FILM REVIEW | Man of Steel

Clark (The Tudors’, Henry Cavill) never fit in. Always being the heroic freak – a combination that is harder to live out than define – of the Kansas town, Smallville, his never really known what it meant to be different. But after a close encounter with something that should not have been seen by human eyes, Clark realises that it’s time to fulfil he’s greater purpose.

The Story

Alright, the last time we saw Superman, he was coming back to earth with the storyline that he may or may not have a son with Lois Lane. This time around we’re taken back to the fall of Krypton and we’re back to basics with the introduction to the supernatural-farm-boy Clark Kent with an eye for the feisty reporter, Lois Lane, played by Enchanted’s, Amy Adams.

I’m not a big Superman fan, so I have to assume that it’s a revival of the essence of the comic book series (DC Comic nerds please don’t kill me!). I thought the story was fine, flashing back and forth between past and present to signify Clark’s self-discovery is great and new. In this new take, we see the more of the human side of Superman that the writers intended in comparison to the ‘super’-ness of his character.

But let’s cut to the chase, it’s still Lois Lane meets Clark Kent and at the end of the day, Superman is still the blue-eyed-underwear-on-top-of-the-spandex-ripped-superhero that we all fell in love when the first film came out in 1978.

The Cast

Henry Cavill – Not going to lie, as dazzling as Superman is suppose to be – and history shows that a few of the best looking actors have played the incredible superhero – I was more entertained by the authority that Cavill brings to the character in the delivery of his lines. For the first time in a long time, Superman is actually a leader rather than some coy farm boy trying to be normal for Lois one minute and saving her the next. Cavill commands the audience with his voice rather than his prowess, and personally, I thought he made Superman a lot more attractive when he was rugged rather than the clean-cut spandex look.

Amy Adams – finally landing the role that she’s always wanted, I have to take my hat-off of Miss Adams for her portrayal of one of the most well known superhero love interest. I like that she was more reporter than damsel in distress – so kudos to both Adams and the writing team for capturing the reality of what a journalist really goes through in the field.

Michael Shannon – Every hero needs a villain, and although Shannon was a phenomenal actor and played a solid contrast to Cavill, I was more distracted with the fact that he looked more like he popped out of a video game – everything about his look was off-putting in terms of detail. I only point this out because everyone else was not as perfect as his character. Kudos to the acting, but I think the hair and make-up department let the character down slightly.

Overall

Execution was great, but I have to say that it was way too long. By the time Clark and Lois kiss it’s like, cool-done-finished, but it’s not! Personally I thought the final fight sequence should have come sooner and that a lot of those action sequences were simply too video game like – too fast and it looked like a trailer for the next gaming thrill rather than an action sequence. I loved the first half, but I just wasn’t convinced with the second half.

sL Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Next on sL: TBA