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'Man of Steel' has super moments
Showtime with Sasha
sman
Superman soared back into the public's eye last week with "Man of Steel." - photo by Studio illustration

“The Man of Steel” soared into theaters last weekend, rebooting a potentially multi-million dollar franchise and recording the second-highest-grossing opening weekend of the year after fellow super-hero flick “Iron Man 3.”
Did Superman’s heat vision melt my comic-book-movie loving heart? Allow me to kiss and tell.
“Man of Steel” was directed by Zack Snyder and produced by his wife, Deborah, and Christopher Nolan, the visionary behind “Inception” and the recent Batman trilogy. Nolan also works with his wife, Emma Thomas, who helped produce “Man of Steel” as well.
Another longtime Nolan collaborator, David Goyer, wrote the script. Goyer, who also worked on the aforementioned Batman trilogy, the “Blade” films and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” has become the premier comic-book-movie writer to date.
As Clark Kent (British actor Henry Cavill) unlocks the mystery of who he is and where he comes from, he also unwittingly beckons the alien war criminal General Zod (Michael Shannon) to Earth. Zod’s goal is to rebuild the Krypton upon the bones of all humankind.
“Man of Steel” has a good score provided by Hans Zimmer, and much of the casting was terrific. Cavill can be my Superman any day of the week. In my opinion, he nails the role. Shannon is born to play a comic book villain. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane really tug on the heart strings as Superman’s human parents, Jonathon and Martha Kent. Russell Crowe’s presence as Superman’s Kryptonian father, Jor-El, is formidable, and German actress Antje Traue wows as Zod’s right-hand gal, Faora.
The oddest casting decision was putting Amy Adams in the role of Lois Lane. I might have chosen someone else, but I can’t say that Adams didn’t pull it off.
I enjoyed the film’s opening, which took place on Krypton and wouldn’t have been out of place in a Star Wars film. Nolan’s influence can be felt in a storyline that unfolds by revealing Clark Kent’s childhood via flashbacks, which were key to re-introducing us to the character. The action definitely was there, and though the film was nearly two hours, I didn’t feel it.
I also liked the way Superman’s iconic costume was presented as a Kryptonian design. Because, I mean, why else would anyone choose to wear “tights”?
There were some small changes from the Superman we all grew up with, but I have to applaud just about every one of them.
I am a fan!

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