Review of MAN OF STEEL

MAN OF STEEL

Once again, we're on KRYPTON where JOR-EL is vainly trying to persuade the council of the planet's immanent destruction. Once again we see the traitorous GENERAL ZOD banished to a prison in space to punish him for his crimes (and to provide conflict later in the film.) And once again, we see KAL-EL, the future SUPERMAN, being rocketed away from the dying world to Earth.

Ho hum.

There are differences. The planet was destroyed, not by a nova, but rather because the Kryptonians (?) had mined their world's core to the point of making it unstable (and it's a shame the filmmakers didn't draw parallels with the exploitation of our own planet.)  And Kal-el is unique, the first 'natural' child on a planet that has practiced strict genetic control for generations.

Kal-el lands on Earth, is adopted by JONATHAN and MARTHA KENT, who name him Clark, and performs assorted miraculous rescues. However, when caught in a tornado with his family, his dad tells Clark not to rescue him because that would reveal his secret to the world before he's ready. Clark then has to watch his father die.

Oh, the trauma. There are more childhood incidents intended to show the future Superman's psychological makeup. They don’t work.

Clark joins an expedition to a mysterious object in the Arctic. Reporter LOIS LANE is also there. The object turns out to be an old Kryptonian spaceship. Wow! Clark is able to unlock it, talk to a computer reconstruction of his father's consciousness, and learn about Krypton. He also saves Lois from certain death. In contrast to all other Superman stories, Lois tracks down and identifies her mysterious savior pretty easily.  What a scoop, but he convinces her not to publish his identity.  Her editor, Perry White (who is now black) agrees.

Unfortunately, wicked General Zod has escaped his prison and has come to Earth. He wants the codex, a skull-like object that has all the genetic information of Kryptonians and is convinced Kal-El has it. If Earth doesn't surrender Kal-el to him, he will destroy the planet.

Oy vay.

Seeing Lois Lane kiss Superman reminds me of a really funny article, "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex," by Larry Niven.  Niven describes the difficulties involved in sex between Superman and humans and, indirectly shows the basic silliness of the Superman myth. The dumbest line comes when she says it’s all downhill after the first kiss, and he says that’s true only if you’re kissing a human. Wonderful, Stupidman—you’re telling Lois it’s all downhill for you, not her.

To watch movies of this genre, a lot of willing suspension of disbelief is needed. Fortunately, it isn't difficult. This film has more than its share of plot flaws, but at least it doesn't have kryptonite or ludicrous criminals like Lex Luther.

In case you think the 'S' on Superman's chest stands for Superman, this movie will correct you; it's actually the symbol of Jor-El's house and stands for hope. Jor-El and Kal-El's names are interesting since 'el' is the Hebrew word for God.  Maybe this is a remnant of Superman's origin from the imagination of two Jewish guys. But why does Zod wear that same ‘S’ symbol on his chest?

The biggest negative is fighting scenes between Zod and his allies and the forces of good. They go on too long and get monotonous, especially since you know how they will end.

This film diverges a lot from most Superman stories, and that makes it more interesting. It's not just another rehash.  In spite of its flaws, the movie grabs your interest (a least for Superman fans) and gets your pulse up at least to a jog.  I give it +++.