Movie Reviews: "Man of Steel"

[JamesG]

Movie Reviews: Man of Steel


Man of Steel is another one of those movies that are often described as critic-proof. Good thing, too, because most critics are flinging kryptonite at it.





Referring to the opening scenes, which describe the birth of Kal-El on the doomed planet Krypton, Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal remarks:

"On our planet, however, the story proves to be a miscarriage, if not quite an abortion. Here's one more studio extravaganza brought down by numbing action and an addiction to generic digital effects."





Rex Reed in the New York Observer grouses:

"Despite an obscene budget that could have made a giant stride in the cure for cancer, there isn't much originality, and the whole endeavor appears to be the work of grown men who never outgrew puberty."





Ty Burr in the Boston Globe finds much to like about it, but what's missing, he writes:

"is a sense of lightness, of pop joy. And in the final half hour the film simply gives in to The Urge to just smash things."





Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune acknowledges that the film has all the stuff it takes to compete in the modern blockbuster world. However, he adds:

"The scale of the Destruction borders on the grotesque. By the time Superman squares off against General Zod ... in a climactic, city-destroying Melee that goes on for what feels like weeks, it's no wonder the boy born Kal-El on Krypton eventually transforms into a bit of a prima donna."





Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times allows that the story is well-imagined in terms of broad outlines that are more science fiction than superhero.

However, he adds, "While its ambition and scope pull one way, its pinched and unconvincing sense of drama pull the other. The film is not emotionally convincing."





Manohla Dargis in The New York Times is equally of two minds about the movie, describing it as being at once frantically overblown and beautifully filigreed.

"Someone should have smacked the director, Zack Snyder, in the head and reminded him that he was midwifing a superhero franchise."







Most of the critics agree, however, that British-born actor Henry Cavill was a fitting choice to play the title role.


Peter Howell in the Toronto Star says that Cavill transforms into:

"an uncommonly brooding but refreshingly deep Superman."





Claudia Puig in USA Today writes:

"He has the strapping good looks of the comic icon, and humanity to match his superheroism."





But Ann Hornaday in the Washington Post concludes:

"Cavill makes a well-built, handsomely credible Superman in Man of Steel -- or at least he will, in an already-planned sequel that, with luck, will more thoughtfully exploit his talents. For now, audiences can only speculate as to the hidden depths of Cavill, who in Zack Snyder's busy, bombastic creation myth is reduced to little more than a joyless cipher or dazzling physical specimen."

-IMDB News

[comedyfreak]

After a stellar Thursday night of $21 million, including $12 million from Thursday 7pm screenings and $9 million from midnights, Warner Bros. Pictures' Man of Steel soared to $44.1 million on Friday (including those $9 million midnights) and has already reached $56 million total domestically. The Superman movie looks to heading passed the $130 million mark by the end of the weekend, which is definitely beyond the studio's expectations.

Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni, Russell Crowe, Michael Kelly, Harry Lennix and Richard Schiff, the Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel opened in 4,207 theaters and received a strong A- CinemaScore from audiences, which means that word-of-mouth will play a big factor in how big the movie will do at the box office.

We'll have more on the domestic box office results tomorrow as well as international estimates.

[Flying Dutchman]

Man Of Steel Didn't do too bad on its 2nd weekend. About 94 Million if IMDB is telling the truth. I think over all its going to do well.

[shotzette]

I don't understand all of the hate, MoS was great except for one very long action sequence that didn't advance the plot. The acting was good, and I had some significant doubts about Henry Cavill going in. Amy Adams was wonderful as always, and Pa Kent was the role that Costner was born to play. I really don't care for Diane Lane as a rule, but she was wonderful as Ma Kent! Ignore the reviews and see this!

[Tubehead]

I ENJOYED MOS BETTER THEN BATMAN

[MacLeaper]

Which "Batman"? There have been many, but I assume you mean Christopher Nolan's recent Batman movies. I really enjoyed those for the most part (I generally love most all superhero movies anyway though- I definitely love the Tim Burton movies and enjoy the Schumacher ones too)
But yeah- "Man of Steel" was great! Superman is my favorite superhero ever and this movie was a great presentation of him. It will never replace the Christopher Reeve movies, of course- I absolutely LOVE those! - and I still for the most part really love "Superman Returns" as well- I still wish Brandon Routh had been given a sequel movie for that one.
Oh well- "Man of Steel" was a great Superman movie- the origin was pretty well done (though it definitely added some new twists) and I did really like Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent. Diane Lane did well as Martha Kent too.
And Henry Cavill was great as Clark Kent/Superman. And I liked Amy Adams as Lois Lane. I'm disappointed that I didn't see Jimmy Olsen in there though. And Lawrence Fishburne did well as Perry White, even though I do wish the movie had kept with 75 years of comic book continuity and kept him as a Caucasian character. (That isn't a racial thing- to clarify, I'd be just as upset if Sam Wilson/The Falcon was randomly changed to a Caucasian or Asian or something [rather than the African-American he's always been portrayed as in the comics] for his upcoming movie appearance in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"- which I am quite excited for. It's about continuity for me.)
And of course, one of the main reasons I love Superman so much is that he's such a great Christ figure. This movie resonates with that in so many ways! Jor-El's talk with Lara and later with Jor-El says it so well- "He will be as a god to them." Jor-El's mandate to Kal to be a standard that the people of Earth can strive for- and that he would be the "hope" for the planet- and the bridge between two peoples!!!!! Wow- there were a number of Christic echoes in this movie. And I absolutely LOVE the scene where Superman talks to a priest at a Christian church about whether he should deliver himself into the hands of his enemy, Zod- and whether he can trust the people of Earth. And how perfect was it for this Christ figure having his own Gethsemane moment to be sitting right in front of a stained glass window where we can see Jesus Christ Himself portrayed in the garden of Gethsemane, praying for His Father to remove this cup from Him if possible- yet nonetheless, not My Will but Thy will be done! WOW!
Superman is a hero who willingly gives his life for others in need who can't save themselves- just like Jesus did for us. And of course, in the comics Superman died and came back from the grave- just as Jesus did in real life for us so that we could be saved from our sins and be reunited with God through Christ- the bridge to cross the great divide! (And of course, the cross to bridge the great divide!)
There are many more examples I could name- if anyone's interested, there's a whole book on this subject. (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Accordi...test+Superhero)

[Schmoopie]

Wow, I've heard nothing but good things about this movie. I don't believe anything critics say if it's a movie I really want to see.

[Tubehead]

I meant Christopher noel movies i I can't say it better then batman I have to watch it few more times t o decide to be honest I thought dark night was boring my favorite batman is batman begins I also liking batman dark night rises a lot don't get me worng I thought dark night was awesome just after watching it few time I didn't like it much pluse you couldn't under stand word batman was saying I had to turn the tv up loud enough just to hear what batman was saying I think my favorite is the first then the third ones I also enjoyed batman with Michael Kenton I didn't like batman returns too much I thought it was too bloody I enjoyed the third one a lot even know it didn't do that we'll I hope they can make a justice league movie or at least batman vs super man or team up movie