Man of Steel (2013)
TOMATOMETER
Critics Consensus: Man of Steel provides exhilarating action and spectacle to overcome its detours into generic blockbuster territory.
Critics Consensus: Man of Steel provides exhilarating action and spectacle to overcome its detours into generic blockbuster territory.
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Movie Info
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind. -- (C) Warner Bros- Rating:
- PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language)
- Genre:
- Action & Adventure , Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Directed By:
- Zack Snyder
- Written By:
- Kurt Johnstad , Christopher Nolan , David S. Goyer
- In Theaters:
- Jun 14, 2013 Wide
- On DVD:
- Nov 12, 2013
- US Box Office:
- $291.0M
Cast
-
Henry Cavill
as Clark Kent/Kal-El -
Amy Adams
as Lois Lane -
Michael Shannon
as General Zod -
Diane Lane
as Martha Kent
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Critic Reviews for Man of Steel
All Critics (287) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (159) | Rotten (128) | DVD (3)
Christliness has always been an element of the Superman myth. But this film's near literal insistence upon it becomes absurd since director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer don't dramatize the analogy, they presume it.
The movie consists of endless declamation, endless violence.
There's very little humor or joy in this Superman story.
There's plenty to like in Snyder's hectic, rowdy film. But by the time we reach the bludgeoning excesses of the last half-hour it's hard to shake the sense that this was an opportunity at least partially missed.
Cavill broods handsomely as Superman, but this reboot skimps on fun and romance.
The movie delivers on the promise of its title and then some.
...while it doesn't achieve the brilliance of the modern Batman franchise, and while it certainly has a few flaws... the action is undeniably well-done and there are still good character bits throughout.
A robotic exercise in moviemaking that will no doubt satisfy the requirements of millions of distracted moviegoers who no longer require absolute engagement to be entertained-and who might, in fact, prefer exactly that.
A gritty, realistic story shot by a director whose instincts constantly push him away from grit and realism, and into flash and fantasy.
Despite its excessive running time, and slightly meandering narrative, Man of Steel has definitely earned its place amongst recent comic-book adaptations, standing tall in the DC / Marvel cinematic universe.
Like the man with a hammer to whom every problem looks like a nail, to Nolan and Goyer, every superhero universe apparently looks like Gotham City.
Action-packed, briskly-paced and featuring a stellar cast, Man of Steel is the best Superman film since the 1978 original and proves DC can match Marvel in the massive scale department.
Action scenes shouldn't be dull, especially large-scale ones devastating half of a city, but that's exactly what threatens to happen here.
[Zach] Snyder who made his mark with the film 300 can manipulate images but fails to bring them to life.
A definite step-up from the last attempt to revive this character, but there's something still missing from this origin story. Other franchise builders have done more with less, but here that isn't for lack of trying.
Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is a gritty and realistic take on one of the most iconic superheroes ever. It's visually astonishing and action-packed.
MAN OF STEEL is everything you've ever wanted in a Superman movie
Action-filled but less than super: yet another summer blockbuster
No fun costume change in a phone booth, no wowing humans with his powers and no repartee with reporter Lois Lane.
A solid film, but a solid Superman?
Snyder delivers the type of undeniable, overwhelming charge with which he's become Sny-nonymous, and his affinity for spectacle strongly courses throughout.
The screenplay by David S. Goyer is like an arm wrestling match between brain and muscle, and when one takes charge the other falls out of line.
Uma boa releitura do personagem. Se era necessária, porém, é outra história.
The worst Superman movie since 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace...
Man Of Steel plunges headfirst into a loud, breathless science-fiction slugfest, offering much spectacle but little wonder.
Audience Reviews for Man of Steel
Compared to what 'Superman Returns' offered in 2006, 'Man of Steel' come back with a stronger power to drawn the audiences attention by having a well-named director and incredible cast with a more interesting story too.. Henry Cavill gave a strong performance as Clark Kent with another lovely performance from Amy Adams as Lois Lane, but the star of this movie is no other than Michael Shannon who successfully as before portraying a ruthless villain in the name of General Zod.. Overall, since I haven't watched the original Superman in 1980's, this version is way better than 'Superman Returns' but just good not that great nor amazing..
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Super Reviewer
It's hard to not pass judgment on a film without comparing it to its predecessors if the source material is well known. Unfairly or not, a critique of "Man of Steel" has to be helped or sullied by the muscle memory invoked by versions past. And with some past versions of "Superman" being quite good, it puts "Steel" in the precarious position of having some pretty big shoes to fill.
The film just struggles. You can feel the film struggling. Even with the things it does right, "Steel" labors to be interesting and in many ways creates a mess for itself.
Let's start with what it has rewritten. It has given Lois Lane (the miscast Amy Adams) and Jor-El (Russell Crowe) "more" to do and with that it effectively gives Superman/Clark (a stiff but physically perfect Henry Cavill) a lot less to do making him not as compelling in the story as he should be. And despite Lois' increased role, she's pretty inconsequential.
And those are just the few character shortcomings in the film. There are many others you can quibble with but the films biggest problem? It's boring. As nonsensical as it seems that a film with such extraordinary subject matter is so boring, it inexplicably is. Even the scenes with awesome effects like the great fight sequence between Superman and his two Kryptonian opponents is hampered by the corniest exposition dialogue. But the action sequences save the film from being a disaster.
Too bad Zach Snyder directed this film as his penchant for flashy visual effects without any substance hurts the film. He seems to not understand how to effectively use his camera to best showcase humanity. What he fails to understand with this and his other films is that it is not just an actors job to invoke substance, he needs to pace films to let humanity show appropriately. He needs to stage scenes to showcase these moments. He's too consumed by dazzling the eye and ear that he forgets about dazzling the brain.
Super Reviewer
This was mostly flashy action and fighting scenes showcase rather than a movie itself. Where the heck did the plot, the character development, and all the dialogue go? All I remember was the streets cracking and buildings falling apart every time someone fought... because that was what happened for about 80% of the movie: fighting scenes. If you didn't actually know the story behind Superman, I don't think this would be a great introduction to it.
MoreSuper Reviewer
A derivative, disappointing restart to the "Superman" franchise about the life of Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), an adopted alien from another planet, and how he works numerous odd jobs before accepting his role as the savior of mankind when Earth is threatened by his own species when they desire to repopulate the planet with their own kind, led by the vicious General Zod (Michael Shannon). Director Zack Snyder is far from the most skilled in the business, given his obsession with slow-motion action sequences, as well as his pacing being all over the place and never consistent. The last hour of this movie is so violent, so full of jumpy action sequences with no room to breathe, capped off coldly by 9/11 imagery at one point, the viewer should be relieved when the movie finally reaches its end. Ultimately, the special effects are awesome, no question, and there are glimpses of promise, but they are often vanquished by lackluster production and a story full of characters we do not really get to know as well as we should. Ultimately disappointing. Maybe not terrible, but it sure comes close to reaching that status.
MoreSuper Reviewer
Man of Steel Quotes
- General Zod:
- Our damnation became our salvation.
- Lois Lane:
- Why are you surrendering to Zod?
- Clark Kent/Kal-El:
- I'm surrendering to mankind, there's a difference.
- Lois Lane:
- And you let them handcuff you?
- Clark Kent/Kal-El:
- Wouldn't be much of a surrender if I ressisted, and if it makes them feel more secure and all the better for it.
- Clark Kent/Kal-El:
- My parents taught me to home my senses, Zod. Focus on just what I wanted to see, without your helmet, you're getting everything. And it hurts, doesn't it?!
- Dr. Emil Hamilton:
- Oh my god, they're terraforming.
- Major Carrie Farris:
- What's that?
- Dr. Emil Hamilton:
- Planetary engineering modifying the Earth's atmosphere and topography.
- General Swanwick:
- Turning Earth into Krypton.
- Major Carrie Farris:
- But what happens to us?
- Dr. Emil Hamilton:
- Based on these readings, there won't be an 'us.'
- General Zod:
- There's only one way this ends, Kal. Either you die, or I do.
- General Zod:
- If you love these people so much, then you can mourn for them!
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