MAN OF STEEL

US, 2013, 143 minutes, Colour.
Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Melon, Harry Lennix, Richard Schiff.
Directed by Zack Snyder.

There have been many incarnations of superman. The word ‘incarnation’ is used intentionally and will be commented on later. The comic strip created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster began its life in the 1930s, the period of popular comic strips and comic books. In the 1940s, actor George Reeves embodied superman (and was portrayed by Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland, 2006). There are 91 entries in the Internet Movie Database for Superman in film and television. There were animated versions of the character but in 1978, world attention was drawn to a spectacular Superman by Richard Donner, starring the unknown, Christopher Reeve. From that time Reeve was the perfect embodiment of Superman and there were three sequels. Unfortunately, the attempt at re-introducing superman worldwide, Superman rRturns, directed by Bryan Singer, with Brendan Routh, was not as successful as hoped for.

Now comes, as they say, the rebooting of the Superman story: Man of Steel. In its first release weeks it has been very successful at the box office.
One of the main problems for Superman film is to cast a successful successor to Christopher Reeve. This time it is English actor, Henry Cavill. He has appeared in a number of films including Woody Allen’s Whatever Happens as well as the mythological story, The Immortals. It has to be said that he has a lot of striking resemblance is to Christopher Reeve which should satisfy many of the fans. This version is very serious so he does not get much of a chance to smile or have the Reeve twinkle in his eye.

This version might be described as a prequel to its successors. It actually ends with Clark Kent putting on his spectacles and turning up for his first day of work at the Daily Planet. What has gone before is the story of his father and mother sending him from Krypton to Earth, his early life in jobs around America with flashbacks to his childhood in Smallville. This was the material covered in the first third of 1978’s Superman: The Movie.

In this earlier film, the section was written by novelist Mario Puzo (The Godfather), and was filled with explicit references to Christian theology, some of the language derived from the Gospel of John: the unity between God the Father and God the Son and his being sent to Earth. Within it there was the collapse of the planet Krypton, the role of General Zod – the latter kept for Superman II. Now General Zod is the principal enemy.

The scenes on Krypton with the father preparing his son for Earth is quite reminiscent of the earlier film without the detailed parallels with the Christian themes and language. However, it is not very difficult to make the same connections given the nature of the script, and the role between father and son. This time the father, as with Marlon Brando earlier, is solicitous about his son and acts something like God the Father, confident that people on earth will see his son as a god. Since he is played with great dignity, very great dignity, with rounded and articulation of vowels in the Gladiator fashion, by Russell Crowe, he does fill something of an image for God the Father. Even though he dies, his consciousness can materialize again and so Russell Crowe does appear throughout the film, to give guidance to his son, Kal- El.

The film then moves to seeing Kal- El as Clark Kent working in the Arctic, making decisions to use his strength to save people’s lives. When news comes of a space ship trapped in Arctic ice, he goes there, sees his father and gets an explanation about his life and his destiny. However, another person who goes searching for information is the reporter from the Daily Planet, Lois Lane, played cheerfully by Amy Adams. Clark Kent cauterises her wound. She knows who he is and wants to get the story out but is prevented by her editor, played by Laurence Fishburne.

In the meantime, with the destruction of Krypton, General Zod and his officers are free again to roam the universe, searching for Kal-El? who has the code for the rebirth of the people of Krypton. Clark Kent thinks it might be a good idea for Kryptonites and humans to live together but that is ceertainly not the intention of General Zod. This, of course, leads to confrontation and battles. With Michael Shannon as Zod, it is a mean and deadly confrontation.

One criticism of the film could be that the battles go on for too long, too long, too long. They’re quite spectacular and, it would seem, there is very little left of New York City, far worse than any 9/11 destruction. The special effects are quite awesome, especially collapsing skyscrapers, but there is more than enough of a good thing which, in some ways, halts the pace of the film.

Throughout the film, there are flashbacks to Clark and his childhood, saving people, having to keep his secret, his foster-father reinforcing this with self-sacrifice. His human parents are played by Diane lane and Kevin Costner.

Back to the word, ‘incarnation’. In the 1978 film, it is quite clear that the baby was a Christ-figure, spoken to by his father in words reminiscent of the Gospel, his vehicle for earth looking like a creep. The Kents served as his foster parents parallel with Mary and Joseph. After a long period of hidden life, he emerges to do battle with evil.

While the references are not so explicit in this film, it is not difficult to see that the same process is at work in David L.Goyer’s script. In fact, some reviewers even used the word Christ-like. What this film emphasizes is that Kal- El, Clark Kent, has the potential to be a messiah, to save the world. However, it is thought that the world would not accept him until the right time. (Reinforced in the film by the public;s fears and the war against terrorism phobias of the American military.

It is also very clear that he has, so to speak, two natures: one from beyond this world which gives him greater power and one from this world, human. And it is quite clear that both operate in the one person. And just when one might be thinking that this kind of theological analogy, which fans pick up quite easily, isn’t fanciful for this more secular age, it is said that he came to earth 33 years earlier…

This Christ-figure text gave the first part of Superman: the Movie some depth. But then the film moved almost at right angles and became the humorous comic strip with the adventurous hero battling Lex Luthor. This film maintains the incarnation of the two natures in Clark Kent right to the end. And in this sense, and with the confrontation with General Zod and the Kryptonites, a far more serious film in tone. It is hoped that this film will be successful because it will be really very interesting to see how the film makers treat Superman’s emergence into the world and his acceptance as its saviour.

1. The origin of Superman, comic strips, comic books, television and film? The classic of 1978 and its sequels? The attempt for a new franchise in 2005? Leading to this film?

2. Superman’s origins? Krypton, its going towards destruction, his parents, his father’s place in advising the council, the decision to send him away from the dying planet, General Zod, the destruction of the planet?

3. The big-budget, the length of film, the title change and the focus on the man of steel instead of Superman? The prologue on Krypton, moving to the
adult superman looking back, the flashbacks to the Kent family? The build up to his getting the knowledge of himself and the confrontation with Zod?

4. Henry Cavill as Superman, seeing him as Clark Kent, ordinary, aware of his abilities, on the ship, the rig, his deciding to help, showing his strength, abilities, saving the men? The crash of the rig?

5. His parents, the story of finding him, the space ship and its being hidden, as a small boy, his secret? At school, the bullying, in the bus, his saving the children, lifting the bus above the water? The reactions, the woman who saw it? The bully boy and his gratitude? Clark working with his father?

6. The bond with his mother and father, Kevin Costner as his father, keeping the secret, wanting him to survive and not be persecuted? Diane Lane as his mother, her care, bringing him up? His father’s death, the grave? The tornado, his father saving the dog? Helping the others to shelter? The later flashbacks and the audience seeing his father again?

7. Krypton, the council, the decisions, their fears, sitting in judgment, the planet drained of energy, General Zod, his followers, the clash with Jor-el? Jor-el and his advice? Not accepting it? Jor-el and his placing his hopes in his son, the preparation to send him to earth, saying that the people on Krypton were dead already, sending him away, the secret destination, the confrontation with Zod, Zod killing Jor-el? Zod and his followers being punished, encased, black hole? The child going to earth? Jor-el’s consciousness able to be embodied and so appear to his son and help him?

8. Clark Kent, his work, on the boat, the dangers, his decisions, the rescue, his motivations? Going to the Arctic, Lois Lane and her being sent to report? The military presence, the secrets, the space ship, its age and the ice? Lois and her following Clark? Clark seeing father, hearing his explanation of who he was, the ship, the truth? Lois and her injuries, Clark healing and with the gaze of his eyes? His disappearing?

9. Lois Lane, working for the Daily Planet, tough and strong,her not being allowed to write the article on her Arctic experience, the firm stance of the editor? Her going to the online writer, publication, the editor’s reaction? The FBI and their pursuit? Her trying to find out who Clark was, going to the Kent’s house, discussions with his mother, meeting Clark, her change of attitude? Her keeping the secret?

10. The picture the military, the Pentagon background, the generals? The fears? Hostility? Not seeing superman has a saviour?

11. Zod, the death of Krypton, his being freed with his officers? His speech on television, the challenge, Clark seeing it, his mother seeing it, Lois seeing it? The Pentagon? His decision?

12. Zod, his female assistant, his staff, the situation, Zod and his motivations, the code with a future population for both? Embodied in Clark?

13. The long sequences and special effects for the confrontations, the fights, the vehicles, the weaponry, the speed, Zod and his superiority? The female assistant and her fighting?

14. Clark and his emerging as Superman, his appearance, the costume? The discussion about the S and the symbol for hope? Lois, her being ready, participation, her being taken, her being freed? The action of the rescues?

15. The visuals of the destruction of New York City, the skyscrapers and the collapsing, the traffic in the streets, the general absence of people, yet the small group at Grand Central Station, the dangers and Superman saving them?

16. Clark, the effect of being Superman, of not being able to destroy Zod as he wished? His father’s appearances in the space ship, Lois witnessing this? The build up to Zod and his assistant attacking, the final confrontation? His destruction?

17. The tactics, the fights, Superman and his efforts, believing in himself, Zod’s death?

18. Lois being freed, going back to the Daily Planet? The editor and the staff?

19. Clark going back to his mother, the destruction of the house after her looking at the photos, happy with his return? The memory and inspiration of his father? His decision?

20. His decision to find an ordinary job, disguise, haircut, spectacles, going to the Daily Planet, welcome by the editor, welcomed by Lois?

21. The birth of a new franchise?