Plot: (There will be major spoilers– be warned)
This is a synopsis. It is not every detail but there are several details.
We all know the Story of Superman. Baby Kal El is sent to Earth by his parent, Jor El and Lara, in a rocket because their planet Krypton is being destroyed. He crash lands in farmlands of Smallville, Kansas. He is adopted and raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent. He grows up to be Superman.
The movie starts with an extended time on Krypton. After Kal El is launched to Earth, the story picks up with Clark Kent as an adult. He is wandering from one job to another job in an attempt to keep a low profile. It is hard to keep a low profile when you continue to save people’s lives.
In the process, Clark discovers information about something ancient buried in the ice near the arctic. He gets onto the crew of the expedition. Lois Lane shows up at the site. She received permission from the Canadian Supreme Court to cover the search. The evening after her arrival, she is sets up her camera for the dig and sees someone walking around without a coat on. She follows the mysterious figure, who turns out to be Clark. Clark burroughs a whole in the ice and discovered a Kryptonian ship.
Clark has a Kryptonian key, which was in his baby spaceship. He inserts it into the old spaceship and it powers up. A hologram of his father Jor El appears on the ship. Lois is attacked by a robot so Clark has to destroy it in front of her to save her life. In the process, she falls unconscious. Clark leaves Lois safe and then flies the ancient ship way to another part of the arctic.
Lois follows the trail of clues and information back to Clark. She figured out Clark was an alien that he has “super” abilities. This occurs prior to Clark ever puts on the tights. Lois decides to keep Clark’s secret rather than write another story about him.
General Zod and his cronies were put in the phantom zone in ship for attempting a coup d’état on Krypton. When Krypton blows up, the blast frees Zod and his army. General Zod goes looking for Kal El and the “Codex” (container of the genetic code of all future Kryptonian children). When Kal El starts up the space ship, it sends a out a beacon and Zod is able to find Earth.
Zod sends a message out to all of Earth looking for Kal El. The General threatens to destroy the world unless they turn over Kal El. Clark/Kal El puts on the tights and turns himself in. The U.S. Government gives Kal El to Zod but Lois is brought along. This starts a chain of events which leads to the big showdown between Superman and the villainous Kryptonians. It ends with Superman having to kill Zod because there is no other way to stop him and Zod will destroy all of humanity.
What I liked: (More Spoilers)
I really enjoyed the opening on Krypton. I love the design of the planet. The flying dinosaurs/ dragons were super KOOL. I loved the conflict with the Council, Jor El, and Zod.
I found it fascinating that Kal El is the natural child born on Krypton in centuries. All of children are specifically bred and trained for their roles in Life. Zod was bred to be a warrior.
I really like the Military Leader version of Zod. He had motivation for everything he did. He believed he was saving and protecting Krypton even when trying to kill Superman and the human race. There are times that you can relate completely with Zod.
I loved the portrayal of Lois in this movie. She is smart and driven. She has a conscience and follows her heart. She is not a whiny girl always yelling for Superman to save her.
The Action and Special effects are top notch in this movie. The fight scenes were sensational. Even the destruction is really KOOL.
I felt the casting was superb. I bought into every character. Henry Cavill was a great Clark/Superman. I loved Amy Adams as Lois and Michael Shannon as General Zod.
What I not Like:
I really didn’t like Lois knowing Superman’s identity. Heck, it appears that most of Smallville now knows his true identity. It did happen organically in the story which is a plus. I really dislike heroes revealing their identities in every Superhero movie. I can’t stand it and didn’t like it in Man of Steel.
I really hated having Superman kill Zod. He is suppose to be better than killing. The story did lead to this but I still don’t like it at all. Will he kill Lex in the Sequel? Once you start justifying heroes killing, it is easy to continue down that path.
I realize the success of the Dark Knight series but that doesn’t mean we need a gloomy Clark. He is Superman and not Batman. Superman is the hopeful one and Batman is dark and gloomy.
Finally, I couldn’t believe we had another geek movie with spaceship buried in the ice. This reminds me of X-Files, Stargate SG1, Aliens VS Predators and many more. Can’t we get some originality?
Review:
I really enjoyed this Superman movie. I haven’t like one since Superman II. It was fun and entertaining. The last third of the movie is packed with action and KOOL special effects.
It was well written. The plot drove all of the action. There were plot holes but I expect that from an action/ superhero movie and they weren’t too large.
If you like Superman or Superheroes, or action movies, I believe you will enjoy this movie. Check it out.
My Grade: B+
Other Reviews
IMDB: 8.2
Rotten Tomatoes/Critics: 55% Fresh
Rotten Tomatoes/Audience: 82% Fresh
I agree this was a great movie. For me, it was the Superman movie I had been waiting to see. As far as killing Zod, just remember, Superman killed a very helpless Zod in Donner’s Superman II when he had options, all with a smile from Reeve while iconic John Williams theme played triumphantly. And although I didn’t see what was at the bottom of that pit that Zod fell down into, I always assumed when I was a kid that he was thrown to his icy death. Granted the death blow was more direct in this film but made, what amounts to a sacrifice of Clark’s self, more powerful. Superman also killed Zod and his minions in the comics, so for those reasons I do not think we can say it’s out of character for Superman to kill. I believe this was a coming of age tale toward true heroism, with lessons that had to be learned and levels of acceptance that had to be reached. Clark had to do the one thing his Earth father warned him about, that he had always held in check, and, although necessary to save a whole world, realized it came at a great cost to his humanity while also bringing him closer to it and making him a part of it. The next movie will probably bring a Superman closer to the classic hero, and I think we saw a moment of that after he destroyed the drone in his conversation with the army general. Yes, another ship in the ice is redundant but Superman I think earns it more since the ship was basically a substitute for the northern-located Fortress of Solitude, Superman’s traditional home base. I don’t think you can have a Superman movie without some version of that place so I’m glad this was taken in a different direction which played very importantly into the plot. I will not call this movie perfect but it’s definitely worth a second viewing at the theater so I can’t wait until I get to go do that. Great review, Larry!