10