Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman/Clark Kent is, perhaps, the most loved and revered, at least in Superman and Superman II. While I have great respect for the late actor, I always found those films to be a throwback to who the man of steel used to be, as opposed to who he was in the present day. The lighthearted nature of those efforts never really resonated with me, even when I watched them as a youngster. Of course, as the Superman series moved on, the quality disintegrated and, for nearly two decades, Superman movie projects failed to get off the ground. However, the character continued to thrive on television, in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and then in the long running Smallville on The CW. I was a fan of both series, but they also depicted more of an "aw shucks" version of Superman. However, during Smallville's ten year run, the tone became more serious, even dark, at times.
The last Superman film, Superman Returns, hearkened back to the original film, directed by Richard Donner, but failed to provide any character development for Kal-El, who was so silent that I thought he may not have learned how to speak fluently. Overall, I liked Superman Returns, but it really did nothing to reignite the legendary character who, frankly, deserved better. The past is gone and the future for Superman films looks more promising now with the recently released Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill. While the film is not perfect, I think Cavill is the best actor to portray Superman to date. I know, many will disagree.
Man of Steel is a contemporary take on Superman and does not follow conventional rules that viewers have come to expect. Cavill's mostly understated performance perfectly captures who the man of steel really is - a soft spoken do-gooder who wants to use his powers and abilities to help the people of Earth. However, Cavill is able to transform appropriately during battle scenes and when tragedy strikes. His calm, secure demeanor in many scenes is juxtaposed by the passion and heartbreak of others.
The film begins as an origin story, as the planet Krypton is in serious trouble due to years of exploitation of its natural resources. Those in charge do not share the doom and gloom viewpoint of Jor-El (Kal-El/Superman's father, played by Russell Crowe) and his nemesis General Zod (Michael Shannon), who overthrows the ruling council and takes control of the faltering planet in the hope of saving it. Jor-El refuses to help Zod and, as a result, pays a hefty price, but not before he and wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer), launch their infant son in a ship that will eventually take him to Earth. In addition, they inject a genetic codex into Kal-El's cells that holds the key building blocks for the Kryptonian race. Before Krypton explodes, Zod and his team are captured and banished to the Phantom Zone.
The film then time travels, as Superman/Clark's story is played out. His younger days on Earth are depicted as a struggle, as Clark begins to learn how to control his powers and is seen as an outcast among his peers. As a young man, he journeys about doing odd jobs, but is always around to save those in need. The relationship between Clark and his Earth parents, Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan (Kevin Costner), is heartwarming and effective despite a limited amount of screen time. The central story begins to unravel when Superman investigates the discovery of a Kryptonian vessel that is currently being examined by scientists and government officials. The ship, which was constructed by Jor-El, also draws the attention of intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams). Before long, Lois runs into Superman, who has to save her from the ship's defenses, and in the process, reveals his superhuman abilities.
When Lois tries to sell her incredible story to editor Perry White (Laurence Fishburne), it is rejected, but she is undeterred until actually meeting with Clark Kent and learning his story. After fully understanding what is going on, Lois shelves the proposed exposé, which is not the only sacrifice that she makes for her new alien friend. However, Superman's problems are far from over. When he entered the ship, a distress signal was picked up by Zod and his people, who have somehow survived, and they make a beeline towards Earth. Zod is intent on finding the codex so that he may recreate Krypton on Earth, even if it means killing the current residents. Of course, Superman disagrees with the madman's approach, which sets up several battle scenes and lays the groundwork for the balance of the film.
One of the reasons why Man of Steel works so well is due to the perfect casting of many integral characters. For instance, Russell Crowe delivers a pitch perfect performance as Jor-El, whose essence sticks around for much of the film and allows him to communicate with his son. In addition, Michael Shannon is mesmerizing as the maniacal Zod and delivers a searing performance. Furthermore, the aforementioned Diane Lane and Kevin Costner are superb in their brief appearances. Finally, even minor roles are populated by talented actors, including Christopher Meloni, Richard Shiff and Harry Lennix.
Amy Adams is well cast as Lois Lane, but she does not have a great deal of screen time. I trust that will be rectified in the next installment. The same goes for Laurence Fishburne as Perry White. The conclusion of the film hints at the Daily Planet playing a more prominent role in the next installment, though. In addition to the performances, I enjoyed the references to other characters in the Superman mythology, including Pete Ross and Dr. Emil Hamilton, which added a degree of continuity to the story.
With that being said, Man of Steel does have a couple of problems. The extended battle scenes seem overdone and unnecessary and there is a noticeable lack of humor that helped to offset the dark tone of the recent Batman trilogy. Viewers have to wait until nearly the end of the film to enjoy a humorous moment. Overall, however, I found Man of Steel to be well acted and entertaining. The tone of the film feels appropriate and contemporary and the new leading man of steel, Henry Cavill, has the talent to make this role his own for the foreseeable future and I look forward to the next installments, if, of course, there are any remnants of Smallville and Metropolis still around to use after the intense battles depicted throughout the film.
