REVIEW: Man Of Steel – Worth The Hype or Kryptonite?

Man Of Steel has been one of the most anticipated comic book movies since it began production in 2011, especial given the team behind it including action-film supremo Zack Snyder (300), David S. Goyer (Blade) and the thinking man’s action maestro Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight).

Following the frosty reception given to 2006’s Superman Returns, Warner Bros. decided to pick up the franchise and give it a firm reboot with an origins story for the world’s most universally recognised superhero. In Man Of Steel we’re first thrust into the turmoil of Krypton, a dying world literally tearing itself apart and whose citizens are at war, unable to agree on what action needs to be taken to preserve their kind. Jor-El (Russell Crowe), the planet’s leading scientific mind is convinced there is no saving Krypton, so he and his wife decide to “bury” the genetic code of all of Krypton’s unborn children in their baby son Kal-El‘s DNA and send him to a far away land where he will be safe and able to fulfil a great destiny.

The clashes on Earth between General Zod, his Kryptonian followers and Superman  are amongst the most destructive and devastating action sequences I’ve ever seen on film.”

However, General Zod (Michael Shannon), Krypton’s military leader has other ideas and attempts to over throw the planet’s leadership, but when he’s caught, he and his minions are banished to an eternal prison, and Zod vows to hunt Kal-El down and rebuild Krypton.

We then meet a young boy, Clark Kent, who’s struggling to fit in at school and seems to have some rather strange abilities. But Clark isn’t from Earth, he’s Kal-El, Krypton’s last son, found in his space shuttle as a baby by a couple in Kansas who raised him as their own. But as he gets older he feels driven to discover who he really is, working odd jobs and keeping a low profile, leaving mysterious tales of “otherworldly” and miraculous heroism in his wake.

Things begin to get really complicated for our reluctant mysterious hero when he finally unlocks the truth to his origins and his past comes back to haunt him on Earth. General Zod discovers Clark’s location and makes his way to Earth, setting the stage for the mother of all showdowns with literally earth-shattering consequences.

Henry Cavill rose to prominence after his leading role in Immortals and when he was announced as the actor filling the biggest shiny red boots in comic-movie history, I was excited. He’s the perfect Man Of Steel for the 21st Century, reluctant, honourable and unfairly chiselled – no one has ever looked better in the iconic red cape wearing red pants over a blue spandex suit. His temper is bubbling but measured as he grows into the super man he’s destined to be, but explodes viciously when human lives are at stake. Equally, Amy Adams is possibly the best Lois Lane since Teri Hatcher’s portrayal of the feisty news reporter during the 90s comedy drama The New Adventures Of Superman. She’s no-nonsense and as curious and stubborn as ever, delivering a kicker of a line in her first scene – I won’t ruin it for you but it involves to male anatomy. Michael Shannon, is a masterful super villain, providing a multi-layered but terrifying adversary for the Man Of Steel.

The clashes on Earth between General Zod, his Kryptonian militia and Superman are amongst the most destructive and devastating action sequences I’ve ever seen on film, and if seen in 3D, they may possibly explode your eyeballs. However, most people would expect great action scenes from Zack Snyder – few do it better – but given Christopher Nolan’s involvement, I have to say the story didn’t quite have the emotional impact or darkness I was hoping for. Considering the film’s contents, there’s a lot of room for more depth, for more pain, but it all feels a little too glossy. There’s barely a spark between Amy Adams and Henry Cavill and if Warner do decide to do a follow up film, I imagine she’ll be replaced despite being an otherwise great Lois.

That said, the cast is mostly excellent with some great supporting performances from Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent, and Russell Crowe makes a pretty good Jor-El once he loosens up. Fans will love this but I fear it’s length (2hours and 20minutes) and lack of emotional depth will put off critics, newcomers and girlfriends. It could have been 20 minutes shorter and didn’t need a FINAL-final battle.

I left the film feeling pumped and a little high off the adrenaline, wishing I could fly, so the film largely does what it sets out to do. It’s exceedingly high impact and had me on the edge of my seat during the fight sequences. My only worry is that the battles were so ridiculously off the scale that there will be little left for any subsequent films, The bar may have been raised too high, even for superman… Man Of Steel will be out in cinemas across the country from Friday 14, enjoy!!!

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Check out my Man Of Steel Premiere red carpet report!!!