Man of Steel

[DancingCrab]

Anyone else see this yet?

I'm a HUGE Superman fan, but even I admit the character has some bizarre inconsistencies when it comes to live action movies. (The whole spinning the world backwards to reverse time in the 1978 film being the biggest WTF)

This new movie takes a completely different take on the character, which is both good and bad. I think they could have found a happy medium. I liked Man of Steel a lot, but I'm a little sad that I don't love it. Weirdly enough, I was one of those complainers that the last film, Superman Returns directed by Bryan Singer, was too slow on action and created unnecessary dramatic plot twists (SURPRISE, Lois had your kid while you were gone!). Well Warner Bos. heard our cries and brought us a movie that, action wise, almost makes the Transformers movies look like a stroll in the park. It's mind numbing and testosterone filled explosions and punches every few minutes.

The actors and story are all top notch, but they eventually get drowned out by the sometimes "Amazing", sometimes "give me a break" CGI action.

I don't know..I'm conflicted. I might change my mind for better or worse after seeing it again next week.

What did you think?

[PatrickvD]

The reviews aren't encouraging.

I didn't love Superman Returns at all, but I was afraid that film would push WB waaay too far in the opposite direction with this reboot. My suspicion was confirmed when they hired Zack Snyder to direct it. One of the most awful directors currently working in Hollywood. I find Watchmen and 300 to be incredibly overrated films that were completely preoccupied with how things looked in slow-motion while completely ignoring character and story. Meanwhile he is pretending to have some type of inherent depth in his films which was, I suppose, only experienced by annoying fanboys. You know, self-proclaimed film-buffs. These movies are such empty shells. I'm sure the Watchmen novel is a great read with amazing illustrations. As a movie it's absolutely atrocious and unbearable. I'm hoping Nolan's script is strong enough to overcome Snyder's relentless ignorance regarding genuine human emotions.

I'll see it but I'm afraid it's going to piss me off massively. I'm hoping at least Amy Adams can squeeze in a memorable new take on Lois Lane. (seriously what WERE they thinking when they miscast Kate Boringsworth as Lois Lane in the last film?!?!?!).

[Dr Frankenollie]

A somewhat relevant essay on Superman and the comic book industry by Alan Moore:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2013/06/1 ... -superman/

[disneyboy20022]

I enjoyed it.

I know some people had issues with Superman having no choice but snap Zod's neck and people saying Superman Doesn't Kill. That's not the written law and he had no choice. Also when he did he dropped to his knees and screamed in agony about doing that. I liked Amy Adams as Lois Lane, though I thought the romance between Clark and Lois was very rushed and forced.


I enjoyed Christopher Meloni's performance as Colonel Hardy. Nice to see he can do great acting outside of Law and Order. Hopefully he will be in more movies and not revert back to Law and Order since it's hard for actors make it from TV to the big screen

Overall though I enjoyed it. Bring on Man of Steel 2.

Also I loved Kurt Russel as Jor el

[DancingCrab]

Also I loved Kurt Russel as Jor el

you mean Russell Crowe.

[DancingCrab]

The reviews aren't encouraging.

I will say as a Zack Snyder film, it's probably his best...but that's not saying much.

He does spare us the slow motion stuff, but goes in the opposite direction and has the action happening so fast, you feel you need super powered vision just to keep up with everything.

There is a good story and performances in there, but like I said, they get buried in what might be the most ambitious non-stop action I've ever seen outside a Transformers movie. I left the movie exhausted and overwhelmed. A style over substance sensory overload.

SPOILERS
I had mixed feelings about Superman snapping Zod's neck. I don't think it had the emotional pull that Snyder or Nolan/Goyer was thinking it would. I think had they established some kind of connection (even if through manipulation on Zod's part) between the two it would have felt more tragic, but Zod came right out as a cold blooded villain to Kal-El from the get go so it just seemed like a matter of time. Also, I hate to sound like a broken record, but I was so fatigued by that point from all the action that I just couldn't shift back into caring about them as characters.

[DVDBuff1]

From the Last Movie you watched thread...

I was skeptical of liking this movie before I saw it, mainly because I’m a fan of Superman that loves the character but really dislikes his movies. But OH MAN, I LOVED this movie! It is The Superman movie I always wanted. Everything about this movie I thought couldn't work DOES WORK. I understand if the violence & destruction may be a little intense for some people, but it didn't bother me at all because it SO works for this film. You know that guy who makes enthusiastic noise over good moments when everyone else is quiet during an event? I was that guy laughing & cheering for the film, that’s how much I LOVED this movie. Amy Adams is officially now my FAVORITE depiction of Lois Lane. Zod is a serious force to be reckoned with, not the joke that pop-culture has satirized him as. The parents in this movie are very touching. The supporting cast is superb. While I have great respect for the late Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill (IMHO) is by far my favorite Superman. The John Williams theme is iconic, yes, but Hans Zimmer’s score (“Flight” particularly) is my FAVORITE Superman Theme. I HIGHLY recommend you go see this film. You will believe that a man can fly, and he’ll give you hope.

[ajmrowland]

I really liked the movie, but my Dad and I agreed that they could've done away with two or so of the action scenes and it would've been no less thrilling. Snyder put a lot of good ideas and twists on display-supposedly taken a bit from Superman: Birthright-but it didn't have the easiest time keeping to the heart of the story; a heart that I was still kind of a sucker for.


But the action scenes were thrilling and make the Avengers look tame by comparison. I also liked the expansion of krypton and their world which we haven't really seen much of on film.

[pinkrenata]

Also I loved Kurt Russel as Jor el

you mean Russell Crowe.

This made me smile.

I'm assuming everyone saw Luke's review already?

http://www.dvdizzy.com/manofsteel-film.html

I thought the action sequences went on and on and on and on and on and on. Look! You shoot at me a gazillion times and nothing happens! Hey! I just got pushed into a bunch of buildings! No worries, I'm okay!

[frankf3]

I thought it was decent, but disappointing. I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't. The plot tried to follow the same flashback structure was Batman Begins, but here it doesn't work as effective imo. I never felt like I got to know Superman and wasn't emotionally invested in his journey like Batman.

I did however enjoy Amy Adams as Lois Lane. I'm not usually the fan of the female lead in superhero movies (i.e. Mary Jane), but I liked her in this movie. She was smart and very active in the story. She wasn't there just to get saved by Superman, she actually helped out in the plot. That being said, I wish they would have just stayed as friends/mutually respect at the end, the romance felt forced

I liked Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Clark's parents and thought Crowe was fine as his other father (little too much exposition at times, especially when it is sometimes repeating info we already know). Fishburne didn't do much as Perry White, so I can't say much.

Finally, I want to talk about the villains because they were hit and miss. I thought Zod's motivation was fine, but his plan was pretty generic in my eyes. Also I felt Michael Shannon was trying to hard to be angry. Like I felt Snyder was constantly telling him to yell more and be louder ("I WILL FIND HIM!!!"). However, I LOVED Antje Traue's performance as Faora. I thought she nearly stole the show. I seriously wish she was the main villain instead of Zod. Faora came off much more intimidating with Zod. She doesn't have many lines, but actions speak louder than words. Her fight scene with Superman was the best action scene in the entire movie (even better than climax fight). She made her presence known everytime she was on-screen.

Overall, I thought Man of Steel was decent, but nothing special or memorable. There are some good parts, but it's not enough to save the movie. I know people are very mixed about "Iron Man 3", but I prefered that movie over Man of Steel as far as the Summer Superhero movie goes.

[PeterPanfan]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I absolutely loved it. I'm a pretty big Superman fan (he's always been my favorite superhero), so I had high expectations that sort of dwindled as reviews came in, yet I found myself enjoying the entire film. I didn't check my phone for the time once (a habit that has unfortunately become commonplace as of late), and didn't even notice some of the "faults" that were pointed out to my afterwards (the intense promotion of products/companies, the out of NOWHERE tornado, etc.)

I'll definitely be seeing it again. I have a more in-depth review here:

http://letterboxd.com/cinemascope/film/man-of-steel/

[DVDBuff1]

^ If you look at my previous post above, you'll know that you're not the only one.

[disneyboy20022]

I loved the film also. Also I must have gotten my Russels Mixed up

I can't wait for Man of Steel 2

Also for those wondering if there is a chance Christian Bale will dawn the Cowl again in a Justice League Movie.

There is a spoiler of an Easter egg in this so beware

[PeterPanfan]

I loved the film also.

^ If you look at my previous post above, you'll know that you're not the only one.

Thanks, guys - I guess we know good superhero movies when we see them.

[disneyboy20022]

Warner is already in development on a sequel to "Man of Steel" and is expected to fast track that for release as soon as 2014, said knowledgeable people close to the studio.

In addition, it has long been developing a "Justice League" team-up movie featuring characters such as the Flash and Wonder Woman that could come out as soon as 2015.

Source is from The Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 07794.html

[disneyboy20022]

I know some people are upset that Superman kills Zod, however some people seem to thinks this is new and wrong. They are wrong because Superman does away with Zod in Superman II, probably the last best Superman movie before this one.

[DancingCrab]

Wonder Woman needs her own movie first. She deserves more than to just be the Justice League's equivalent to Black Widow in a team up movie. Hell, if they just adapted the recent direct to video animated film, they'd have a great starting point.

I'm going to see Man of Steel again tomorrow, but this time in 2D. Hoping that I am able to enjoy it more the second go around. I remember having similar issues the first time I saw The Lord of the Rings films. It took one viewing of getting over my preconceived ideas of how the books should be adapted to just enjoying Peter Jackson's less whimsical, more action oriented versions.

[PatrickvD]

Why doesn't WB just buy DC Comics by the way? Superman and Batman have been associated with WB for as long as I can remember...

[DancingCrab]

Why doesn't WB just buy DC Comics by the way? Superman and Batman have been associated with WB for as long as I can remember...

Warner Bros. already does own DC Comics. The two companies merged in 1969.

I personally think that's part of the problem. The company has no clue what to do with anything that isn't Batman or Superman, so they have all these great characters and stories just sitting there, unable to be used by any other studio, going to waste. The most we get is animated fair in the form of tv series, but again, those mostly focus on Batman and Superman.

The awful Green Lantern movie turned them off from trying anything else. However, if that's the quality to expect, I'd rather NOT have a Wonder Woman movie. I did come upon the unaired pilot for NBC recently by David E. Kelley and it was wretched. Thank God it wasn't picked up for series.

[Mooky]

The movie was terrible. I really tried to like it, but it started rubbing me the wrong way pretty much the moment it started. From subdued colors, over shaky-cam/documentary style to the aesthetics of Krypton which looked more like one of the seven kingdoms in Game of Thrones than an advanced civilization. Kryptonian scenes weren't much better dialogue-wise, just standard quasi-philosophical drivel and the actress who played Lara was beyond awful they might have as well replaced her with a cardboard cutout. Julia Ormond -- actress cast originally -- she was not.

Then we get to our first Earth scene and I get a glimmer of hope that movie might not be that bad. And it's actually the next 30-35 minutes or so that the movie is quite good. From Superman's interactions with his adoptive parents to flashbacks to his childhood and oil rig scene -- all good drama. Enter Lois Lane. I had my reservations about Amy Adams from the moment she was cast because this type of role really isn't her forte, and sadly I wasn't proven wrong. This is probably the blandest Lois Lane has ever been, no sign of spunkiness or sarcasm, she's just there. I don't think it's all Ms Adams' fault, it's just the way she was written. Christopher Nolan can't write female characters for sh*t, they're all the same boring, rigid, humorless type. It says something when you're upped by a freaking Kate Bosworth.

And then the Kryptonians arrive on Earth and the movie turns into a destruction porn and propaganda film for the US army. More shaky-cam, more gritty realism and no sign of color in sight. I might have hated the final fight and its resolution, but I was too tired and bored to care by then. And, to be honest, though it may be OOC, it does make some sense: killing Zod and the mental and emotional impact it had on Superman will probably influence his future 'no kill' rule in the sequels, since it wasn't explored in this movie.

I don't think the awfulness of this movie is entirely Snyder's fault. After all, Watchmen and 300 were decent, maybe even brilliant (Watchmen). It's the script that's a hot mess. The only stand outs were Henry Cavill, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and Michael Shannon (even though he was hamming it in most of his scenes). Everything and everyone else could have died in that final battle and I wouldn't have cared.

Other things I didn't like:
- The physics of Jor-El's hologram/A.I.: how does it work? How does it know Jor-El is dead if Kal-El was shipped out prior to his father's death? This issue was just swept under the rug because, well, techno-babble. And then it gets killed/destroyed. It would have been interesting to see it get corrupted or something in the sequel, it could have been something akin to Brainiac.
- Everything is bleak and dark. Then again, it's produced by Christopher Nolan, the guy who sucked out all the fun out of Batman. And superhero movies must be insipid and brooding if they want to be taken serious. I understand Superman: The Movie was a product of its time and it's incredibly dated by today's standards. But by God, it wasn't as cynical about its source material as Nolan's DC films. How else do you interpret the fact that the name Superman is mentioned only in one scene and it's in the context of a sarcastic joke. Say what you will about the quality of Marvel’s films (including Fox's and Sony's productions), but they don't take themselves seriously and they're not ashamed of their origins.

There's probably more, but just thinking about this movie aggravates me, so I'll stop (for now). For a great Superman adaptation (and generally, brilliant DC adaptations) stick to the DC animated universe. Marvel still reigns supreme on the big screen.

Man of steel? Blech.

3/10 (4/10 for Henry Cavill's pectorals).