Retelling of myth goes a long way in “Man of Steel”
A story of origins re-imagined, the summer blockbuster ‘Man of Steel’ walks viewers through Superman’s birth on Krypton and upbringing on Earth, and wallops its way through his acceptance as America’s protector and defender.
The scene opens on a crumbling Krypton, doomed to self-destruct and wipe out the entire race of people that lives there. The film takes an environmental turn here, as it was the people of Krypton that secured its own destruction. Jor-El, Superman’s father played by Russell Crowe, has arranged for his son, Kal-El, to escape the demise of Krypton on a spaceship bound for Earth.
And, as most superhero fans know, that spaceship lands in Kansas. Kal-El becomes Clark Kent, and Clark Kent sometimes turns into Superman and saves the world.
However, ‘Man of Steel’ attempts to make it more of a moral issue than a fist-swinging one. As he grows up, Clark keeps his superpowers a secret, or tries to, when he isn’t compelled to save lives in danger. His parents (played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) do not think the U.S. or the world is ready for the questions or answers his powers will bring. The myths surrounding Superman is well explained in scenes from his childhood, and it segues nicely into the torn young man later responsible for saving humankind. From an angsty and confused kid to a scruffy and hopeful vagrant, Clark finally understands what was meant for him, with help from his birth father and the one who raised him.
When General Zod from Krypton comes to play, wandering loner Clark is forced to confront his superhero alien status and decide if it will be himself or planet Earth to meet their end.
Lois Lane, played by Amy Adams, catches on quickly to whom Clark Kent really is, and is in on most of the action, courageously accompanying him to the enemy starship. Superman, played by chiseled Henry Cavill, plans to surrender himself to General Zod. But he is not going down without a fight to rival the Avengers final scene. All of Zod’s cronies and Zod himself try to muscle with the Man of Steel, and the fight scenes are exhausting and seem endless. These scenes are fluid however, with no eye-blurring cinematography, and they seem more realistic, considering that all fighters are aliens.
The romance between Superman and Lois Lane is more muted, but hints at a bright future. Although the film lacked much humorous or romantic relief, the great cast, re-imagination of Superman and his hopefully heroic assumed responsibility for humankind makes for a great show.