In anticipation of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, in
theaters March 25, here is my review of the first appearance of the new
Superman in the blockbuster Man of Steel (2013).
Man of Steel is a
mediocre movie with sporadic great moments throughout. Henry Cavill looks the
part as Superman and is able to create a compelling hero. The supporting cast
which includes Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence
Fishburne, and Russell Crowe each contribute with convincing performances.
Although all the actors are quite good, most of the characters are
underdeveloped. The villains are intimidating, but ultimately one dimensional.
The romance between Superman and Lois Lane comes off as forced and unnecessary.
Visual effects
are commendable, as many scenes in the film rely on them heavily, and there
isn't a single unconvincing shot. The action scenes are grand in scale and very
entertaining. The musical score by Hans Zimmer is uplifting and powerful,
lending itself to the dramatic scenes to pack even more of an emotional punch.
The best scene in the movie, where Superman takes flight, is thrilling and
handled perfectly.
Where this movie
falters is in its occasionally dull story. It plays out exactly how you would
expect. The last third of the movie is exclusively action, which becomes
overblown and excessive after a while. The editing of the sequences is choppy,
as flashbacks alternate with the main story as a way to disguise how little is
going on in the beginning. The script is lackluster, with no quotable lines,
seemingly second to the action.
This is a mixed
bag of a movie, there are some great ideas throughout, but the overall
execution leaves more to be desired. Not a bad blockbuster by any means, just
underwhelming. I am looking forward to the release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn
of Justice in theaters March 25. I am hopeful that the director, Zack Snyder,
builds upon the strengths and the groundwork established in Man of Steel. Time
will tell.
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