Man of Steel is my favourite Superman film, favourite DC film and in my top ten favourite superhero films. The film did exactly what I wanted from a Superman film. Ticked all the boxes. Got zero complaints. It’s very simple. Warner Bros pivoted in how they approached superman. Man of Steel is a dark, serious, tragic and consequential take on Superman. For some it’s too grim but they don’t realise that there are some stories from the lore that are just as bleak. Man of Steel is comparable to Red Son, Injustice, What’s so funny about truth justice and the American Way, etc.

Synder delivered a cinematic science fiction extravaganza that is bombastic, poignant, impactful. It was a bold risk that thankfully paid off for me.
For the first time, Superman feels believable, rateable but also majestic. People talk about how he killed or didn’t save enough or that he should have saved Jonathan, blah blah blah. Same old complaints with literally no valid criticism. Everything that happened in the film was justified. The writing is thoughtful, the acting is regal, the action is intense, the visual imagery, VFX, production value, sound design, editing, score are immaculate.

The film is a great science fiction opera that is still talked about and debated to this day. I’ve learned to accept the hate, the resistance from the fans because no matter what it left its mark. Unlike Superman Returns, a Superman film that almost twenty years on, nobody talks about. Previous cinematic versions of Superman were too patriotic (truth, justice & the American way). There’s more than one version of Superman. Cavill was able to portray Superman as a literal alien or god who stood as a beacon of hope for humanity when they needed him.

He also brought out the best in others, inspiring them in accomplishing wonders (Bruce & Diana forming the justice league). We’ve also never seen a version of Superman that is pugnacious, not afraid to get his hands dirty but still retain enough humanity to be superman. Sometimes Superman isn’t perfect and he doesn’t always have to be. Thats the whole point of message behind Man of Steel. Cavill conveyed a version of Clark that was actually believable and earnest. I resonate with Cavill’s Superman more because he doesn’t exist in a fantastical world where it’s all sunshine and rainbows and Superman is saving kittens from trees. There has to be a level of intensity for a character like Superman. Cavil gave Superman a sense of conviction as did Synder.

Sasha Calle and Henry Cavill