Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: June 14, 2013
7.6
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Generally favorable reviews based on 4158 Ratings
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7
JasonAngellJun 19, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. (Contains some spoilers)
After viewing Man of Steel I found that I was talking myself into having a positive reaction for it. Now don't confuse this for a condemnation, there was plenty to like about the newest iteration of the Superman story, but there was a lot to be critical of as well. Let's start with the good stuff.

The most exciting and perfect part of Man of Steel had to be the man himself. Henry Cavill was an excellent choice to play the last son of Krypton. His physical presence never sways far from the center of the film, as it should be when talking about THE superhero of superheroes. Looks, brawn, and a subtle magnetism combine to give us the most believable Superman since the late Christopher Reeve. That said, there was too much brooding and emotional detachment brought to the character this time around. I don't necessarily blame Cavill for this as much as I blame the writer (David S. Goyer) and the director (Zack Snyder). While gritty realism and a darker, foreboding landscape has become the post-9/11 norm in cinema, it does not work in the world of Superman, who has always been an optimistic beacon of hope in the comic and film world. I think a little too much Dark Knight crept into the screenplay and creative input from Goyer and Nolan.
Other members of the cast were equally excellent in supporting roles. Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner deliver as the two fathers of Kal-El/Clark Kent. Michael Shannon makes us almost sympathetic for the formidable General Zod in the end. Amy Adams, while not a standout in this cast, turns out an worthy performance as the tenacious reporter who will eventually steal the heart of Superman.
Also of note are the stunning visual effects, refreshing when this well done.

Although there was enough in this film to make me hopeful for some even better sequels in the future, there was also enough in this particular film to cause some concern. There was so much content in the form of origin, flashbacks, exposition, and the overly drawn out final confrontation in this film that the pacing suffered as a result. There was simply too much story to tell in too little time. The franchise would have been much better served had they left several backstory elements for future films. Also of concern was the tremendous lack of character development of anyone outside of Superman and Zod. I kept anticipating a scene where we could get some Superman/Lois connection, maybe not a deep emotional bond, but something other than random flirtation. The frantic pacing and need for overlong building destruction was what we got instead. Seriously, if I saw another random building come crashing down I was going to scream. There is no way they can rebuild a city after all that, it would take a century, even with Superman's help.

My greatest irritation with the movie was the way in which Johnathan Kent was killed. Anyone who knows even a little about the story of Clark Kent knows that his adopted father dies when hes a teenager, and it's important to keep that part of the story because it was such a pivotal moment in the character's history. However, to have Jonathan tell Clark to watch him die in a tornado just to protect his secret seemed a little unbelievable. No one, not even Superman, would stand idly by and watch their father die when they could have saved him. Not even to protect his secret, not ever.

All that being said, I thought it was a noble first effort to reboot a storied franchise. The film did an excellent job of setting up a classic superhero in the midst of our modern world. I eagerly await the much higher potential that this story can climb, or fly, to.
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8 of 21 users found this helpful813
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7
adamwjoJul 3, 2013
Man of Steel was good, no doubt, but I still left the theater somewhat unsatisfied. Why? Well, its hard to say really... most of my criticisms about the movie are nit-picky and circumstantial. A great amount of time was spent on a reinventedMan of Steel was good, no doubt, but I still left the theater somewhat unsatisfied. Why? Well, its hard to say really... most of my criticisms about the movie are nit-picky and circumstantial. A great amount of time was spent on a reinvented Krypton, introducing fans to new concepts about Superman's back-story, and providing rich content for those less avid superman fans, that is, until Krypton is destroyed and a young Kal-El is shipped off to Earth. There the story becomes a little convoluted. An adult Kal-El is now, all of a sudden introduced to the story, and what little information is provided about his childhood is presented in the form of flashbacks. While personally, I would have liked to see a bit more development in this area, I suppose it probably couldn't have been done much better. I mean, entire comic books and even a television series have been based solely on his adolescence. Proper development in this area would have taken another movie, and well, put simply, "aint nobody got time for that". The overall presentation of the movie was absolutely stunning, and Snyder does an excellent job of displaying Kryptonian power to scale, on Earth. The acting was pretty decent as well. It would be hard to not to with such a cast. Henry Cavill did an excellent job of portraying Superman's overall demeanor, almost seeming very Christopher Reeve like in is interpretation of the character. All in all, the only real complain I have about the movie was the lack of character development. If Lois Lane had died in the movie, not a tear would have been shed in the audience, simply because not enough time was spent developing her story, or anyone else's. Doing so, however, would have been a monumental task. This movie done right, would have been two different movies. So, in that sense the "Man of Steel" franchise seems a little incomplete. There is talk of a sequel, maybe then we'll see what this story, and this version of Superman is REALLY all about. Expand
0 of 7 users found this helpful07
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7
ConnorFilmJun 24, 2013
Man of Steel is the breath of fresh air that's been so needed in the Superman film saga. It does its own thing respectively, completely ignoring the Donner films and instead, focusing more on the comic book material. At times a bit unevenMan of Steel is the breath of fresh air that's been so needed in the Superman film saga. It does its own thing respectively, completely ignoring the Donner films and instead, focusing more on the comic book material. At times a bit uneven with its pacing, and occasionally sacrificing character development/backstory for action, Man of Steel nevertheless is the crowd pleasing, action packed spectacle that Superman fans have been waiting years for. 3.5/5 Expand
0 of 9 users found this helpful09
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7
Cinephile-90Jun 26, 2013
Good movie. A bit too overblown on action in the third act, but the movie has a good story, good acting, a refreshingly new take on the origin story of Superman, beautiful visuals and incredible action-scenes. A good start to what isGood movie. A bit too overblown on action in the third act, but the movie has a good story, good acting, a refreshingly new take on the origin story of Superman, beautiful visuals and incredible action-scenes. A good start to what is hopefully going to become a new Superman franchise with Henry Cavill as the Superman for generations to come. Expand
0 of 8 users found this helpful08
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7
Dimitris01Nov 11, 2013
Cavill is convincing as Superman, the visual effects are of top quality and there is a lot of destruction. Unfortunately the plot is predictable, the battles are more like a show than a dramatic struggle to save the Earth (Superman isCavill is convincing as Superman, the visual effects are of top quality and there is a lot of destruction. Unfortunately the plot is predictable, the battles are more like a show than a dramatic struggle to save the Earth (Superman is completely unharmed, entire city blocks collapse but no civilians are killed) and Amy Smart is boring as Lois. It's a good Superman movie but it's not exciting.
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1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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7
leonardoshaneJul 15, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Personally I thought this movie was going to be terrible, but every part of the movie seemed meticulous. I wanted a Superman movie that didn't cover his origin story but here it doesn't feel like an origin story because it takes place during the same day. What made me angry was everytime superman got tinto a fought he destroyed a lot of buildings and it took away the fact that he is a vigilante. Also it feels that superman evolves as a fighter which makes you way more invested into the character of superman. Expand
0 of 7 users found this helpful07
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7
jeff_reviewsJul 16, 2013
Overblown with tons of action-packed sequences, "Man of Steel" is able to slightly exceed its lack of humor and much joy in the film. While the film does feel hectic at times, the high flying spectacles and exhilarating action are interestingOverblown with tons of action-packed sequences, "Man of Steel" is able to slightly exceed its lack of humor and much joy in the film. While the film does feel hectic at times, the high flying spectacles and exhilarating action are interesting enough to exceed some faults. Expand
0 of 7 users found this helpful07
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7
MightyQuinn21Jul 4, 2013
Compared to Superman Returns this movie is a hundred times better and I'm surprised to see how it's getting such negative reviews from so many movie critics. Is it as good or better than the recent Batman movie? No but it doesn't have to beCompared to Superman Returns this movie is a hundred times better and I'm surprised to see how it's getting such negative reviews from so many movie critics. Is it as good or better than the recent Batman movie? No but it doesn't have to be to be a good movie and I really like this modern re-telling of the Superman story. As well as the actors do a great job in the movie especially Louis and Superman's Dad were great in the movie. The fight scenes are also amazing in this movie as well with the fight in Smallville being my favorite in the whole movie. Overall it's a good movie worth seeing if your either a Superman or superhero fan with it only having one huge major fault. But I won't spoil anything but Superman does one huge thing that is very, very un-Superman like. Expand
0 of 7 users found this helpful07
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7
manofthemoonJul 18, 2013
Man of Steel proves that Superman is only interesting when he has a decent adversary. Although the final act may be too reminiscent of Avengers Assemble, Man of Steel is well made and well played, especially by Crowe and Costner as theMan of Steel proves that Superman is only interesting when he has a decent adversary. Although the final act may be too reminiscent of Avengers Assemble, Man of Steel is well made and well played, especially by Crowe and Costner as the fathers. Too long, perhaps, but the movement between past and present generally work. Overall, much better than expected and reported. So long as Lex Luthor isn't the only villain in the sequel, the franchise may have a positive future. Expand
0 of 8 users found this helpful08
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7
TheApplegnomeMar 21, 2016
Man of Steel – Revisited

DC has entered the cinematic universe, and it all begins with this 2013 entry – ´Man of Steel´. The basics aren’t that well presented, it even goes a bit meh after a couple viewings, even though it still got its
Man of Steel – Revisited

DC has entered the cinematic universe, and it all begins with this 2013 entry – ´Man of Steel´. The basics aren’t that well presented, it even goes a bit meh after a couple viewings, even though it still got its action-glamour. Plot holes, messy action & rushed storylines somehow didn’t get caught up in the writing process. A great background of the man from Krypton is a wonderful aspect yes, it even managed to bring a few ethical dilemmas to light, but the basics didn’t. The action is without any doubt great, but to fail to enlighten the audience a better, and a less odd storyline that doesn’t leave them with an “ugh that was odd”-feel; that’s bad storytelling. Our antagonist is on the other hand understandable, and both him and our main hero are very well established, and we get a lot insides to their past self, even though Zod just is a classic angry-villain. One thing is for sure and undeniable fact with this Snyder-flick; Hans Zimmer’s score might be the best aspect. Meanwhile shaky cam, an overly packed amount of vague CGI & some small fragments of overacting; that’s something BvS really got to overcome. But will Zach Snyder be able to look beyond his past and truly succeed with BvS? For the sake of the DC Universe, he better will.

Personal rating: 70/100
Critical rating: 51/100
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2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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7
SuperheroMoviesAug 18, 2013
Despite its slightly unbalanced script, this superhero flick still hits its mark with plenty of grandiose special effects, intense action, and engaging performances, making for a highly entertaining Superman reboot.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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7
askewglassesAug 28, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We start this re-boot of the Superman franchise respectively on Superman's home planet, Krypton. There we are told by Jor-El (Russel Crowe) that the Kyrptonians have used up their resources and that their planet won't last much longer. But their meeting is interrupted by a revolt, lead by the military General Zod (Michael Shannon). The planet is in turmoil, but during the revolution Jor-El manages to send his only son off the planet to escape the planet's doomed fate. Cut to thirty years later where we find Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) on a fishing vessel. An oil rig is on fire and he goes in to save the workers. We are told the rest of his story through a series of flashbacks as he continues on his journey to find his purpose. He was found by Martha and Jonathan Kent (Diane Lane and Kevin Costner respectively) and raised to hide his powers because his father believed the world wasn't ready for him. Clark now has to make the choice, whether he is ready for the responsibility or if he will continue to hide his true self.
The script written by David S. Goyer (known for co-writing Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy) is very well done and the dialogue sounds very good. But the film falls with the performances, nearly all of them don't give the energy or emotion that should come out of a script like this. It's sad to see this script go to waste.
On a visual aspect, the effects are very good for the most part but only when you can see them. The camera work in Man of Steel isn't all that great. If it's not a stationary shot then the camera is unbelievably shaky and the scenes are very hard to depict. Sadly though for being a film by director Zack Snyder, Man of Steel was rather lacking on great visuals, especially compared to his earlier films like Watchmen. Although we are left with one great moment that looks like it came straight out of a comic book and it's meaning sparked debate between my friends and myself.
And even though I've been complaining about a lot of the aspects of the film, I did have a good time watching it. The action was very intense and the ending was absolutely stupendous. I'm really excited to see where they will go if the producers decide to make a sequel. Overall it was a joy to see and it outshines the last reboot, Superman Returns, by a long shot.
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
TheHOct 20, 2013
Destroyed New York, ruined millions, (so much damage even mankind itself could not have caused, even starting a world war.) So how many exist olzhen world (I admit that Superman is immortal, will work tirelessly) to wreak damage, do not sayDestroyed New York, ruined millions, (so much damage even mankind itself could not have caused, even starting a world war.) So how many exist olzhen world (I admit that Superman is immortal, will work tirelessly) to wreak damage, do not say more about the benefits of mankind. The film is not bad, but the story would be better. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
RyanbApr 3, 2014
Lots of controversy over this film. In the end I did really enjoy it though. Sure, it wasn't as spectacular as The Dark Knight, but it had moments that were getting there. The CGI in this movie in phenomenal as well. I would recommend thisLots of controversy over this film. In the end I did really enjoy it though. Sure, it wasn't as spectacular as The Dark Knight, but it had moments that were getting there. The CGI in this movie in phenomenal as well. I would recommend this movie to others, but please, don't compare it to Nolan's films. Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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7
BnhafwentsAug 22, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A good film, but sometimes i feel like if the screenplay was incoherent. however this fail is fixed thanks to the destructive scenes, the plot by Mr nolan, the music by mr zimmer and the most intense scenes of the film. I wish the sequels improve on the flaws in this movie. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
eagleeyevikingNov 28, 2013
It lacks character developement and has repetitive over the top action sequences. However, this reboot of Superman delivers emotionally and follows a sturdy plot for a mostly successful resurrection of a superhero.
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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7
MortimerFeb 5, 2014
I do not like superman. This character is so fabulous and right that could not sympathize with the emu . Because he can stop time circled around the planet and moving planet. But Zack Snyder managed to bring it closer to the common man.I do not like superman. This character is so fabulous and right that could not sympathize with the emu . Because he can stop time circled around the planet and moving planet. But Zack Snyder managed to bring it closer to the common man. Snyder remade the image of Superman. He took off his red underpants over blue pants , showed us how difficult it is to him to accept the fact that he is not from this planet , and that's his fault so many people died .
Now opinion about the movie.

The film begins with a scene of birth of Superman ( Henry Cavill ) . General Zod ( Michael Shannon ) conceives revolution in krypton . Father of Superman 's ( Russell Crowe ) against Zod and kidnaps its confluence with the code body of Kal-El. He gives Kal-El write your opinion . Zod and his revolutionaries sent into space. Krypton explodes , and we came to earth .

Clark Kent seems to us exile rolling from one place to another. He lives with his adoptive mother, Martha Kent ( Diane Lane ) on the farm. Through a series of memories, we know from childhood moments Clark. As he realized who he really is , how he learned to cope with their own . Suddenly the earth invades General Zod to turn the land into a new Krypton . Superman must stop him .

Man of Steel appears to us a new reading of the classics, but it gives preference to the old films . Man of Steel is made beautifully and gloomy. In supervising Christopher Nolan film appears to us more realistic as Nolan Batman . The cast is simply gorgeous. Henry Cavill coped well with the role of Superman. It is perfectly suited to Superman physically . Amy Adams played well Lois Lane . But unfortunately it is not very good looks with Cavill . Michael Shannon has turned out one of the
best villains comic book movies . Superman 's father and stepfather turned out excellent. The film's soundtrack is very stressful and exciting .

verdict

Man of Steel is an excellent and intense film with a great cast and a gorgeous soundtrack. Man of Steel Superman best film since the days of Richard Donner film and best film in the comic books in 2013 .
Rating 4/5
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
ilikesuperman23Mar 24, 2014
Before I watched this movie I didn't like superman I thought him as lame and a boyscout but this movie changed my view on superman it showed me that he wasn't overpowered or anything else I thought he was I think that this movie told theBefore I watched this movie I didn't like superman I thought him as lame and a boyscout but this movie changed my view on superman it showed me that he wasn't overpowered or anything else I thought he was I think that this movie told the story of Superman's origin well showing his moral and integrity that with great power comes great responsibility its been said many times before and will be said many times again and for good reason man of steel shows that reason with flying colors something else i loked was that it showed when supermans integrity was being challenged you could we that he wanted to hurt the people taunting him and insuIting him i thought that was something cool to see because its something relatable with all of us theres always somewhere out there doing something to purposely hurt us but we try to show self restraint and as for the action the action in this movie was flawless very smooth and didn't have a bunch of CGI except when necessary (superspeed, laser vision etc) the thing a lot of people say about this movie was to much action I say yes and no he was fighting off an alien invasion after all but I think there was also to much action because the the final battle didn't have that give you goosebumps feeling and it didn't have the suspense I think a final battle should have but what I did like was how it showed off what could happen when two kryptonians go at it but after this review I'm gonna give it a 7 out of 10 Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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7
HaithamBSep 7, 2014
I am not a fan of superhero movies, but as they go, especially DC Comics, this is definitely one of the weakest and lightest. However, Man of Steel is still entertaining with really cool CGI.
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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7
SkyrimGuy935Jan 26, 2015
I know, unpopular opinion. But... I honestly enjoyed Man of Steel. Sure the dialog was just bland and poorly written, but the acting itself is rather good. It was a refreshingly dark take on the Superman tale, and is jam-packed with hugeI know, unpopular opinion. But... I honestly enjoyed Man of Steel. Sure the dialog was just bland and poorly written, but the acting itself is rather good. It was a refreshingly dark take on the Superman tale, and is jam-packed with huge scale action sequences. If I wasn't a massive Superman fanboy, I might be giving this a lower score. But since I am, I just simply can't give this anything less than a 7/10. However, I hoped for a stronger startup to the DCU, and as a result, I do not think this film should be the catalyst for the DCU. I just can't imagine a Justice League movie being as dark as this. Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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7
vikesh2206Nov 9, 2014
Man of Steel may be a preposterous epic with over the top action sequences and a plethora of underused, one sided characters but it is an epic nonetheless.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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7
fatoshajdini101Nov 16, 2014
I knew that Zack Snyder should have done that, but I don't blame him. This reboot made it that close, but it failed, it was the critics that ruined this movie which makes me frustrated! I deeply enjoy this movie, Henry Cavill is a gorgeousI knew that Zack Snyder should have done that, but I don't blame him. This reboot made it that close, but it failed, it was the critics that ruined this movie which makes me frustrated! I deeply enjoy this movie, Henry Cavill is a gorgeous yet a muscular character, and General Zod is more cruel than he ever was. It really has some epic fight scenes but there might be a slight problem, too many destruction across the city of Metropolis and Superman's committed killing Zod and failed to save some citizens which is predictable. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
felix99gomezNov 12, 2014
Zack Snyder delivers a great start to a new cinematic universe, presenting us with a modern and more mature look at Superman. Though its more mature tone results in endless scenes of destruction which, gets repetitive and boring after aZack Snyder delivers a great start to a new cinematic universe, presenting us with a modern and more mature look at Superman. Though its more mature tone results in endless scenes of destruction which, gets repetitive and boring after a while. With that said, Henry Cavill is this new generation's Superman, and not only does he look the part, but he feels like The Man of Steel. The movie definitely has some pacing issues, and the way it was shot was too bleak and shaky, I would have preferred to see a more colorful and steady movie. The movie has some plot holes and is oddly paced, but it's still one awesome ride and a good way to start DC's cinematic universe. Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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7
JohnKristoferDec 22, 2014
Dark,Gritty and fun,Superman returns in a brand new Movie reboot "Man Of Steel".Man of steel is a good film with great action and stunning visual effects.The Movie has flaws and some plot holes but the movie is still good in general.
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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7
UltimateBubFeb 2, 2015
The first time I watched "Man of Steel", I thought it was OK. However, after watching it again and again, I realized it was better than just OK. The characterization is poor and even tough the narrative is great sometimes, it can also be veryThe first time I watched "Man of Steel", I thought it was OK. However, after watching it again and again, I realized it was better than just OK. The characterization is poor and even tough the narrative is great sometimes, it can also be very strange. However, the action is spectacular, even if it's taken a little too far. Newer Superman fans will definitely enjoy this take on the iconic superhero, but I doubt longtime fans will effectively relate to the overall story and characters. Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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7
lomeliApr 27, 2015
This is a film that is ridden with flaws, but the breathtaking spectacle and innovative approach Zack Snyder takes with the classic superhero narrative is undeniably brilliant.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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7
TheDude-Jul 21, 2015
Man of steel is by no means a Fantastic film but I feel the film has some great moments with real raw emotion also henry cavil is a very awesome superman and Clark Kent not to mention the jaw droppingly awesome action and visual effects myMan of steel is by no means a Fantastic film but I feel the film has some great moments with real raw emotion also henry cavil is a very awesome superman and Clark Kent not to mention the jaw droppingly awesome action and visual effects my only problems with Man Of Steel lie with the underdeveloped supporting characters, superman's carelessness for human life when he destroys buildings while fighting Zod and the Christ or saviour metaphors that run throughout the film, in the end I really enjoyed it and I never got why Man Of Steel received mixed reviews but the lackluster Superman Returns a relatively positive reception
7.5/10
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7
waronassermanMay 3, 2015
Cavill is a great superman! he really is! unfortuantly the film drags a bit and the action scenes drag on to much! but a really interesting movie and way to tell this story
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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7
CineAutoctonoJan 26, 2016
"Man of Steel" was initially in a Superman movie but the trouble is that Superman should add title and it would calls "Superman : Man of Steel" , but the movie was amazing and very powerful.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
AgentVenom117Feb 22, 2016
Although this film is filled with over the top action and forced Jesus symbolism with Superman, I can't say I didn't have a lot of fun with this movie and I am excited to see what DC has in store for us in future movies such as Batman vAlthough this film is filled with over the top action and forced Jesus symbolism with Superman, I can't say I didn't have a lot of fun with this movie and I am excited to see what DC has in store for us in future movies such as Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad coming out this year. Although Zack Snyder clearly has problems directing and I'm glad Ben Affleck is there to maybe talk some sense into him when he gets to excited and forgets to explain things such as why Lois is so important to Zod in this movie to the point where he demands to have her in this ship. Check it out if you're a DC fan or a Superman fan or watch it with some friends if you want to see a dumb action film. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
Cinemassacre94Mar 20, 2016
Man of Steel represents the latest attempt by Warner Brothers to revive a Superman franchise that, since its stunning 1978 revival, has been abominably treated for about 30 years (ever since Richard Donner was unceremoniously fired fromMan of Steel represents the latest attempt by Warner Brothers to revive a Superman franchise that, since its stunning 1978 revival, has been abominably treated for about 30 years (ever since Richard Donner was unceremoniously fired from Superman II). This movie certainly looks and feels a lot different than any of its predecessors, and that's not just because of the crappy 3-D. It's more of a science fiction/fantasy adventure than a superhero movie. In a way that's good, because it doesn't come across like a tired retread of every origin story we've ever seen. On the other hand, it's not good, because the sci-fi feel has been overly influenced by the likes of Independence Day and Transformers. That's right: blow everything up, real good! Pyrotechnics! Special Effects! CGI up the wazoo! For those who crave cinematic mayhem, Man of Steel is right up your alley (and it will make a ton of money). But something important has been lost along the way: heart. This is a cold, sterile motion picture. The characters are so thinly drawn that it's tough to get much feel for them. And one senses that director Zack Snyder is less interested in Superman than he is in the orgy of destruction he gets to rain down on Metropolis. Somewhere, Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay are smiling.

Man of Steel is, first and foremost, a great spectacle. The effects work is first rate and the action sequences, of which there are many, are delivered with a kinetic punch. The tone is dour - humor is at a premium and, on those rare occasions when it's there, the delivery is decidedly low-key. The movie wants desperately to be taken seriously and viewed as something more than a comic book film. Perhaps, in the end, that's one reason why Man of Steel rarely feels heroic and never truly soars. Sure, Superman eventually wins but at the cost of thousands of lives (we're not given a specific body count but it has to be very high).

Christopher Nolan's influence will be hotly debated, especially since the producer has been coy about the full extent of his involvement in the final product, stating only that "it's Zack Synder's film." Indeed, Man of Steel is closer to Watchmen than Batman Begins in terms of its look and feel. It's a style over substance thing, spectacle over heart. Snyder never ceases to amaze visually but one could make a compelling case that he "misses" what defines Superman's uniqueness. It makes sense for Batman to live in the dark but Superman has always been a figure of light and truth. That's one reason he's a difficult movie subject because there's no ambiguity about who he is and what he represents, and there's something about the darkness that pervades Man of Steel that feels wrong for the character.

The choice of Henry Cavill to don the cape is inspired; Cavill is easily the most accomplished actor thus far to fill the role and, while no one will ever fully eclipse what Christopher Reeve brought to the screen, Cavill uses Man of Steel as an opportunity to lay the foundation for what could be a long and memorable run. He combines the matinee appeal of Reeve and Brandon Routh with a stronger resume although, truth be told, the screenplay underuses his range. The main requirement for Cavill is to look the part.

As a cookie cutter supervillain, Michael Shannon does a good job overacting. He snarls and yells and exudes menace. He rants and does all sorts of nasty things. In the end, however, it's the name "Zod" that puts Shannon at a disadvantage because it forces him to exist in the long shadow of Terence Stamp. Stamp's Zod is arguably one of the twenty most memorable movie bad guys and Shannon doesn't touch him. The other casting miscalculation is Amy Adams as Lois Lane. The part doesn't fit. On the other hand, there are some great choices, although most of them are sadly underused. Laurence Fishburne makes a terrific Perry White, although he has very little screen time. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane are great as Clark's Earth parents although Costner in particular deserves more screen time.

Man of Steel delivers forcefully on its promise to take Superman in a different direction. Perhaps that's a good idea; after all, Richard Donner (with an assist from Richard Lester) has done the "traditional" Superman as well as it can be done. But a lot is missing, and the most telling absence is the element that makes Superman more the hero of his own story rather than the pawn of special effects. This is a less promising opening act than Batman Begins because it mines so little new territory. Remakes like Man of Steel are about intangibles like tone and style and how well the soul of the central conceit has been maintained. Snyder succeeds in making this movie sufficiently different to justify its existence. The open question is whether this Superman can spearhead a franchise that aspires to greatness or whether this new "dark vision" is merely window dressing.
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
SrPepeJan 3, 2018
Un Superman prometedor, espero que cumpla con su cometido en el futuro. El villano y la historia regular.
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7
AaronWasserman1Mar 26, 2016
Man of Steel is the best Superman movie in my opinion. I was never that into him until I saw this movie. Cavill is the definitive Superman. My gripe with this movie is the over the top action and fight sequences that went on for too long.
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7
farzyy12Apr 11, 2016
The best Superman origin story ever told in a movie format.

Henry Cavill looked and felt like the Superman the world deserves and needed. Russell Crowe was superb as Jor-El. Filled with over-long action sequences and a re-telling of the
The best Superman origin story ever told in a movie format.

Henry Cavill looked and felt like the Superman the world deserves and needed. Russell Crowe was superb as Jor-El. Filled with over-long action sequences and a re-telling of the most iconic Superhero to ever exist in our modern time.
Michael Shannon as General Zod was frightening & intense while at the same time you can understand the reason as to why he does the things he does. Sorely for the people of Krypton!

The romance arc between Clark and Lois felt forced and lacked any real reason as to why they even fell for each other, however I did enjoy the way Lois found out about Superman.

The kryptonite for this film was its weak script. While it didn't kill the film, it certainly hurt it and made it suffer. The dialogue and the pacing could've been handled a lot better with certain sequences being executed poorly.

What did this film do best? It brought a perfect being we know as Superman into a world that is not so perfect. It threw away the Silver Age character we knew of and threw it into a pool we call realism. And that turned a perfect hero into a hero with flaws which made me care about the character. (Why care for a superhero that is always perfect?)
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7
Antgiog1202Jul 29, 2016
Man of Steel is one of the most underrated superhero movies of all time! My excitement for this movie definitely payed off as it is beautifully directed by Zack Snyder as he rivets me from scene to scene. He is not the greatest director ever,Man of Steel is one of the most underrated superhero movies of all time! My excitement for this movie definitely payed off as it is beautifully directed by Zack Snyder as he rivets me from scene to scene. He is not the greatest director ever, but he does manage to give us a pretty bad-ass superhero flick that we should come to expect out of Superman. With his masterpiece of Watchmen, he has proven us that he can indeed create a breathtaking comic-book adaptation -- excluding Batman v. Superman.

Rating: 7/10
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7
AfNinoAug 23, 2016
What Man of Steel delivers in great action sequences, visual effects and musical score, it dearly fails in its poor storytelling, dull tone and bad direction. The overall pacing of the film was my biggest dislike, going from extreme action toWhat Man of Steel delivers in great action sequences, visual effects and musical score, it dearly fails in its poor storytelling, dull tone and bad direction. The overall pacing of the film was my biggest dislike, going from extreme action to slow storytelling and flashbacks, right back to fast action without keeping consistency on how the plot is developing. The final fight was, even though great action, pretty much pointless from the plot's point of view. Character development outside of Superman was, well....to be fair there pretty much was none. The dull tone of the movie really went in the opposite direction as to what Superman is and what he should be. The moments between Clark and Lois Lane seemed off. There didn't seem to really be a connection.

On the other side though, there are some things this movie does right. Michael Shannon made a great villain in General Zod. Hans Zimmer once again delivers a musical score that, even though at times delivers an unnecessary darker tone, connects the audience with the power that Superman has.

Overall, if you're willing to bypass the obvious storytelling flaws just to see Superman do battle in epic action sequences, this is the movie for you. Everyone else, proceed at your own risk.
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7
Aaron_WassermanJun 1, 2016
Man of Steel is the best Superman movie in my opinion. I was never that into him until I saw this movie. Cavill is the definitive Superman. My gripe with this movie is the over the top action and fight sequences that went on for too long.
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7
ZerpnosMar 4, 2017
Biraz geç kalınmış fakat Marvel'ın ardından sinemaya evrenini aktarmaya çalışan DC ilk olarak dünyayı yok etmek isteyen Superman'in düşmanları ile evrene başlamış ve Superman'e yer vermiştir. Hikayenin orta seviye olduğu filmde aksiyonBiraz geç kalınmış fakat Marvel'ın ardından sinemaya evrenini aktarmaya çalışan DC ilk olarak dünyayı yok etmek isteyen Superman'in düşmanları ile evrene başlamış ve Superman'e yer vermiştir. Hikayenin orta seviye olduğu filmde aksiyon yeterli düzeyde. Expand
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7
antonzhalobOct 26, 2021
Не плохой фильм, но как по мне - на один раз! Больше смотреть я его конечно же не буду!
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7
MonkiReviewsMay 27, 2017
I enjoyed the action and story of this movie. The only downfall was when the story was going slow, and lasted longer than it should. It deserves a watch.
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7
spacebear1Dec 9, 2017
Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is, for me personally, the best Superman film yet. Henry Cavill was an amazing choice for Superman and I also liked Michael Shannon as General Zod. A lot of people complained that the film was dark in both tone andZack Snyder's Man of Steel is, for me personally, the best Superman film yet. Henry Cavill was an amazing choice for Superman and I also liked Michael Shannon as General Zod. A lot of people complained that the film was dark in both tone and absence of a lot of color. I have two things to say about that. One, that's just Zack Snyder's style. Two, not all superhero films have to be rainbows and unicorns and always happy. In the end, this is a film that is very enjoyable and is great with some room for improvement. My rating would be 7.8/10 Expand
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7
Player2-WaterDec 29, 2018
E-Value: 7
Acting: 8
Plot: 7 Seven years have passed since DC Comics’ famous and iconic superhero, Superman, was last seen on the big screen with the release of 2006’s Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh. After a long hiatus, he has
E-Value: 7
Acting: 8
Plot: 7

Seven years have passed since DC Comics’ famous and iconic superhero, Superman, was last seen on the big screen with the release of 2006’s Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh. After a long hiatus, he has finally return to the big screen with a reboot and unconnected to the previous Superman movies. This movie features the origin story of Superman and is the first instalment in the shared movie universe unofficially known as DC Extended Universe.

In the final hours of Krypton before its destruction due to destabilisation from the mining of the planet core, chief advisor to Krypton’s supreme council, Jor-El, steals the genetics codex and infuses them into the DNA of Jor-El’s new-born son, Kal-El. While this is happening, General Zod (Shannon) and his loyalist attempts a coup against the supreme council and killed Jor-El to retrieve the stolen codex. Despite Zod’s rebellion was stop and sentence to the imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, Krypton explodes after that.

Years after arrived on Earth, Kal-El is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, whom they named him Clark Kent (Cavill). Clark has faced difficulties in his childhood due to his special abilities. During his adulthood, he goes on a journey for years and found an ancient Kryptonian scout ship where he finally learnt everything he needs to know from the hologram of his late biological father. Daily Planet journalist, Lois Lane (Adams), who has been investigating the ancient scout ship for some stories, is saved by Clark after she accidently triggers the ship’s security system.

After that, he dons a Kryptonian suit with the symbol of his birth family. Finally embracing his alien heritage, he becomes humanity’s hope and inspiration. Meanwhile, General Zod, who have been freed from the Phantom Zone after the destruction of Krypton many years ago, have finally discovers Clark’s location due to the reactivation of the same ancient scout ship.

In comparison between the late Christopher Reeves and Henry Cavill, both of them are great and there is no clear winner. Reeves’ version is more light-hearted and campy which is suited in the old days while Cavill’s version is more serious-orientated and realistic which more suited for the modern day era. Even Michael Shannon’s take on General Zod is totally amazing and definitely one of the best comic book villain in the big screen.

The music in this movie is totally awesome especially during the fight scenes between Superman and the villains. The combination between the music and the fights scenes creates a huge hype up and very exciting. Two thumbs up to Hans Zimmer, whose music has never ceased to impress me. As for the plot, it was good start up for an origins story.

On the downside, Superman got too much character development at the cost of supporting characters in the movie getting less character development which makes it less interesting for them to be care about. The movie also lacked some sense of humours and comedy relief moments. Nevertheless, the movie is still fun to watch. I am looking forward towards the next instalment.
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7
SoulWarfareMar 12, 2021
In anticipation of Zack Snyder's Justice League, I decided to rewatch Zack's previous two DCEU entries. I remember watching this in theatres in 2013 and loving it despite all the criticism when it came out but 9 years have passed and IIn anticipation of Zack Snyder's Justice League, I decided to rewatch Zack's previous two DCEU entries. I remember watching this in theatres in 2013 and loving it despite all the criticism when it came out but 9 years have passed and I wondered if I would still have the same feeling after watching it again? So is it still as great as I remembered it?

Firstly, the casting of Henry Cavill was a perfect choice. He perfectly embodies all the qualities that I expect from a Clark Kent and a Superman. He is incredibly charming in the role and it is clear he is enjoying it as well. Amy Adams as Lois Lane is also excellent casting as she captures the smart, feisty yet brave nature of the character. Michael Shannon as Zod is another great casting as he projects the malice and determination that the character contains in the story. There are also some other great casting for supporting characters like Kevin Costner for Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul (who is surprisingly better than I remembered), Christopher Meloni as Col. Nathan Hardy and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. All of them give a good performance for their respective roles as well. One thing I think that Zack does well is the visuals. There is some great cinematography by Amir Mokri and some gorgeous shots. The action scenes are "visually" pleasing to look at and honestly Superman punching someone has never looked so great. The Smallville action scene is still one of the best Superman action scenes I have ever seen. I also really loved how they changed Krypton by making it feel like a completely different world with its own rules and ecosystem instead of just being a place of giant Crystals. Hans Zimmer score for Man of Steel is phenomenal with its use of choir, drums, trumpets, violins and piano. It captures the essence of what makes Superman great. It's triumphant, hopeful and inspiring that makes every scene feel epic.

The story works fine but because it's an origin story it, unfortunately, suffers from the glaring slow burn of the first half where it's just setting everything up. Due to that, there is a lack of exciting things happening post-Krypton destruction for quite a while. I also found that it was difficult to connect with much of these characters as most of them do feel one-note and lacking in any depth or optimism. Even Superman feels kind of bland as a character as there isn't much of an arc for him. I also found the romance between Superman and Lois very weak. The movie doesn't have a lot of intimate moments between the two so when they end up kissing near the end, in front of Lois's boss as well, it comes across as awkward and unearned. The third act goes into generic territory with the flashy beam in the sky and end of the world stuff that you see in many blockbusters. I also disagree with some choices Zack made, for example, the handling of Jonathan Kent's death. His death in Christopher Reeve's movie was from a heart attack and that showed that despite all of Superman's power, he can't save everyone and to me, that is a really important lesson for his character. In this movie, he dies from a tornado that Superman could have easily saved him from and it just doesn't hit the same way as the Christopher Reeve version. Plus it looks really silly in my opinion. My big issue is that the final fight scene between Superman and Zod is not as great as the Smallville fight. In Smallville, Superman is punching people but also saving people which is what I expect from Superman. However, the final fight scene has him punching people through buildings without any thought instead of attempting to take the fight outside of Metropolis. Although he kind of did by taking it into space then they went crashing back into Metropolis and caused even more damage which I still find odd to this day. The controversial neck snap is honestly something I have no issue with. It's an emotional moment for the character and is why he will have a no-kill rule in the future. However, the impact of the moment doesn't last enough to convey the importance of the scene as a minute later Superman is all fine and crashing down expensive satellites for a funny moment.

Overall, I still enjoy it even after rewatching but I am more aware of the flaws. I think it has stunning action, a beautiful score and gorgeous visuals but the writing needs a lot of work and that is why I have a big love and hate feeling towards Zack Snyder. Man of Steel is not as terrible as people gave the movie when it came out but it is still far away from the perfect Superman movie. Hopefully, Henry Cavill gets a second chance at another solo outing.
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7
seanreneauMay 13, 2018
Man of Steel while very dark for Superman is very entertaining and has a solid villain. Overall Man of Steel packs a solid punch.
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7
HpbJan 26, 2021
Man of Steel cumpre seu papel de blockbuster genérico no cinema com clareza, com ação surpreendente, mas um roteiro bobo o suficiente para dizer que foi um bom começo para este DC Extended Universe com várias falhas narrativas e um finalMan of Steel cumpre seu papel de blockbuster genérico no cinema com clareza, com ação surpreendente, mas um roteiro bobo o suficiente para dizer que foi um bom começo para este DC Extended Universe com várias falhas narrativas e um final decepcionante. Expand
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7
ErikTheCriticSep 25, 2018
This reboot has beautiful visuals and an abundance of intense action sequences, and proves that Henry Cavill was a great casting choice as Superman.
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 24, 2021
I enjoyed this. Its relatively thrilly, certainly fast paced and is jam packed with CGI, so pretty much what I imagine most people would expect of such a film. I found it relatively engrossing and I thought that both Russell Crowe andI enjoyed this. Its relatively thrilly, certainly fast paced and is jam packed with CGI, so pretty much what I imagine most people would expect of such a film. I found it relatively engrossing and I thought that both Russell Crowe and Christopher Meloni did quite well in their roles, with Crowe's being more memorable as Clark's real father. Laurence Fishburne is also present, playing Perry White - the Daily Planets editor.

However, if I had to be negative, I'd say that the volume of special effects present in some scenes did perhaps become a little OTT (over the top) and some of the realism disappeared (due to the scale of explosions etc. in such a short distance area), which was a bit of a shame. Towards the end of the film, there wasn't perhaps quite as much to the plot as I may have liked there to be but it certainly quite watchable and entertaining never the less.

If your a fan of series like 'Smallville' and the 'Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' series of the 1990s, then I reckon its likely you'll enjoy this. It did feel suitably atmospheric at times, in scenes set outside Earth. Its not quite 5 star material exactly but its pretty close - its certainly an entertaining watch for close to two and a half hours, so I'd recommend it on that basis. I'm not an expert on the character to be able to comment on how true to the original stor(ies) it is but I certainly enjoyed it in terms of being an engrossing, somewhat escapist type watch.
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7
geekgamer88Jun 5, 2020
Although the film was generally fine, there were some pointless scenes until the last scene, balanced progress and well-balanced characters and good stage transitions offer good viewing pleasure.
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7
MrPajamasJun 1, 2021
A successful reboot of the franchise, which was mostly pulled off by Henry Cavill, because he just fits the Superman mold. Plus a nice plot. The action is also great. Probably the best Superman movie I've ever seen. For me, a good movie thatA successful reboot of the franchise, which was mostly pulled off by Henry Cavill, because he just fits the Superman mold. Plus a nice plot. The action is also great. Probably the best Superman movie I've ever seen. For me, a good movie that I recommend. I don't have much to add. Expand
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7
BleedingJesterJun 30, 2023
its not a bad movie but its mediocre and takes itself too overly seriously for what Superman and most comic book characters are which is Campy and because of that they tend to work best if they at least acknowledges the campy (and yes you canits not a bad movie but its mediocre and takes itself too overly seriously for what Superman and most comic book characters are which is Campy and because of that they tend to work best if they at least acknowledges the campy (and yes you can have great Superhero movies that take themselves seriously) that said the fight scenes are good, the CGI is good, and I think the Cinematography is also good and I think the acting and casting were spot on its just the story and how overly serious it takes itself makes the movie a bit boring to watch especially after the first time Expand
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7
HabibiehakimMay 27, 2023
It was fine, Man Of Steel was a completely fine movie, it wasn't amazing and it wasn't blow me away, it was an ok Superhero origins film that if you are the biggest Superman fan you will enjoy it more, but if you're expecting a 2 in a halfIt was fine, Man Of Steel was a completely fine movie, it wasn't amazing and it wasn't blow me away, it was an ok Superhero origins film that if you are the biggest Superman fan you will enjoy it more, but if you're expecting a 2 in a half hour Superhero movie that fills with full action, you will enjoy it less, when it comes to action sequence Zack Snyder's mostly nailed it with the balance CGI and the choreography and the cinematography, the story of Superman still find his true self wasn't that engaging for me, and in terms of performance especially both Henry Cavill and Amy Adams wasn't the best performance i've seen, it wasn't great, it wasn't horrible, but the rest of the cast, from Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, and even Laurence Fishburne were all great, pretty boring at some sequence but overall Man Of Steel as a whole was still an interestingly enough film to watch though with quite a lot of flawed, still has it moments. Expand
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7
STERLINGbeeJul 24, 2021
С фильмом у меня как то не сложилось, у меня не было времени, а смотреть хотелось, поэтому я смотрел фильм отрывками день за днём, как Снайдеркат, и мне кажется то что я совершил большую ошибку..... Потому что когда я смотрю фильмы поС фильмом у меня как то не сложилось, у меня не было времени, а смотреть хотелось, поэтому я смотрел фильм отрывками день за днём, как Снайдеркат, и мне кажется то что я совершил большую ошибку..... Потому что когда я смотрю фильмы по отрезкам, не разделённые по главам, то у мен появляется чувство неполноценности картины, как будто бы это какой то сериальчик, поэтому от супермена у меня остался осадочек, серость картины, некоторые растянутые, некоторые сжатые моменты, только проявляют у меня это чувство больше и больше. Сюжет немножечко, НО! Были скучноват, хотя объективно он хорош, в некоторых моментах я просто офигевал, переживал и радовался! Картинка мне понравилась, а то что я остался некоторыми моментами недоволен, виноват я сам. Фильм не очень хороший, но и не очень плохой, он нормальный, я его конечно когда нибудь пересмотрю целиком и полностью, но сейчас на эту у меня нету времени( Expand
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7
JulietaGuit-9Sep 7, 2021
È un buon film di Superman.
Ci sono alcune cose che non mi hanno convinto di questa nuova versione ma mi è comunque piaciuto tutto il resto.
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7
PatFlores2003Apr 29, 2022
The first DCEU movie that started it all. It is very good and acceptable, although it is not up to par, but some scenes were great and superior to the film itself.

The scene of the first flight of Superman is the one that I liked the most in
The first DCEU movie that started it all. It is very good and acceptable, although it is not up to par, but some scenes were great and superior to the film itself.

The scene of the first flight of Superman is the one that I liked the most in the movie actually and I liked it a lot and his music is excellent for that scene and the most remarkable and superior part of the movie.

Although, it has several holes in the script and the story and the ending is somewhat satisfying and somewhat average but still a good ending to this movie. This movie is one of the good and remarkable things that the DCEU has and I recommend you see the movie, you won't regret it. The movie and the story are okay.
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7
HappyliveMay 7, 2022
gerçek superman filmi olmakla birlikte her an kötü olabilecekmiş havası verilen kahramanımız ve yine yerle bir olan bir şehir.
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7
KnightOpSep 18, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Man of Steel was a perfect movie to start DCEU. But you know what happened in the future. Even though the other movies were not good in the DCEU but Man of Steel was perfect movie for Superman. I'll give this is 7/10 Expand
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6
loadstone007Aug 5, 2013
I didn't like the movie, which is a real shame since I really love Superman. The story told has a nice twist to it but the potential was left dead on the floor. Henry Cavill was a really bad casting choice he's just not good at this partI didn't like the movie, which is a real shame since I really love Superman. The story told has a nice twist to it but the potential was left dead on the floor. Henry Cavill was a really bad casting choice he's just not good at this part (and come on close shots of him with his chest hair flowing out of his suit?).

Superman Returns was a much better film that made me feel really excited about Superman and the people he protects. The new film is just a disappointment. Watch this at home.
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6
JacobJun 15, 2013
While Man of Steel promises to have a good story and characters instead we get a lot of action and not enough story. Had the film given us a more character driven film and focused less on the action we could have really had something greatWhile Man of Steel promises to have a good story and characters instead we get a lot of action and not enough story. Had the film given us a more character driven film and focused less on the action we could have really had something great here. As it is Man of Steel is good. It has some fun action, some epic moments, and a couple nice character moments. While it may not have wowed me as much as I thought it was it did keep me more engaged than Superman Returns. If you are a fan of action movies and just want to see Superman beat the sh*t out of guys for the majority of the movie, or at least it feels like it, I think you will enjoy Superman. If you are looking for a more character driven superhero movie then go watch X-Men,Spider-Man 2,The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Superman I & II and even to a certain extent Superman Returns, which while lacking in action does have a story. As it is though Man of Steel is entertaining with enough action, epicness, and character development to make it worth a watch for any superhero fan. Expand
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6
adhamhanyAug 22, 2013
It has spectacular action sequences, thanks in part to Zack Snyder's (from 300) masterful directing. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same about the script and character development, which is a weird thing for a movie written (partly) byIt has spectacular action sequences, thanks in part to Zack Snyder's (from 300) masterful directing. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same about the script and character development, which is a weird thing for a movie written (partly) by Christopher Nolan. It was trying to be complex like the Batman trilogy, but it wasn't. And Henry Cavill's acting is not good. And the actors who are, were given underdeveloped characters. Overall, awesome action scenes is what saved this movie from being a total mess. They are that awesome. Expand
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6
EmuChickenSep 14, 2013
Superman for the new age, how does it rate? Honestly, quite good- but I feel that this movie shot itself in the foot.
The story is pretty much a reboot of Superman, how Krypton blew up, a baby was put on a rocket and fired away. Nothing
Superman for the new age, how does it rate? Honestly, quite good- but I feel that this movie shot itself in the foot.
The story is pretty much a reboot of Superman, how Krypton blew up, a baby was put on a rocket and fired away. Nothing new really, but I liked how it replayed "Supermans" life through arty flashbacks. Nice.
Great cast, no complaints, all good. Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner (both who played Robin Hood!) also added to well played roles.
My main complaints are them stretched out blurry action sequences that have no real reason for being there. It reminded me of the sequels to the 00's Spiderman movies where nothing much really happens. I watch movies to see good acting, not sub-par blurred CG with lots of explosions and smashing windows... These sections droll on so it gets monotonous rather than stays "fun".

All in all, its a "good" movie, but it could have been made GREAT!
A lot of movies seem to fall into the same trap, more quality control is definitely needed to cut down on these 2 hours 30 minute bore fests. Cut off 30 minutes, make a "directors cut" and leave it, PLEASE!
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6
rmz76Jun 14, 2013
If you like action films and could care less about character development, pacing or good acting you'll love Man of Steel. If however you cringe when seeing trite motifs then you will likely come to hate Man of Steel before baby Kal-El evenIf you like action films and could care less about character development, pacing or good acting you'll love Man of Steel. If however you cringe when seeing trite motifs then you will likely come to hate Man of Steel before baby Kal-El even launches off Krypton… Knowing the power and past works of the creative minds at the top of this project I just expected a lot more than was delivered. The positive take away is that it's not a bore, the action does not stop. Just don't expect to really care much at the end. Expand
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6
KadeemluvmusicJan 28, 2016
Man of Steel, in my opinion, is a decent but not quite as better as the original Superman movie. I felt that Zack Synder tried to recapture the atmosphere and brilliance of Richard Donnor's 1978 version, but with little interest on why the DCMan of Steel, in my opinion, is a decent but not quite as better as the original Superman movie. I felt that Zack Synder tried to recapture the atmosphere and brilliance of Richard Donnor's 1978 version, but with little interest on why the DC Universe movies haven't been a gamechanger throughout the years (The Dark Knight Trilogy doesn't count). I was feeling a bit nervous why they chose Henry Cavill donning the red, yellow cape and spandex with the iconic "S" trademark because Superman just way past his prime. Even though Superman Returns was pretty good, but Man Of Steel is less but kinda bland Superman. The movie's ending went horribly wrong (I saw the whole thing, no spoilers), the whole CGI thing is pointless, Kevin Costner's performance as Clark Kent's own father sucked, the action scenes were inspired unless you make the movie for 2 1/2 hours long. And that's the problem.

I'm a little worried for what's to come during 2016's sorta "Man Of Steel" sequel, "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice." Will the movie be any good? Can Batfleck (Ben Affleck) be a better Batman than Christian Bale? Can the movie be as much darker as Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War"? Or can it become the highest-grossing movie of the year? I'm predicting that it's going to get near the 60's at Rotten Tomatoes (or below 50s), but 2016 is full of too much superhero movies. So I might have to wait on that, but as for Man Of Steel, good movie, flawed script, acting is pretty decent, but it's worth a shot.
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6
grandpajoe6191Aug 27, 2015
"Man of Steel" is a refreshing new reboot of the old superman days with flashing action and eye-catching visuals. The plot does wander off to uncharted territory at times, but overall a good movie to watch during one's spare time.
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6
hoops2448Jul 9, 2013
Most people loathed Superman Returns, I didn't, I loved its symbolism and its attempt to carry on the Richard Donner universe despite its lack of fun loving heroics that made the originals so enjoyable. So I have to say Man of Steel hadMost people loathed Superman Returns, I didn't, I loved its symbolism and its attempt to carry on the Richard Donner universe despite its lack of fun loving heroics that made the originals so enjoyable. So I have to say Man of Steel had something to prove. The film tells the story of what happens when far away planet Krypton starts dying and Jor-El (Russell Crowe) sends his son Kal-El (Henry Cavill) to Earth so he may live. When he arrives he is raised in secret by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane) and learns to become a hero people can believe in as reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) gets closer to uncovering the truth behind this mysterious hero's true identity. The feeling I had when I left the cinema was one of disappointment sure but not for the reasons I expected. I expected an emotionless sequence of beautifully framed rubbish, what I got was so much more than that. Man of Steel is excellent science fiction, its smart, its beautifully realized and it shows a part of Superman's mythology that has never really been touched upon by the films. It's a good 30 minutes before we are introduced to the titular hero as we see the collapse of Krypton and how their society broke down enough for Jor-El to send Kal to Earth in the first place. The rest of the film is a pretty conventional origins story but unlike Zach Snyder's previous films Watchmen and Sucker Punch, Man of Steel has an understanding of its characters and the emotions that drive them and brings out some excellent performances in Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Michael Shannon as fellow Kryptonian and lead villain General Zod. The film looks brilliant, it tells a captivating story and it has well thought out characters except for Adams' Lois Lane who pales in comparison to Margot Kidder's interpretation of the woman (although Adams is better than Kate Bosworth's version of the character but that's not hard as a reasonably well trained dog could play her better than Bosworth did.) The main downside however is not an acting problem its the films ending, not for the surprise twist I imagine a lot of people are talking about but because that final hour is just a long sequence of destruction that could be 20 minutes shorted and would still bore me to death. The action looks good and in sections of the film when there is actual story its good to see it accompany the story but the end of the film lacks any real reason for this ridiculous over the top violence and the story is nowhere as strong as it is in the first hour and a half. In fact that was my main qualm, the fact that the first hour and a half, the tale of how Clark Kent becomes Superman is almost perfect Sci-Fi and it is almost ruined by a blockbuster ending, a conclusion based on what other blockbuster superheroes have done recently and not what this character should do, something Snyder should have picked up on but unfortunately didn't. Expand
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6
BossukJun 24, 2013
This film felt like 2 completely different films mashed together and I'm still not sure if it worked.
The first half dealing with Clark as a young boy and krypton was excellent. It felt well paced and gave depth to parts of the superman
This film felt like 2 completely different films mashed together and I'm still not sure if it worked.
The first half dealing with Clark as a young boy and krypton was excellent. It felt well paced and gave depth to parts of the superman story previously ignored.
But the 2nd half with the fights against Zod were I felt not handled as good as they could. The fight choreography was very poor and at no point did I really feel like I was getting into a true fight between 2 supermen. Camera angles were all over the place, and sometimes I didn't know who was hitting who and who was winning The focus on the destruction of the buildings took away from the true essence of the fight. Felt like the fight scenes in Transformers. If you are going to have a 1h long fight, then you need to make it a damn good one.
I did enjoy the film for the most part, but it could have better.
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6
KimomarudotcomJun 14, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I became of Zack Snyder fan with Watchmen, a film that is very near and dear to my heart. I was totally excited when I heard that he was making MOS, and became more so as the trailers were trickled out. MOS is an unusual movie and part of that feeling may come from its otherworldly music score. It wastes no time at all and gets to the meat of the story quickly, giving it a kind of dense feel. However, there are points in the movie that are hard to digest. The plot always finds a contrived way of getting Lois Lane in all of Superman's set pieces on board a space ship, in the tundra, in Kansas she never far behind. She might as well have been in the Zod fights. Also, Superman's never flown until the events of this movie?! I give Snyder huge credit for making this movie all his own, it's different in the same way Tim Burton made Batman in his own vision. I had fun, see this movie but don't nit pick its odd parts. Expand
1 of 11 users found this helpful110
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6
LokathorApr 20, 2014
It's not really fantastic, it's not really bad. If you love the explosions and lights and things flying around, this is a good way to spend 2 hours. The plot is basic, the characters are all kinda flat and one dimensional, but it was funIt's not really fantastic, it's not really bad. If you love the explosions and lights and things flying around, this is a good way to spend 2 hours. The plot is basic, the characters are all kinda flat and one dimensional, but it was fun seeing a lot of smaller actors as side roles. Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
a7xfanJul 7, 2013
I felt that they built this movie up too much to really enjoy thoroughly. It felt like they were trying to use the Dark Knight Trilogy's style but it didn't work for this movie. The story flashbacks were too short and happens every so often.I felt that they built this movie up too much to really enjoy thoroughly. It felt like they were trying to use the Dark Knight Trilogy's style but it didn't work for this movie. The story flashbacks were too short and happens every so often. The new superman: Henry Cavill, makes it better than Brandon Routh did that is for sure. It is too long of a film to really pay attention too, for it's quality. I will still see the sequel if they make one which they probably will. Expand
1 of 8 users found this helpful17
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6
FozzyJul 3, 2013
Man of Steel is a fairly good film. There's no saying that it's a great film, because it undeniably isn't. Some of the acting is somewhat wooden and flat, and it jumps from scene to scene, plot point to plot point, rather absent-mindedly andMan of Steel is a fairly good film. There's no saying that it's a great film, because it undeniably isn't. Some of the acting is somewhat wooden and flat, and it jumps from scene to scene, plot point to plot point, rather absent-mindedly and not in a memorable fashion. This results in the film falling down slightly from what it could have been. The fact that this film had Christopher Nolan (of The Dark Knight fame) involved meant that some people were expecting more, another Dark Knight, but that doesn't happen in this film because of the cast, both main and supporting, and the way it casually jumps between plot points without anything really holding them together, making it a rather difficult film to follow. However, on the whole this is a good film and, though it doesn't live up to expectations, it isn't exactly unwatchable and, as well as being a solid entry in the franchise, may very well be one of the best films of the lot. Expand
2 of 9 users found this helpful27
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6
OnAnarchyJul 2, 2013
i had rather high expectations for this, and I must concede myself disappointed. The movie does not flow as a well-made film should, and there are many innaccuracies and oversights that make the fi;m difficult to watch. Coupled with thei had rather high expectations for this, and I must concede myself disappointed. The movie does not flow as a well-made film should, and there are many innaccuracies and oversights that make the fi;m difficult to watch. Coupled with the overlong running time, ridiculously extended battle scenes, and the 3 separate 'final' battles, you end up feeling like you just want it to end. As an action movie, it's a decent one at best. Expand
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6
DodgerJun 21, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is by far the best superman movie, but to be fair that not saying much. There are moments in this movie that are very good, like the battle in Smallville. But the story line in places could of been much better like destroying the world to re-colonise it...why? If they left it as it was they would of been unstoppable as they would all be as powerful as superman... Also Zod is a trained soldier who has been bred and trained his entire life to fight and yet was beaten by somebody who has actively avoided fighting his entire life...

But anyway not a bad movie, worth a watch, but not the best superhero movie.
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2 of 10 users found this helpful28
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6
ConnKonAug 2, 2013
Critics are right on this one. Uninspiring action movie of Snyder that doesn't deserve Nolan's name on it. Hans Zimmer made a great score which made me give it a 6 instead of a 5. The masses wil love a dumbed down Superman like this, it's aCritics are right on this one. Uninspiring action movie of Snyder that doesn't deserve Nolan's name on it. Hans Zimmer made a great score which made me give it a 6 instead of a 5. The masses wil love a dumbed down Superman like this, it's a guaranteed summer cash cow. Expand
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6
Tbrown15Jun 17, 2013
Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner Runtime/Rated: 2hr. 28min/PG-13 ‘Man of Steel’ was my very first Superman movie I have ever seen. So,
Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner

Runtime/Rated: 2hr. 28min/PG-13

‘Man of Steel’ was my very first Superman movie I have ever seen. So, how did it far with me? Did I enjoy it? Can it be better then ‘The Dark Knight’ films? Well, let’s get started!

The story starts at Superman’s home planet called Krypton, where we’re introduced to Jor-El, (played by a good Russell Crowe). Jor-El is at the council talking to the elder people and mentions that their world is in danger of being destroyed, I don’t know why this is happening, I don’t know if its because they didn’t explain it, or maybe I just didn’t hear it. I don’t know. Then General Zod comes zooming in, (played be Michael Shannon who is one of the main reasons why I some what liked this movie). Zod comes in and starts causing havoc, and saying this planet is DOOMED!! Again, I don’t know why its DOOMED?!? After this encounter with Zod, Jor-El breaks away from him and goes to his son and sends him off to Earth as Krypton is being destroyed. Then for about a good hour of the film we have half ass character development for Clark Kent. It’s told through to many tedious flashbacks and monologue talks from his father and mother (played by Diane Lane and Kevin Costner). Finally, after sitting their an hour of painful and dull acting and character development, General Zod comes back to save the day! From here, the story kicks back up again and Zod wants to transform Earth into the next Krypton.

One of the main reasons why I didn’t love this movie is the poor character development. Using Flashbacks as a tool to show development for Clark Kent didn’t work for me. When you first see Kent, he’s already a man, so the film jumped their story about 25 years later after the events on Krypton. Then the movie takes you back years later for when he’s a kid. That’s the development for Superman FLASHBACKS most of the flashbacks were all the same anyways, Clark saves the day by using his power, then has a long speech with either his father or mother. This happened four times in the movie. Another big problem I had with this film, which is a huge one, is the emotions I did not feel between the characters. The whole relationship between Kent and Lois Lane felt extremely fake, it felt like there was no connection through those two characters. Most of their interactions felt dull and stale this might have felt like this because of the very bland Henry Cavill but even with all of the other relationships between the characters, i still didn’t feel any real emotions. I would say that the only relationship that I connected with was Kevin Costner’s and Henry Cavill’s, which felt very real. The ending also was dull. When Superman takes the first punch of the movie, and I mean first REAL punch, that’s when you feel the most adrenaline pumping through your body, but that fads pretty fast, and by the end of the film you’re more excited for it to end then it to keep playing.

‘Man of Steel’ defiantly has plenty of flaws, but with saying that, I still enjoyed the movie. I loved the visuals and effects, which could very be the best effects I will see this whole year. Most of the action was nice to look at, especially when Superman is whooping everybody’s ass. Like I mentioned before, Michael Shannon had a brilliant performance and stole the show every time he was on screen. The true summary of ‘Man of Steel’ is, “it looks to par, but lacks the emotional depth that it NEEDS to make it stand out then all the other generic action summer blockbusters”. Also, I would like to mention that Zack Snyder has a great visual approach to his movies, but when it comes to story, he’s one of the worst.

To answer the question if i enjoyed my first Superman movie or not, i would say that yeah, i enjoyed a good chunk of the movie, but for the most part was extremely disappointing.

See this movie as a matinee showing.
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6
reddave2Jun 29, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Man of Steel is by no means a bad film but it clearly is too loaded, especially for a film which is bound to have the benefit of one or more sequels. Imagine the batman trilogy but with all the plot points established in a week. Clark Kent (well played in all fairness by Henry Cavill) goes from saving kids on a bus as a teen, to saving workers on an oil rig to... destroying towns and cities while battling a small army of similar strengthed supermen. Entertaining, yes, but its all too much. The film suffers from some silliness in trying to get its emotional beats particularly during the final scene where Zod is about to kill four innocent people despite both he and Superman levelling much of metropolis without a care in the world during a (has to be said) visual stunning fist fight.

All that said, Man of Steel is an enjoyable re-spin of Superman and sets up the main characters well. Maybe I would have warmed more to it if the threat of Zod (Michael Shannon is quite good in the few scenes we get with him) was merely introduced, and left for the sequel. But its overlong and I cant help but feel that maybe DC or Warners wanted something to rival Avengers a bit too much. I look forward to a sequel but part of me wonders how they can up the stakes on what happens in this first movie.
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6
moonman1994Jul 15, 2013
This movie is certainly entertaining but it's actions sequences are so long that it begins to become boring. Honestly my criticism of this film can be summed up to the fact that it takes itself far to seriously.
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6
SpangleJul 18, 2015
Man of Steel, the first film in the new DC Cinematic Universe, is certainly a very flawed film, but for me, I think there is enough in the "pro" category to outweigh those negatives. Firstly, I really liked the acting and the castingMan of Steel, the first film in the new DC Cinematic Universe, is certainly a very flawed film, but for me, I think there is enough in the "pro" category to outweigh those negatives. Firstly, I really liked the acting and the casting throughout. Some were unhappy with Amy Adams' Lois Lane, for both the way she was portrayed and for her not looking like Lois Lane, but as a person who is not a huge comic book guy, I did not really care. She's a great actress and it is able to show in this film to a degree. In addition to the acting, the special effects were spectacular and the cinematography was stupendous at times. There were some seriously gorgeous shots in this one and it is one of the few superhero movies where I really noticed that area. However, I will say that it does try to do a lot and struggles from typical origin story pitfalls. The pacing can be extremely bad at times and the dialogue is pretty horrendous at times and middling at best. Overall, Man of Steel is a slightly above average film that succeeds in some areas and fails in others, but overall does a nice job setting up the new Superman story and the new universe. Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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6
ReubenIsAGodJan 6, 2014
SO for me with flicks, I've kinda been trying to be more critical and think, more so, about how this film has affected me, how has it moved me, or affected me on an emotional spiritual level. Did it stand the test of time and make me go WOW,SO for me with flicks, I've kinda been trying to be more critical and think, more so, about how this film has affected me, how has it moved me, or affected me on an emotional spiritual level. Did it stand the test of time and make me go WOW, so fantastic, and how much do i remember enjoying. I actually really enjoy many elements of this flick. Its kinda just really entertaining, and I actually really enjoying seeing Zack Snyder's vision...But its very very very bland. Like, eh, the actual script is quite the mundane clique superhero story. It's alright. It's just light entertainment really. Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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6
Gamed2longJun 16, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have never been a big fan of Superman. I even would go so far as to say he is my least favorite superhero. Is it being heroic to risk nothing to save an ant? Not quite. And to superman we would all be ants. So any movie about him has traditionally played up his two weaknesses most of the time. This movie does a good job of not making Lois Lane a weakness at all. As to the krypton stuff. There were no glowing green rocks in this one although that got substituted for a "foreign atmosphere" thing which, in a way, is more believable.
The villain general Zod is both logical and convincing. His "evil" plot is not overly complex and is rational at all times. So even if the actor brought nothing extra to the role it would be "good enough" in the villain department. Certainly a lot better than some previous films that don't deserve mention.
The bulk of the film is a smash fest with Superman and general Zod's army of 5 or 6 loyal henchmen duking it out. Quite often while they are being shot at by people from the army who don't realize after the first clip how ineffective bullets are. People who came to watch destruction are sure to get their fill.
I also have to give top marks to the scenes at the beginning with Krypton. They do a good job making the world alien but still familiar. The technology and politics are top notch sci fi and not some cheesy throw away as they have been previously.
With regards to supporting cast Kevin Costner does a good job playing Superman's "dad." He almost gives more to the roll than Russel Crowe puts into his surprisingly large roll as Jor-El. Both of them are a credit to the film. Laurence Fishburne is also a surprising face playing Lois's boss (name?) though he is little more than a bit player in the film he adds warmth to it. Him and Costner are the only two to do so.
That would be my main criticism of the film. It's cut together OK. Shot a bit stylistically, but visually quite good CG'd up the wazoo. Top marks to the 600+ artists who worked full time on that. But in the end all the flashbacks add sadness and darkness for the most part and are not the inspirational warmth they are intended to be.
It may be the impossible, a "good" superman movie. But it isn't great and I have a hard time imagining it spawning any sequels. Although I wouldn't mind seeing a prequel starring Russel Crowe.
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1 of 8 users found this helpful17
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6
JcdbengalsJun 29, 2013
Hmm. My opinion may not be the popular one, but here goes. I can't say in words how excited I was for this movie. Previews were epic, cast is amazing....this movie just didn't seem to have a soul. My girlfriend hated it, but I thought it wasHmm. My opinion may not be the popular one, but here goes. I can't say in words how excited I was for this movie. Previews were epic, cast is amazing....this movie just didn't seem to have a soul. My girlfriend hated it, but I thought it was good, just not great. I just didn't care much for many of the characters I was seeing, such as the reporters who somehow seemed to be the only people who survived the entire city being destroyed...too much action and not enough character for me. Also, this movie seemed very corny in spots. It was more Avengers popcorn fun than Batman serious fun, if that makes sense. I WANT to love this movie but I just don't. I do however think the sequel set up was great and looking forward to seeing the other half of the superman alter ego that was missing from this one and provide maybe SOME comic relief. Expand
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6
revealer99Jun 14, 2013
The Good: Occasional realism, and I repeat... OCCASIONAL. Cool special effects. The Bad: Bad Actors, plot scenes that should be rushed are dragged, and plot scenes that should be taken slower are rushed. Overall, I it's clear by watching theThe Good: Occasional realism, and I repeat... OCCASIONAL. Cool special effects. The Bad: Bad Actors, plot scenes that should be rushed are dragged, and plot scenes that should be taken slower are rushed. Overall, I it's clear by watching the movie what Nolan was "trying" to do, and for that I applaud him... But somewhere it all got lost. I really wanted this movie to be the best, unfortunately it is an OK movie. I think the main flaw of the movie is the bad acting, and the plot rushes... Expand
3 of 20 users found this helpful317
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6
jamessNov 13, 2013
Talk about failing upward. Zack Snyder's three previous films got exponentially worse. From 300, to Watchmen, to the almost unwatchable Sucker Punch, how Mr. Snyder was given the brass ring of rebooting the Superman franchise is beyond me.Talk about failing upward. Zack Snyder's three previous films got exponentially worse. From 300, to Watchmen, to the almost unwatchable Sucker Punch, how Mr. Snyder was given the brass ring of rebooting the Superman franchise is beyond me. His visual style is unquestionable. There are frames that could be hung as artwork, but as a storyteller Snyder is ponderous and dull. Granted, Man Of Steel is his best work since 300 (I feel Dawn Of The Dead his best so far), and the set pieces are spectacularly staged, but 2 and a half hours of earnest, EARNEST material about a flying alien Christ figure is a bit much. The only hint of humor is the refusal to even say the name "Superman" (maybe spoken twice during the whole movie). I'm not saying we have to dive into the overdrawn characters of the Donner version, or people speaking in witty banter like The Avengers, but a little humor goes a long way. The acting across the board was fine..hey, I actually didn't hate Crowe, as I have most of his roles lately. And the technical credits were all first class. Expand
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6
ThatJimmyBondJun 14, 2013
The acting is universally good. The script is choppy as hell. The action is well staged, though the devastation wrought and Superman's indifference to it is horrifying. WBros obviously took to much to heart from the criticism of SupermanThe acting is universally good. The script is choppy as hell. The action is well staged, though the devastation wrought and Superman's indifference to it is horrifying. WBros obviously took to much to heart from the criticism of Superman Returns.

I wanted more Clark Kent, and Pa Costner. Amy Adams is robbed of screen time.

I wanted less CGI fighting, and more reasons to care. I was aghast at the casual treatment of the terrible destruction wrought and Superman's indifference to it. Oh look, I'll just punch General Zod through a building and murder thousands of people. WITHOUT BLINKING AN EYE.

Still, Russell Crowe is very good, even with the ridiculous hand waving at doors. Michael Shannon is very impactful as Zod. Cavill is great as Supes and I rooted for him. The flashbacks are where the lost heart of the movie reside.

Not sure if I want Snyder back for MoS 2. Perhaps Brad Bird might be available?
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1 of 11 users found this helpful110
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6
MarkEMarkJun 15, 2013
Just going to say it was an okay movie. I had a high expectation with man of steel but this movie is good to see it once, and i say that because story line was confusing, boring and the actors were bad. especially The actress who play luisJust going to say it was an okay movie. I had a high expectation with man of steel but this movie is good to see it once, and i say that because story line was confusing, boring and the actors were bad. especially The actress who play luis clark amy Adams) i almost slept the whole movie. But the positive part about the movie is the action. The fighting part got me awake and got me interested. it was good. other than that my last sentence to say is that man of steel movie was okay.. I would only see the movie once, to only see superman but to be honest NO DC comic Super hero Movie can top the batman movie the Dark knight. Thats why i gave it a 6 Expand
4 of 16 users found this helpful412
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6
cylackJun 15, 2013
Well shot and beautiful to look at. However, as a superhero action movie it did not keep me entertained. The basic problem being Superman is basically a god on Earth, so how do you give him a weakness? How do you make him relatable; at leastWell shot and beautiful to look at. However, as a superhero action movie it did not keep me entertained. The basic problem being Superman is basically a god on Earth, so how do you give him a weakness? How do you make him relatable; at least you could relate to Batman. MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD: I was really bored in the last 30 minutes when it was basically just a slugfest between Superman and General Zod. Expand
0 of 7 users found this helpful07
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6
HJRodrigoJun 16, 2013
I feel this movie was lacking in heart and wholesomeness, something that I would have expected to find in a Superman origin story. This adaptation completely failed to immerse me into, or even introduce me to, the world of Superman... and byI feel this movie was lacking in heart and wholesomeness, something that I would have expected to find in a Superman origin story. This adaptation completely failed to immerse me into, or even introduce me to, the world of Superman... and by "world" I mean Metropolis and Smallville. The destruction of Metropolis and death of Pa Kent failed to illicit any emotion out of me, as the movie did not develop these key elements of Superman's life. The audience is just expected to care about these occurrences by default. However, these are not my primary issues with the movie. For a first installment of a franchise, this movie went overboard on its plot and action. DC should have had this movie's plot take place on a smaller scale, therefore giving a sequel sufficient room to up the ante. Marvel did this very well with their superhero franchises. Marvel started their hero's initial movie on a fairly small scale and increased the threat level in subsequent films till it reached the high level of world destruction we saw in the "Avengers". Unfortunately "Man of Steel" has already desensitized the audience to the world being at risk of destruction; therefore, the only way a Justice League movie can up the ante is now with the destruction of the galaxy or universe. I don't even know how a sequel to the "Man of Steel" can up the ante properly. Zod is arguably the only villain to be Superman's true equal as they are both Kryptonians. The ridiculous level of collateral damage done in this movie, due their battle, was way over the top and made the fight between the Hulk and Abomination from "The Incredible Hulk" look like child's play. In order for a sequel to top this movie, Superman will have to face somebody on the scale of Doomsday, Darkseid or Brainiac. In future installments, A villain like Lex Luthor would seem too tame in comparison to Zod. How could a villain like Lex Luthor compare with the total annihilation of humanity? In my opinion, Lex Luthor should have been the first villain introduced and the story should have started out on the smaller scale of stopping the villain from taking over the city or country. Expand
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6
JordReimerJun 23, 2013
I have been anticipating this movie for sometime now and can't help but feel disappointed. For those wanting a solid story look elsewhere. The action/special effects made up for what could've been a disaster.

Pros: + Action + Special
I have been anticipating this movie for sometime now and can't help but feel disappointed. For those wanting a solid story look elsewhere. The action/special effects made up for what could've been a disaster.

Pros:

+ Action
+ Special Effects
+ Good Casting For Superman

Cons:

- Story
- Plot Holes
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6
OckthnielJun 25, 2013
I went into this movie REALLY wanting to love it. All of the teasers made it seem like it was going to be the best Superman movie and possible one of the best comic book movies of all time. To my dismay, I was sadly mistaken.

All of the
I went into this movie REALLY wanting to love it. All of the teasers made it seem like it was going to be the best Superman movie and possible one of the best comic book movies of all time. To my dismay, I was sadly mistaken.

All of the changes that were made to the origin story didn't bother me like they did some people. That wasn't my gripe. My gripe was what seemed like a lack of character development and relationship development. The movie gave me no reason to care about the relationship between Clark and Lois. There was no development of it, just all of the sudden they are gazing into each other's eyes.

There was a severe lack of development of the relationships between Clark and his parents. We get little snippets here an there, but again, not enough to make me believe they had any impact on him at all.

Lastly, there was no development of Superman at all. Its like he just wakes up one day and he is Superman.

Don't get me wrong. The world the movie takes place in is big, the scenes are big, the action is big. But Nolan set a new bar with the Dark Knight Trilogy on what it takes to make a good Comic book movie. You need all of the action with a great story that makes you connect with the characters and care about their relationships. This was all missing from Man of Steel.

Here's hoping that the next one takes the time to do all of these things write. I believe they have all of the write pieces in place to make a truly Epic Superman Franchise, but I must say, I feel it is off to a slow start.
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1 of 10 users found this helpful19
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6
roger202Jun 30, 2013
Man of Steel is a decent beginning to a new series of films. The film is action packed, with a semi-boring back story and a Superman that does not feel quite like Superman
1 of 9 users found this helpful18
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6
JohnnyStephensAug 31, 2013
Always the same things. The Superman movies have to stop someday. Do not see it, because it has nothing new to show. I am very disappointed. That's my opinion.
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6
joshbeldonJul 5, 2013
What the film does well is set tone and deliver a story that is equally grounded, interesting, and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a number of technical shortcomings that may break the experience for some. After the film'sWhat the film does well is set tone and deliver a story that is equally grounded, interesting, and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a number of technical shortcomings that may break the experience for some. After the film's opening sequence on Krypton, the Man of Steal focuses on Clark's journey to find a place in the only world he has ever known. To show the hardships that young Clark endured, flashbacks are used, generally showing different points in Clark's youth as he struggled to deal with his differences. The film then jumps back to adult Clark, as he wonders the United States, looking for some clue as to his origins and what his purpose in life may be. While both the past and present stories are interesting, the movie never stops to allow the audience time to really take in what is happening on screen. The scenes between young Clark and his Earth father are particularly endearing, but the audience is never really afforded time to absorb and appreciate the importance of their relationship. Instead, viewers are allowed a small sequence of dialogue, before they are jarred back in the present where adult Clark is in a completely different situation than he was the last time we saw him. In fact, the film plays leap frog over itself through half of the movie, trying to tell two stories at the cost of making both of them feel hollow.
The second half of the movie is much more focused but highlights another major flaw in The Man of Steel: The action was disappointing. Some time in the production of the Man of Steel, Snyder and Co. decided that they needed action. Lots and LOTS of action. Bigger is better right? In this case, no. What starts off as over the top fighting, soon becomes a series of monotone action sequences lost in a white noise of fallen buildings and explosions. There came a point in the film's final battle where I became completely bored with the demi-gods that were battling on screen. Instead of fighting hand to hand, the Man of Steel's Superman (and its villains) generally just throw each other around. Usually through sky scrapers and chain restaurants. Seriously, if you watch it, count how many times somebody throws someone else through, into, or at a building. Though there is always a place for over the top action in the Super Hero genre, the inclusion of more technical hand-to-hand fighting (In addition to the 'splosions) would have broken up the action while making Superman seem like more of a fighter and less of a brutish brawler.
So, action and story aside, who is the Man of Steel's Superman? To my surprise, he was surprisingly human. Though he is 100% good guy, Superman is not the virtuous boyscout you may know from other versions of the hero. TMOS presents a Superman that is man first and extraterrestrial super-hero second. He isn't completely sure of himself nor his actions. This leads to one of the most surprise (and controversial) endings to a Super Hero movie to date. Superman's ability to be fallible adds a texture to the character that is rarely seen and becomes easily one of the most enjoyable parts of the film.
All in all, The Man of Steel is an Okay movie. It gets a lot of things right but never seems to overcome its glaring flaws. Superman has never been more relatable and perhaps with the origin out of the way, the next outing by Snyder and DC will be much more enjoyable.
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1 of 9 users found this helpful18
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6
SegaSailorJul 6, 2013
The terrible hype machine has played to much into this movie for me. I watched the movie in 2d and thank god I did the shaky and mass debris really put me off the action in man of steel, the story was done differently than expected and hasThe terrible hype machine has played to much into this movie for me. I watched the movie in 2d and thank god I did the shaky and mass debris really put me off the action in man of steel, the story was done differently than expected and has its up and downs some good some bad, i felt the story tried to do to much and cram in way more than it could chew and clearly can see some rushed parts if they spaced it out and kept in one story mode, basically its the original Christopher reeves movies 1 and 2 meshed up and it suffers from being crammed into one movie. The acting was solid and holds the movie together and the cast deserves praise especially Antje Traue who completely stole it for me, while it would make a great blu-ray movie I cannot say this was the rip roaring summer blockbuster it was meant to be and if they didn't fill so much in so little time it would of made a great superman movie however my biggest memory of this movie was the debris factor so much flew around i couldn't make out what was happening to whom and where and since superman is about action i felt quite disappointed in what should be its strongest sequences and scenes the biggest problem is reviewing what is most likely going to be a series of movies and the development of Louis and Superman or Clark Kent not alot was hit upon on its starting settings which will be built upon in its blatant sequels. This isn't a bad movie but it isn't the new awesome superman that seemed to be promised this isn't what the dark knight movies did for batman but its not to far off but if a definitive sequel is made it will have to surely deliver more or suffer the same fate as the transformers. Expand
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6
UnknownCriticJul 7, 2013
This was a movie I wanted to like, and the acting, story, and special effects were all good. That being said, it was missing something I assumed would be a given for a superhero film, that feel good feeling you get when the hero wins. I'mThis was a movie I wanted to like, and the acting, story, and special effects were all good. That being said, it was missing something I assumed would be a given for a superhero film, that feel good feeling you get when the hero wins. I'm not sure if it was the script, or the editing, but I found myself not caring if Superman would win (and it felt like he didn't care either). Lois was in only because she needs to be but didn't add the film. Overall I am glad I seen it, and you may love it, but it could should have been better. Expand
1 of 8 users found this helpful17
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6
smaug87Jul 22, 2013
A movie filled with repetitive action which got boring very quickly. The first hour was good as we saw a gradual build in Clark's character as well as flashbacks but once the action starts it does not cease and kept me looking at my watch andA movie filled with repetitive action which got boring very quickly. The first hour was good as we saw a gradual build in Clark's character as well as flashbacks but once the action starts it does not cease and kept me looking at my watch and relieved once the film was over. Russell Crowe and Kevin Kosnier are great as well as Diane Lane but no one else really stood out to me.

Hopefully the sequel can bring someone a bit new and refreshing.
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2 of 12 users found this helpful210
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6
jjvanderlindeJul 14, 2013
I really looked forward to the movie especially when I saw Christopher Nolan was involved. The big problem for me is the big time lapses that occur in the film. It almost felt that they had this great story to tell us but the film would haveI really looked forward to the movie especially when I saw Christopher Nolan was involved. The big problem for me is the big time lapses that occur in the film. It almost felt that they had this great story to tell us but the film would have been too long so they deleted a few scenes which left a few holes for me. I really enjoyed the filming techniques the used especially in the flight scenes. Overall it was an enjoyable film. Just expected a bit more. Enjoyed the childhood scenes and felt Kevin Costner did an outstanding job in the portrayal of Clarke's dad. Expand
2 of 9 users found this helpful27
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6
KhalakkaJul 15, 2013
Man Of Steel Is visually nice the scenario is ok not over the top but it's ok the script was the messy point for me i laughed my ass off sometime some battle or extremely long for no reason

Cool movie to watch but aint that good
1 of 8 users found this helpful17
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6
tubguyinloveJul 30, 2013
Man of Steel attempts to tackle profound and interesting concepts in a world with a realistic, overly emotional Superman, yet in the process scorches some of the character's foundation. There are some truly touching scenes, but it all feelsMan of Steel attempts to tackle profound and interesting concepts in a world with a realistic, overly emotional Superman, yet in the process scorches some of the character's foundation. There are some truly touching scenes, but it all feels like trailer content making these feel like a sizzle reel for a possible Superman movie. These are the golden source to an otherwise disjointed construction of cinematic stupidity, but there is enough pretty visuals and those touching scenes do help carry the final product. Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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6
FranzHcriticNov 12, 2013
Devoid of any real relation with the previous Reeve classics,but Amy Adams and Henry Cavill are an interesting couple for future films, and Michael Shannon's decent dramatic role helps with the scripts plot holes, which are more numerous thanDevoid of any real relation with the previous Reeve classics,but Amy Adams and Henry Cavill are an interesting couple for future films, and Michael Shannon's decent dramatic role helps with the scripts plot holes, which are more numerous than should be, and tedious pacing. I liked it, didn't love it. Expand
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6
JonjonjSep 11, 2013
This film could have been a great movie had they cut half of the action scenes which, by the way, were poorly directed and clumsily paced. I left the theater with a weird feeling of confusion...was it Superman or did I end up going to aThis film could have been a great movie had they cut half of the action scenes which, by the way, were poorly directed and clumsily paced. I left the theater with a weird feeling of confusion...was it Superman or did I end up going to a Godzilla movie by mistake... Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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6
PulpNonFictionSep 16, 2013
remember a time when having your main character make jokes wasn't something just reserved for iron man? sigh... me too

is man of steel a good movie? yes. is it THE superman movie? no. in my opinion, the best superman movie will probably be
remember a time when having your main character make jokes wasn't something just reserved for iron man? sigh... me too

is man of steel a good movie? yes. is it THE superman movie? no. in my opinion, the best superman movie will probably be reserved for one of those DC films that they release every year. you know, the ones that they only have on netflix and are drawn by the guys who made the justice league show? the one where the black green lantern was in a relationship with hawkgirl?

getting back on track, Man of Steel is the big movie for DC this summer, and boy does it fall flat on those accusations. from the very beginning of the movie, i was instantly hooked in. the shots that they showed of planet krypton were beautiful. i loved the creativity with such an alien world and how the technology and society had a very organic metallic feel. everything was fun to watch and even more fun to see other characters interact with them. after what you all expect to happen, spoiler krypton won't be found on any maps anytime soon, the movie takes a very intelligent step by making the next 20 minutes or so all about clark being the hero that he is supposed to be. it's about him realizing that his powers are meant for good and that he has the possibility to do great. he isn't in a costume, he isn't flying across the sky, he is just a man.... of steel (i couldn't help myself)

after that however, the movie takes a turn for the worse. once supes gets into his new suit, you'll realize that the filmmakers had a fondness for the color gray. every shot, every scene, every character has a grey color pallet. i'm sorry, but this is superman. this is a figure known globally as a figure of freedom, justice, and the american way. seeing him in this dark and gritty world is extremely out of place. is it nice to see that man of steel (hey, the don't call him superman in the movie...) doesn't have to be as dull as a gallon of cement? yes, but it makes later scenes of man of steel doing uncharacteristically dark actions even more out of place and awkward.

in the end of the day, if you are a fan of superman (of steel), there could be worse superman films to watch (looking at you, superman returns...), but if you were really waiting for something great and original, better wait for the sequel.
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1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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6
ThatCooperGuyJun 25, 2015
"Man of Steel" is not a masterpiece, it is just okay. It's slightly better than Superman Returns, but I wish it had more brighter colors... I do think Henry Cavill is a brilliant choice for Superman, and I hope future installments can improve"Man of Steel" is not a masterpiece, it is just okay. It's slightly better than Superman Returns, but I wish it had more brighter colors... I do think Henry Cavill is a brilliant choice for Superman, and I hope future installments can improve upon this film. Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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