DRUNK: A review of Superman in Man Of Steel.

I'm 100% open to watching someone take a franchise and make something that deviates from it's original tone, as long as it stays true to the character. I wasn't too keen on how Superman was portrayed in this film, but I get it. It's a post-9/11, ends-justify-the-means, superhero action film. It's almost overly dark because it's trying not to be an MCU-type film. 


Problem was, it totally is an MCU-type film.

From all that happened in the last fight and Metropolis watching Superman and Zod make it rain Hell upon the city, it just felt like they undid that drama in the last 5 minutes to make sure that Superman can return for a sequel and can potentially spawn a universe - a DCCU. The other problem is, whilst trying to make the film darker and broodier, Zack Snyder just isn't as experienced of a director to make that charming. The whole film feels too cold and I found it hard to connect with these characters as they were not as fun to watch as the Donner version. Sure, there are decades of film making and VFX progression between them, but in the end, the Superman/Clark Kent that Reeves creates is much more fun to watch than a Superman that has to 'find his way'. 

Take for instance, the scene from the Donner version where Clark bumbles his and Lois' way into an alley with a crook. This is ultimately s character-driven scene using superpowers to create the rules of Superman's character, as it explores how Clark and Lois react to the situation and each other Lois is always doing what she believes is the right thing, even if she gets shot at as a result. As for Clark - we all know that Superman is always Superman, even when he's Clark. This means he purposely makes Clark a bumbling fool - because Superman's physical nature means he  is always in control of every situation. Why? Because he's a fictional character in a fictional world! It doesn't matter if Clark 'accidentally' allows a crook to rob them at gunpoint, because Superman won't let him get away.

 It doesn't matter if the crook shoots a bullet towards Lois, Superman's presence means  Lois is never in any danger in the first place. Superman, as a character, is a confidence and a comfort that lies before, within and beyond a dark situation, free from politics and ego, he's a hero that exists whether you know he's there or not, and he doesn't look down on ungratefulness. 

Of course, franchises stay relevant by being changed, and it's safe to say that most 'Hero Vs. Villain' franchises changed after 9/11. I wrote my dissertation (or thesis) on that subject. But Superman having to destroy half a city to stop a villain is not a 'Superman' thing, that's a 'human' thing. And that makes the Man Of Steel Superman no better than the rest of us, which is a sad thought.

But at the end of the day, it's just a movie...