Man Of Steel

You knew this one was coming. Especially from me. Now, after two years of rumors, secrets, and hype, it's finally time to see if the wait was worth it. This review will be different from the others.

As most of you know, when it comes to Superman, I am what you call "biased". I've been in love with this hero since the age of 3. As such, I didn't want it to seem like I was showing partial judgement as I did to Superman Returns in 2006. As much as I appreciate a sequel to the Richard Donner movies, I know understand why you guys may not have liked it. For this reason, I will do two separate reviews. One as a movie goer, and one as a die-hard Superman fan. This way, you will get an honest opinion through both perspectives.

With out further delay, my review(s) for Man Of Steel.

As A Movie Goer:
I feel about this film the same way I felt about Batman Begins. Oddly enough, this film was written by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan as well. Part of me was skeptical as to if this movie would live up to the hype. After all, we're all kind of jet lagged from Marvel movies aren't we? I have to say, however, that not only did this movie live up to the hype, but it was a great launching pad for the future of DC films.

Henry Cavill proved to be a great fit for the last son of Krypton, giving a more realistic take on the once Victorian Age boy scout that we all know and love. The rest of the cast had bright moments too. Amy Adams made Lois Lane into a very resourceful Pulitzer Prize winning reporter as opposed to the naive damsel in distress. Kevin Costner and Russel Crowe were excellent father figures playing Johnathan Kent and Jor-El respectively. They proved to be not only care takers to Clark but also remained in the movie as strong presences as the film went on. Then there is Michael Shannon, the man who took Terrance Stamp's performance, threw it out the window, and made it his own. As the saying goes, there is no villain more feared than one who believes that he or she is justified.

The action in this movie is absolutely spectacular. Anyone who wanted more action in a Superman movie finally got their wish. Who doesn't like seeing god-like beings going fist to cuffs in a city like Metropolis? Honestly? Just when we thought fights didn't get any better than Marvel, DC showed us what appeared to only be possible in the pages of their publications.

The issues I had with this film are few and far between. While I do appreciate the non-linear storytelling that made Batman Begins famous, the pacing of it all was just a bit off. After the slow build on planet Krypton, everything just seemed to move as fast as Superman in flight. I'd be interested to see a directors cut of this movie for that reason. Another thing that tweaked me is a spoiler alert. Warner Bros., you can't just drop an easter egg, such as a truck that says "Lexcorp" on it, and then just leave it like that! Just saying!

It's no wonder that the sequel to this movie has been fast tracked by Warner Bros. It's such a major improvement over The Donner Saga and a great way to introduce Superman to a new, young audience. The best part is that it is a version of Superman that we all can relate to. The only question is where do we go from here? Bring on the sequel!

Score: 8/10
Points Lost: Pacing (-1), Unresolved easter egg (-1)

As A Superman Fan:
There are no words. I used to believe that nothing could ever top Richard Donner. That was the cream of the crop when I was growing up. Between watching the trailers and looking at the official pictures, I knew that this was going to be a Superman experience of epic proportions.

Everything that is right in the world of Superman is in that movie. Henry Cavill is the Man of Steel. I admit it took me a while to get used to the outfit but once I understood the background behind it, I realized it was a new vision for the suit that I once knew. Everyone from Amy Adams to Russel Crowe played their roles so incredibly well with everyone getting a fair amount of screen time. Perhaps not all of them read the comics, but I felt like they were the characters. Especially, Michael Shannon. Talk about giving the Joker treatment to a comic book icon. The fights. Oh my god, the fights! Let's just say I think they're on par with what I used to read in Death And Return Of Superman. A true look at what happens when gods collide.

I could go on all day about how mind-blowing this flick is. All I will say is this. Even if you aren't a Superman fan, or partial to Marvel, or maybe just not a summer blockbuster kind of person, give this movie just one chance. If you are, and you were expecting Christopher Reeve, you need to let him go and check this movie out. I promise you won't be dissapointed!

Score: 10/10

Oh. One last thing. The flying sequences. Best damn parts of the movie PERIOD.