Blog #73 Man of Steel Movie Review

Directed by Zack Snyder

Screenplay by David S. Goyer

Story by David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan

Image 2 Henry Cavill in *Deadpool and Wolverine* (2024)

Based on Characters appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment

Produced by Charles Roven, Chrostopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Debobrah Snyder

Starring

Henry Cavill played Clark Kent/Superman. Mr. Cavill also played Superman in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Justice League (2017), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2017). Mr. Cavill also played The Cavillrine in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)

Amy Adams played Lois Lane. Ms. Adams also played Lois Lane in Jack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), Justice League (2017), and Batman v Superman (2016). Ms. Adams also played Louise Banks in Arrival (2016).

Image 4 Michael Shannon in *Farenhit 451* (2018)

Michael Shannon played General Zod. Mr. Shannon also played Michael Strickland in Shape of Water (2017) and General Zod in The Flash (2023). Captain Beatty in Fahrenheit 451 (2018) and Aaron in Vanilla Sky (2001).

Image 5 Kevin Costner in *The Postman* *(1997)*

Kevin Costner played Jonathan Kent. Mr. Costner also played The Postman in The Postman (1997), and Mariner in Waterworld (1995).

Diane Lane played Martha Kent. Ms. Lane also played President and Congresswoman Jennifer Brown in Y:the Last Man (2021), and Judge Hershey in Judge Dredd (1995).

Image 6 Diane Lane in *Judge Dredd* (1995)

Laurence Fishburne played Perry White. Mr. Fishburne also played Morpheus in The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Matrix Revolution (2003). Mr. Fishburne also played General Wm. Harris in The Astronaut (2025), Fundi Romain in Megalopolis (2024), Narrator TV miniseries Year Million (2017), Gus Marcuso in Passengers (2016), Damon in The Signal (2014), Briggs in The Colony (2013), Ronald Noland in Predators (2010), Miller in Event Horizon (1997), and Glu Glu Lawyer (as Larry Fishburne) in Cherry 2000 (1987).

Image 7 Laurence Fishburne in Cherry 2000 (1987) 7

Image 8 Ayelet Surer in *Moonhaven* (2022)

Antje Traue played Faora-Ul. Ms. Traue also played Nadia in Pandorum (2009)

Ayelet Surer played Lara Lo-Van. Ms. Surer also played Maite Voss in Moonhaven (2022),

Christopher Meloni played Colonel Nathan Hardy.

Russell Crowe played Jor-El. Mr. Crowe also played Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Cinematography Amir Mokri

Edited by David Brenner

Music by Hans Zimmer

Production companies Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, DC Entertainment, Syncopy, Peters Entertainment

Distrubuted by Warner bros. Pictures

Release dates June 10, 2013 (Alice Tully Hall), June 14, 2013 (United States)

Running time 143 minutes

Image 10 Russel Crowe in *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022)

Countries United States, United Kingdom

Language English

Budget $225 million

Box office $670.1 million

Synopsis

Image 11 Jor-El puts his son into the space pod

This is Superman’s (Kal-El, Clark Kent) origin story. The movie jumps between the planet where he is born (Krypton) and Earth. Kal-El’s parents (Jor-El and Faora-Ul), along with others on Krypton, were responsible for destroying their planet, which is one reason they sent Kal-El to Earth and didn’t go with him. The movie shows Krypton breaking up, and his parents take a chance by sending their child to a planet where they think he will survive and help the people of Earth, somehow learning from his home planet’s demise. Arriving on Earth, a couple finds the baby in his space pod and decides to raise him. Clark’s father tells him not to use his powers as he grows up, thinking that humans aren’t ready yet for them or for Clark. Unfortunately, Clark can’t help but rescue people in danger, putting himself at risk of exposure, which eventually leads him to leave home and hide in Alaska.

Image 12 Clark as a child with big dreams

Clark goes through a few rescues, including one for a reporter, Lois Lane. Lois tries to find out about him. She discovers who he is when other Kryptonians arrive on Earth and demand that humans hand over Kal-El. Lois realizes that revealing him in her paper might get Clark killed. The Kryptonian soldiers, led by General Zod, believe Kal-El holds the key to revitalizing Krypton’s population, and he does. Unfortunately, that would mean destroying the humans and replacing them with Kryptonians.

Clark (Kal-El) struggles with the choices he has to make, keeping the United States military off him and stopping these soldiers led by General Zod.

Conclusions

This movie brings an obvious comparison between Superman and Jesus Christ. Something I saw in the extras. There was a scene of Clark in the water in a Jesus pose as he sinks after the rescue in Alaska. I don’t believe there is an equivalence here, but that the two men had something in common: would the world have trouble with each man’s superior nature? This is why people were suspicious of Clark: would he bring about destruction because of those ‘powers’? What is ironic is that they also believe he should save everyone (at least everyone each person or group thinks needs saving). I do believe there were problems with doing ‘rescues,’ namely the damage and potential hurt. We know that Clark is a magnificent being who struggles to give only the best to his adopted planet. Average citizens would not know that, of course, and there lies the dilemma. In addition, one person can’t protect the whole planet; he can only act when he is nearby or hears about the need.

Image 14 Jor-El as an intelligent AI talks to his son

I don’t think that it would be possible to do ‘good deeds’ enough to satisfy humanity; how could anyone in Superman’s place? On top of that, Superman is mortal. Jesus, on the other hand, was involved with the spiritual life of humans and thus wasn’t trying to go around ‘protecting’ every person. He was instructing the way to save a soul. Of course, Jesus did do some miracles which seems to be to prove who he was. Jesus did complete his objective, he got the message out. Superman’s objective was to ‘help’ humans, too, but Superman was doomed, I believe, and that is the destiny of this type of hero.

I enjoyed this movie immensely. Henry Cavill was perfect for the role, and I believed in his good intentions and his superior skills were well portrayed and we would happily accept him in our lives-at least when we are watching the movie. Unfortunately, the next film, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice(2017), was very dark and bitter, something, perhaps to show the reality of the situation.. I don’t like where such films have gone, showing such strong good and have humanity give such a negative reaction. Sticking with this one, Man of Steel (2013), is best at least for me.

Where to Stream

Amazon Prime Video From $4.99