Many Nights and Days with the Man of Steel: {SPOILERS}

Many Nights and Days with the Man of Steel: {SPOILERS}

I loved Man of Steel. I loved it...but it could have been better....don't click if you don't want spoilers.

Review Opinion
By AZSuperman - Jun 18, 2013 09:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

S-P-O-I-L-E-R-S….yes if you don’t want to be spoiled stop reading……ok seriously….stop reading….I’m warning you there ARE spoilers in the next section. If you’re still reading the article will begin in 3…2…1..
I just got out of Man of Steel. WOW. It’s incredible. If you’re a comicbook fan regardless of which production house or who you prefer, Superman over Hulk, Thor over Flash, I don’t care, GO SEE THIS MOVIE.
I had the opportunity to see an advanced screening on 6/12 and I can tell you all day I was counting down the minutes. I grew up on Christopher Reeve. He’s my Superman. Although many will fight me on it, a close second is Brandon Routh, and tied for third Dean Cain and Tom Welling. I was excited to see what Henry could do, I daydreamed in the back of my head all day as I sat through meeting after meeting trying to pay attention and trying not look as if I had been off on Krypton myself. There was a wicked bad thunderstorm developing as the day crept on and I was worried that it would get worse. I left work a little later than I wanted to and headed to the theater, I was still in my work clothes so I need to change into my favorite Superman shirt. I happened to be the only one in line at that point wearing anything superman. It’s ok because I’m proud. Our host greeted us and told us about the history between our company and WB’s and the future of the Man of Steel (Our host also hinted that talks were already ongoing for MOS2). I was with bated breath as the WB, Syncopy, and Legendary logo’s all breached the screen in non-traditional` dirt looking font. I should mention that we saw this in 3D. The familiar DC logo matched its predecessors. There was no traditional “fast flip” through comic boxes like previous films. The film starts out on Krypton and quite a bit is happening. Before I go any further…I LOVED this movie. But there are some pretty opportunities and things that I just didn’t like that after having seen this movie now 7 times, I just can’t get over. I will try not to spoil too much but now that I think about it, it’s kinda making me nuts. I’ll do a list.
1. Supes/Kal/Clark somehow gets from the crab boat to the top of the oil rig in a matter of seconds. Now normally, I wouldn’t question Superman (that we know) doing this, but later on we establish that he has no idea how to fly…he swam to the oil rig, climbed up the oil rig, and then found the people and then had trouble holding up a support beam? THEN, it takes him a very long time to swim to the shore?
2. Pa Kent – I’m going on record here that Kevin Costner went UNDER utilized in this film; he had the potential to do so much more, because the scenes where he is in are powerful. Zack if you’re reading this, use more flashbacks of Pa Kent in MOS2. Glen Ford did more with LESS screen time in the original. (EASY KILLERS, it was just used as a point of comparison for time).
3. Pa Kent death – This is could have been a little more dramatic coming after a few more scenes to understand the connection between Clark and Jonathan. The hand motion was a little campy for me, but it did serve its purpose. Although if I were Clark and I just told my dad that he wasn’t my dad, and then he died, I’d be a bit more upset.
4. Lois Lane – “I guess I get writers block when I’m not wearing a flak jacket” Really? That’s the line you wanna use? OK. Her character especially the way Amy Adams portrayed her, has so much potential. She too was underutilized and the fact she found out what Superman’s secret was; is more than annoying.
5. Clark/Superman/Kal – Spends more time getting up off the floor than any other superhero I’ve seen. Superman is supposed to be one bad Mother, and throughout the movie he’s picking his ass up from the ground. Even when he flew threw a nuclear reactor, but the 7-11 was too much for him. He just keeps getting his a$$ knocked to the ground. That’s what really annoyed me, he’s been on earth for years “drunk” with the yellow sun’s radiation and he’s stronger than all the other kryptonians but his ass keeps getting knocked down.
6. Codex –
7. Zod’s Ship – Can manipulate the atmospheric conditions so Superman doesn’t have powers and then Jor-EL AI can change them back and somewhere in that process the changes make you have hallucinations. Got it. ????? What???? Am I the only one that thought that was effin stupid?
8. Dr. Hamilton and Col Hardy Dying – Yep two more characters the latter (Doc) who could have been used plenty in the future. Not to mention the barely used him put for two things, a few lines of dialogue and to turn the thingy to make it work so we could create a blackhole in the middle of the sky in Metropolis? Any physicists around want to comment on that? I mean we’re being so “scientifically” correct and everything.
9. Being Named Superman: “Superman….that’s what they’re calling him” who’s calling him that? Where? When? No one but you Mr. Radio operator Airmen. SO ANTI CLIMATIC
10. Superman Kills Zod – No sir, do not pass go, do not collect 200$, good ole Batman didn’t even kill (and yes I know he’s from a different universe). Let’s ask this, would Pa Kent have approved of Supes killing Zod.
11. Henry Cavil – He was great and there were times where I was watching him and was like “that’s the Man of Steel.” In the interview room, where we smirks at Lois, when he stands up for the waitress, walking out of the fortress with his new threads and that smile at the very end. Other times I felt he lacked the gravitas, charisma and was forced. Especially, like the kiss, the line “might want to stand back….maybe a little more”
These are just my feelings guys, don’t get crazy. I’ve seen the movie 7 times and will probably see it a dozen more before I buy it. I loved it and I’m glad Superman is back on the big screen. I love it!

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AZSuperman
AZSuperman - 6/18/2013, 10:32 AM
Yea! I love Superman.
Scooby
Scooby - 6/18/2013, 10:52 AM
Four times for me, I loved every single second of it. We should have a competition, lol, who watches the movie the most at the theater by the end of its run, lol!
Scooby
Scooby - 6/18/2013, 10:52 AM
Definitely watching it more times :)
AZSuperman
AZSuperman - 6/18/2013, 11:04 AM
I'm down I could watch it and pull apart every second.

Didn't he say that Zod "did something" onboard his ship? Superman isn't telepathic and if he did why would he be in a black suit and why would be sinking into a sea of skulls? #jussayin
GLFanboy
GLFanboy - 6/18/2013, 12:25 PM
I don't understand how so many people who "know" Superman don't know or refuse to acknowledge that Superman killed Zod in the comics. This was post-Crisis and for a long time afterward was touted as Superman's only kill. The act influenced his character going forward in the comics. Man of Steel pulls from the comic to create the exact same situation. That is, Kal has little choice but to kill Zod for the greater good and that act (obviously, in my opinion) will influence him going forward to the extent that it helps define his moral code including the principle of not killing.

It's funny that many people belabor the idea that Superman is an outdated boy scout with a simple black and white sense of right and wrong yet when anyone tries to bring in shades of gray, even when pulled directly from the comics, they are steamrolled for straying from the same moral code they complain about. Kind of hard to win when the deck is that stacked against them.

This comment isn't directed at the reviewer but rather just a general reaction to a lot of what I've been reading.
KoonEl
KoonEl - 6/18/2013, 12:34 PM
@AZSuperman: He did hold the rig up, but the beams collapsed under him. Also, Superman's ability to overcome explosions, gun shots, electricity, etc. has always varied even within the same continuity. I don't see this as a problem, he just needed to get used to that. I'm sure that was the first time Clark had to hold something that heavy before. I also think that Pa Kent was under used, but if he was used more people would have complained about a rehash of an origin story.

I think that the origin has been done to death, and we didn't need it again. They handled it perfectly. I also think that Lois was used a lot in this. She discovered Superman's identity, exposes government cover up, interviews Supes, works w/ AI Jor-el, and helps save the day in the end. What did Lois do in Superman the Movie, Superman II, Superman IV? Let's see. She falls off of things, gets stuck on things, nearly drowns, gets blown up, and Superman has to save her every time. The only time she gets to investigate anything that I can remember was is II with the couple's retreat. What did they do? They completely scrapped that storyline after she found out Clark's secret, and they never mentioned it again.
GLFanboy
GLFanboy - 6/18/2013, 12:48 PM
@Koonel I personally breathed a huge sigh of relief that we weren't going to have to sit through multiple films where Lois doesn't know Superman's identity. My god! We've been so repeatedly exposed to that dynamic that it's refreshing to know that it's not going to be an issue in the MOS world. Every time it's explored in movies, TV or animation it just seems to get sillier and sillier. And in another example of hypocrisy, I read lots of comments about how Lois shouldn't know Superman's identity (which is fine and I respect that opinion). But it's often by the very same people who would ridicule the fact that a pair of glasses could conceal it. IMO It's nice to know that sequels won't have to waste time precious screen time dealing with it.
Scooby
Scooby - 6/18/2013, 1:16 PM
@AZSuperman, it's bloodmorel - and he was wearing his regular suit. Check out

http://screenrant.com/man-of-steel-movie-easter-eggs-trivia-comic-book-references/

For this tidbit and more
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 6/18/2013, 2:03 PM
1. - Meh, this is superman we are talking about, even if he couldn't fly yet he could have leaped half of the the distance to the rig and then done some serious dolphin kicks to get him there in record time

2. - Agreed, Kevin Costner did an excellent job and I wish he was around more in the movie.

3. - Agreed, even if they had Clark saving someone else while Pa tried to save the family dog only to get stuck and Clark not be able to get to him in time. This is pretty much the only part of the movie that bugged me.

4. - To be honest, I was happy they did not fill this movie with Lois, to me it should have been about Superman and how he became the man of steel so I'm cool with Lois not having a major focus in this one.

5. - Disagree. The kryptonians were trained warriors and Clark is a farm boy/fisherman/waiter. I would argue that it was better they did it this way to show that even though he is stronger, it took him a little time to get the upperhand against the skill of his Kryptonian foes.

6. - Not sure what you don't like about the codex

7. - My understanding was that they were going into Kal-el's mind to get information about the codex not that he was hallucinating. In fact Lois said that they went into hers and Superman reassured her that it was ok because they did the same thing to him confirming this point. Not a hallucination but moreso a virtual manifestation of shared thoughts between one person and another via some kind of kryptonian technology.

8. - Are you sure about this?...it seemed as though Hardy and Hamilton got sucked into the phantom zone with Faora and company

9. - technically Lois thought of it first. She was about to say it in the interview room but was cut off, then this military operator confirmed that "Superman" was what "everyone" was calling him.

10. - It was implied that Superman kills Zod in Superman II and in the comics, he kills Doomsday and others as well, people should know that by now. If they use this as a turning point for why he never wants to kill again than I am all for it especially after his very emotional reaction to having to kill Zod. Especially since Zod made it clear he would kill every last human until Superman killed him.

11. Meh, I think ol Henry did a good job.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 6/18/2013, 2:08 PM
I also liked that Lois knows his secret...the whole "her not being able to recognize him behind the glasses" is ridiculous and I'm glad they got rid of it along with him not knowing where to place his underwear. Both reasons why people could not take the character seriously so no sweat off my taint.
TheManOfSteelHI
TheManOfSteelHI - 6/18/2013, 2:32 PM
I think that this Lois was awesome, and having her know his identity from the get go help the story progress a lot faster (kinda how Tony Stark reveals he is IronMan in the first movie). Pa kent would understand him killing to save life. Pa even suggested he should have let the kids on the bus die to protect his secret. In the Comic Book "Superman: Exile" (1989) Superman was forced to kill Zod and 2 other Kryptonians from an alternate dimension with Kryptonite, that was when he vowed never to kill again. The oil rig being heavy to Supes? Superman had no knowledge of his limits, he had no idea he could fly or even started testing what he is capable of. I can imagine Superman Leapin to the oil rig, once rig exploded there really isnt a ground where he can leap from so it explains why he would swim back. The hallucination part I though was clearly explained by them being able to put thoughts in to minds as a way to extract information. Superman was getting beat up a lot because he was going against military ppl with training from his plannet, is like a strong guy fighting a trained fighter that has no morality, in the end he won each fight. Just cause no one on screen is calling him Superman doesnt mean that ppl around the world might not be calling him Superman, off screen references are done in movies all the time. I think Kevin Costner was perfectly used, hense why his short time on screen means something. Had they used him a lot more the feeling would become used. I though that Pa Kent Death was perfect, he dies saving ppl hense Superman being raised to be a Hero like his dad. I love every single aspect of this movie, the one thing I give you is that I hope Dr. Hamilton is not dead and the black hole only sucks Kryptonian biological and tecnological forms. I am a huge Superman fan as well.
AZSuperman
AZSuperman - 6/18/2013, 3:37 PM
I just want to say, GREAT discussion, there's respect and we are all listening and debating.
lucio7lopez
lucio7lopez - 6/18/2013, 11:06 PM
Great movie, maybe not perfect, but inreally awesome. I want to go and watch it 10 times! All depends in my wallet!
KingEmperor
KingEmperor - 6/19/2013, 3:33 AM
To sidetrack the topic a little bit, that was Pete Ross at IHOPs when Superman crashed inside it when fighting Zod, right? Also, he gave that look that he recognized Supes as Clark.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 6/19/2013, 6:45 AM
@King Emperor - Yes, that was indeed Pete Ross in the IHOP but I believe that is when Superman was fighting Faora.
AZSuperman
AZSuperman - 6/19/2013, 8:21 AM
yea that was Pete, there wasn't any dialogue but Pete definitely recognized him.

The ship thing is still bothering me, I can concede all other points, but man oh man the ship thing is still dumb. Sorry.
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