Preview: Man of Steel
Superman has had a rough time at the box office as of late ever since Richard Donner stopped making films starring the Man of Steel. Oddly enough, the man that had just brought the Bat from the ashes is now trying his hand at another DC Comic hero. Christopher Nolan had finished his Batman trilogy last summer and brought his team's attention to the Man of Steel, however, he is taking a break from directing and solely taking his time in writing the script with his brother. Zack Snyder who gained fame in large part due to his turns in visual spectacles such as Watchmen and 300 takes the chair as the director of this film starring Henry Cavill (Immortals) as Clark Kent/Superman, Amy Adams (The Fighter) as Lois Lane, Kevin Costner (Field of Dreams) as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane (Unfaithful) as Martha Kent, Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) as General Zod and Russell Crowe (Gladiator) as Jor-El. Nolan also brought with him Hanz Zimmer who composed the music for his past few movies, namely the Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception. As far as the movie actually stands, of course it seems to have a darker tone then previous Superman films. The overall direction of the story judging by the teaser trailer and the recent trailer that had been released seems to drive home the question that in today's day and age where we can barely accept our neighbor, would we be able to accept some alien with god like powers? It brings up plenty of compelling plot lines that ooze with potential. It is also very relieving to at least me that the origin story of Superman will not include Lex Luthor for once. Maybe that's just me though.
The newest trailer shows Clark growing up unsure of how to fit in when he cannot be himself as if people know him well enough, his powers could lead him into some trouble. However, the good person he is leads him to save people when his school bus crashes on the way to school. This leads Jonathan Kent to ridicule him and explain to him that he has to keep that side of himself a secret, even if that leads to people dying. Clark, being an impressionable child at the time, of course will listen to his adopted father. However, I am sure all of this changes when he finds the remnants of the ship he came to Earth in set with crystals of sorts that lead him to the Fortress of Solitude that allows him to get the answers to the questions he has. Jor-El, his actual father, left remnants scattered throughout his ship to be able to communicate with his son even after his own death and explain to him what lies ahead. Most importantly, how the people of Earth will in time embrace him and be inspired to be more like him.
Clark's quest to be accepted by the people that he loves and protects so dearly will be a tough one. When they see his alter ego's power they will see him as a threat at first, leading him to believe that the best course of action in order to gain their trust is to turn himself into the authorities and explain to them what his motives are. It is a powerful shot on both the trailer and in the theatrical poster for him to be escorted by military personnel while in handcuffs. We all know as viewers that he could easily break out of his restraints and from the military, but that is not the point. As always, Superman does whatever is necessary for the greater good, even if that means no more Superman. The people of Metropolis will then be more inclined to accept him when a great evil such as General Zod comes to town seeking vengeance on the son of the man that threw him into the Phantom Zone, which pretty much serves as hell in the mythology of Superman. Zod brings with him an army to destroy everything that Superman loves, but he won't go down without a fight. Even if it costs him his life. Or does that come later, like with Doomsday? Would that film then be called Man of Steel Rises?
