Manchester City Left Back Conundrum

Man of Steel: Another View by Rob Milarvie

Director: Zack Snyder

The last time I checked whenever I take off my glasses people still recognised who I was but I suppose the people of Metropolis have been casualties of inception and had the implanting of an idea that Clark Kent and Superman are two completely different people and those conventional glasses are the distinguishing factor.

Anyway, Man of Steel is the most recent instalment from director Zack Snyder, who previously directed films such as Watchmen & 300 (2 films I personally hold in high regard) which both contain entertaining and astonishing imagery to compliment the whole perspective of the film. However these films and others (by Snyder) were met with mixed reviews, with many people ‘hating’ them. But it’s safe to say after the triumphant climax of the most recent comic blockbuster (Dark Knight Rises) the next superhero feature would have very high expectations to deliver, which spurs the question to why propose a huge project to a languished director?

Well in short, because of his capabilities he has in the field of cinematography and CGI to create a new rejuvenated look for the Krypton warrior. Then of course, employ a sophisticated director and proven screenwriter in the background team to set the foundations of the film’s narrative. I’m of course speaking of the almighty Christopher Nolan, who has proven his skills as a director (with the immense and complex blockbuster Inception) but of course, his skills as well in depicting a pessimistic superhero in the recent Dark Knight trilogy. Couple this with an intellectual screenwriter, David S Goyer (Da Vinci’s Demons.. say no more) the man behind the story of Batman, who accompanied Mr. Nolan on his journey into the depths of Bruce Wayne’s psyche, with impressive results of an interesting script and giving the mythology a sense of integrity.

Furthermore, that was my main concern for this picture: the plausibility. I fully commemorate the beautifully crafted work that is the Dark Knight trilogy but the protagonist is a ‘normal’ man in the end who has a fortune to fund his caped crusading. But how do you bring that specific emotion or feel to a narrative of an alien being that has the full shebang of superhuman qualities?

Well fortunately to say, the film does deliver to this query to a certain extent but not to the brilliance of the Dark Knight. So as a precaution if you are reading this prematurely to your viewing of the cinematic spectacle, try not to be comparing this to the Batman trilogy. Restrict your subconscious to comparing this film to previous Superman theatricals instead.

Well, let’s get to the film shall we. As I mentioned it does deliver the plausibility of the narrative with a well written script that seems to have been purely derived from the original comics, as the film contains an assembly of scientific lexis to explain how his powers are materialised on Earth. But indeed when watching the initial teaser trailer for this picture, I believed that the film would take on the approach of a cynical and bleak outlook on the Superman mythology (because of course, the trailer’s background score was from the moment Gandalf ‘fell’ in the Fellowship of the Ring, a heart-breaking moment if there ever was one).

However the film took a more optimistic viewpoint with the recurring theme tune fading in and out that was fully understandable but peculiar after being advertised something different for this motion picture. The film did indeed have more of an uplifting narrative, which I understand that is what Superman symbolises, a beacon of hope. Additionally, I was fond of the choice to sustain and magnify the difference between Jor-El (biological father from Krypton) and Jonathan Kent (artificial father from Earth) on what message they offer, Jor-El explaining his destiny as an ‘ideal’ for humans to strive towards, with Jonathan Kent explaining how he has to make a choice for himself and how if he chooses to be good or bad, ‘he’s going to change the world’. I found that a very appealing part of the narrative because it really gave Kal-El that sense of purpose, a journey he must undertake to become that beacon. Also, the usage of the non-linear narrative is very effective as it depicts the maturity and control Clark has to undergo, to be the ‘man’ he is to become. But indeed to represent defining moments for Clark which are more intensified as they are sown into the story at different times to give the emotions and messages established have more validity for the audience and the character of Kal-El.

Now let’s move onto the casting of Kal-El and others, of which the film has some excellent choices for specific characters. Firstly Henry Cavill as Superman, he does have that face and body that screams at you ‘superhero’, of which he plays the role very well, and after a dyer performance in the Cold Light of Day (but let’s forget that Oscar nominated thriller for now), Cavill really needed this opportunity to regenerate his career (even with the ‘Superman curse’ in effect) and does create a very likeable character for Superman and I did feel a connection of emotion and wanting him to succeed in his journey.

Moreover, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent steals the show with a brilliant performance, creating a realistic and loving character that stood up as a pure role-model for Clark. Unfortunately, Diane Lane didn’t reciprocate a similar performance as Martha Kent, but I suppose Kevin Costner’s performance distracted me from her role entirely because he stole every scene he was in. Next, the beautiful Amy Adams plays her role of Lois Lane to a ‘good’ level with her characteristics containing eagerness and nosiness that she certainly employs and manifests into a real journalistic persona. Finally Michael Shannon as General Zod and Antje Traue as Faora, are perfectly placed as the figureheads of a Krypton (more specifically Kandorian) invasion. Michael Shannon is currently coming of a brilliant performance in ‘The Iceman’ where he plays a cold blooded individual, which is entirely sustained in this feature, where he plays a menacing and obsessive military general  who wishes to rekindle his Kryptonic race on planet Earth, with Faora by his side. Who (Faora) is by definition an absolute ‘bad-ass’, Zod may appear the pinnacle of the invasion but she is on the ground, really testing the limits of Superman which was refreshing and interesting to say the least.

My only gripe about the film would be the ‘love’ complex. I just didn’t feel it unfortunately, it felt false and forced. I know in any film a love element has to be planted but this could have been a seeded factor and led onto a more valid love component in the sequel, instead of pushing a pointless sequence towards the end. To add, I’m sure if you accumulate the minutes Cavill & Adams spend on screen together, it takes longer to make a bleamin’ Pot Noodle. It’s a minor in the grand scheme of things but that was my main concern, because I love Amy Adams but I felt it was too much and could have been used in a better manner.

Finally, to sum up, the film was a success in my eyes; the plausibility of the narrative was very well done with an impressive script from David S Goyer. The film sustained a good collection of actors + actresses to employ a very interesting Superman tale (even if the last 40 minutes consists of exhausting mayhem and falling buildings but that is to be expected from a comic book blockbuster). The cynical and bleak aspect of the film was not realised which was a shame but it cannot be a replica of the Dark Knight trilogy, so factors had to be changed. I’m sure Warner Bros. will breakeven to at least a profitable summer after a poor revenue stream was created after Jack the Giant Slayer failed at the box office and of course the (again Bryan Singer, the culprit) dreadful Superman Returns(2006) that tarnished the image of Superman. However, this film went back to the roots of Clark Kent and his maturity into becoming the man he is destined to be. But not in a chronological sense, as bits and pieces are fed along the way to the climactic battle.

The best analogy for this Snyder feature is very similar to the final episode of the classic American comedy show Seinfeld, a great piece that delivers but through the highly raised expectations, the concept ‘less is more’ would have been more adequate . But it’s safe to say the triangulated collaboration of Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan and David S Goyer has certainly paid off.