When Superman: The Movie made its debut back in 1978, the film was hugely successful, both critically and commercially. Audiences loved it, critics did too, and the film was a box office hit that spawned four sequels, and a spin-off.
But perhaps more importantly, Superman: The Movie showcased a performance from lead actor Christopher Reeve that not only worked within the context of the story, but also forever linked Reeve to the comic book hero. Few actors become so entwined with a role as Reeve did with Superman, but it made him an icon for a whole generation.
The only downside of all this, is that after the Reeve series of Superman movies came to an end in the late ’80s, Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment struggled to get new Superman films off the ground. Throughout the ’90s and ’00s, various projects were developed, some of which came close to fruition, but all suffered from one key problem: The Reeve era of Superman films loomed a bit too large over the franchise.
Despite various actors having played the part of Superman on television across the decades, when it came to films, audiences associated Reeve with the role. This greatly overshadowed any reboots and left the studio unsure of how to move forward.
In 2006, two years after Reeve passed away, Warner Bros. did eventually push ahead with a new film, but even this was still connected to the Reeve movies. The film – Superman Returns – starred Brandon Routh in the lead role, acted as a loose sequel to the first two Reeve films, and continued to walk a familiar path.
But when Superman Returns failed to ignite enough interest with cinemagoers, Warner Bros. finally pressed ahead with a non-Reeve related project. This movie arrived in cinemas in 2013, under the title Man of Steel, and acted as a whole new beginning for the Super-series.
Directed by Zack Snyder, Man of Steel starred Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe. It was conceived as a new introduction to the Superman mythology, working from the ground up, and in turn kick-started a cinematic universe that became known as the DC Extended Universe.
And now, a decade on, Man of Steel celebrates its 10th anniversary (can you believe it?!). The film debuted at the Lincoln Center in the US on June 10th 2013, before going on general release from June 14th, and this week clocks up ten years of super goodness.
In the movie, just before the planet Krypton is destroyed, the first (and last) naturally born Kryptonian child is sent out amongst the stars to ensure his safety. This child arrives on Earth, via a space ship, where he is found and adopted by the Kents, and raised under the name, Clark.
Over the years, Clark grows up as a human, but he displays unique abilities that make him different to everyone else on the planet. This worries his father, Jonathan, who feels Clark should hide his abilities until such time as he is ready to reveal himself to the world.
For years, Clark maintains his secret by keeping his distance from other people, and from refusing to use his powers unless absolutely necessary. All the while, he contemplates his alien heritage, and searches for information about his past.
Eventually, this search leads Clark to a ship which provides him with all the information he requires. After years of being kept in the dark about his background, Clark is finally able to understand who he is and where he comes from.
But while Clark is busy figuring out his past, Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane is hot on his trail. She is investigating reports of a mysterious stranger, who helps people in times of need, and this leads her to Clark.
After meeting Clark, Lois agrees to keep his secret, even going so far as to abandon her story. But soon, Clark is forced to step out of the shadows, when a group of hostile Kryptonians, led by the villainous General Zod, arrive on Earth and threaten the safety of everyone on the planet.
As reboots of film series go, Man of Steel had an uphill battle. Putting the popularity of Christopher Reeve to one side, Superman is one of the most iconic characters in the world and this means a lot of people have their own views on him.
In terms of brand recognition alone, Superman is up there with the best of ’em. He’s as synonymous with the US as apple pie, and has a legion of fans throughout the world, many of whom have watched him grow and develop since he made his debut in 1938.
So, however way you cut it, when Man of Steel made its way into cinemas in June 2013, there was a great deal of pressure resting on its shoulders. Yet despite all this, Man of Steel proved to be an important step forward.
Not only did Man of Steel help to take the Superman film series beyond the Reeve era, it also welcomed in a whole new bunch of fans in the process. These fans turned up to see what Superman was all about, then hung around when they fell in love with the character.
And all these years on, no matter the missteps that followed the release of Man of Steel, as Warner Bros. ham-fistedly tried to build an ill-conceived cinematic universe out of this film, this initial picture remains a superb blockbuster. From the set design and costuming, through to the sound mixing and casting, Man of Steel delivers across the board.
Sure, it doesn’t get everything right, and the film becomes a little too ‘crashy and bashy’ toward the end, but Man of Steel is impressive stuff. It is thoroughly entertaining, it offers up some important insights into the character, and Henry Cavill is truly magnificent as Superman.
The casting of Cavill is extremely important. As with Reeve, and many of the great TV Supermen (Tom Welling, Tyler Hoechlin, etc), Cavill understands the importance of balance when it comes to the Last Son of Krypton.
Superman is an all-powerful being, and his strength must always be on display, but so too should be his humility. One can’t outweigh the other; they must always co-exist.
Cavill knows this and walks a fine line that straddles the two. His bulging biceps showcase his physical strength, while his boyish charm takes care of the rest, and this becomes the perfect combination.
Man of Steel would be a good action film without Cavill, but with him, it becomes a great Superman movie. He was born to play this role, he never oversteps his part, and this is very clear with every moment he is on screen in Man of Steel.
It’s also quite clear that for this movie, director Zack Snyder has a good handling of Superman. Sure, the tone Snyder goes for is a little sombre in places, and it’s perhaps a touch dark at times, but it fits the aesthetic of this film well and he doesn’t lose sight of Superman in all the explosions and mayhem.
Snyder may have messed things up with his misjudged and meanspirited sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), but here he presents a likeable, affable hero, that fits into the world he has created. This is a solid starting point for Superman, which is leaps and bounds above anything that followed, and this is something which shouldn’t be overlooked.
Throw in a great performance from Amy Adams as Lois Lane, some eye-popping special effects, and an excellent score from the ever brilliant Hans Zimmer, and Man of Steel is great. The film offers audiences a way into the Superman mythology that is hugely entertaining, and with heaps of spectacle, and a strong turn from Russell Crowe as Superman’s birth father, Jor-El, the movie more than hits the mark.
I know some of the shine has rubbed off of Man of Steel over the past few years, due to Warner Bros.’ continual mishandling of Superman (and the DCEU in general), but don’t let those mistakes muddy this picture. Man of Steel is a ruddy great film, which shows how to bring a classic character to a whole new generation.
Should you wish to watch Man of Steel, the film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. The movie is also widely available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K, and to buy or rent on digital video-on-demand through all the major platforms.
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment