Only once in a lifetime do we get such greatness so powerfully and vibrantly illustrated across the silver screen. It is as though filmmaker Zack Snyder truly harnesses the power to bring these fantastical, fictional super-heroes to life without compromising the essence of comic book action. Its as dramatic or as far-fetched as any comic book page believes itself to be, but it isnt condescending of its source material. This is the epitome of comic book to film adaptations.
The film starts out by introducing us to a haggard, bearded Clark Kent. Hes glum. Whats eating Gilbert Grape? Well, as most storytelling gimmicks go, we require snippets of flashbacks. We learn that hes actually not human, but was actually sent to Earth from a planet called Krypton by his father Jor-El. Funny, dude looks incredibly human to me. Anyway, Krypton is on the verge of civil war, their society trying to break free from its robotic existence. And much like the League of Shadows in Batman Begins, Kryptons diety/AI Brainiac has deemed that it is time for a purge because Krypton has gone stale. And because Kryptonians are genetically engineered for specific existence, Jor-El wanted to have at least one Kryptonian that was free from this kind of life, his son being born from normal human conception. So he sends his baby off to a planet called Earth before the purge happens.
General Zod, of course, is under orders from Brainiac to enforce the rules. This includes terminating Jor-El for having a natural offspring. Motive is actually that basic. The civil war thing is just there to establish a sense of atmosphere and why Kal-El is so special. They fight, but Jor-El manages to escape on his dragonfly thing, much like Yoda after fighting Palpatine in Episode 3. And Zod gets thrown in the slammer because he failed to obey/complete Brainiacs request.
Of course, we all know the age-old Superman lore. Baby Kal-El is discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent. They take him in as their own and cope with his mysterious abilities as he develops into a man in small Midwestern town of Smallville. They dont actually show this. Theres no need for it. But its done artistically through photos and newspaper clippings and such. I think Snyder believes its been done to death. In this respect, I think it actually works, maybe even on an artistic level.
We learn that Pa Kent has been trying to find out what his adopted son is and where he is from. He wants to know why his son was sent to Earth. Hes been collecting newspaper clips and other tidbits regarding extra-terrestrial activity. Its almost as though theyve taken all the elements from the hit TV show Smallville but adapted it for the big screen. The wall of weird was something the character Chloe did on the show.
So it cuts back and forth between Clarks odd jobs. He rescues people, looking ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. You really believe that this shirtless hulk is super.
It parallels Bruce Waynes trek across the globe to find himself. He realizes that he has a gift that he can use to save people.
We see a flashback of Pa Kent being a hero. Clark gets bullied at school, and its Pa Kent that steps in and saves him. Then theres the tornado, and Pa Kent rescues a bunch of kids. Young Clark sees all this. Of course, theres another tornado when Clark is a young man, and Pa Kent plays hero again, but this time he dies. He doesnt want people knowing Clark could have actually saved him. This scene I think was from Smallville, too, but maybe in a dream sequence. So Clark learns his Spider-man with great strength comes great responsibility morals (or guilt trip) this way. This is the heros journey motive.
And with the flashbacks, Pa Kent reveals to Clark the ship he came in. In it, there is the world renown Superman s ensignia key. Its now a search to find what this key opens. So we double back and learn thats what hes been doing traveling the world. When he finally saves the people on the big rig, its so fulfilling that he has an epiphany. This is what hes meant for. So with some clever montage work, it builds up to an uplifting peak and boom
Hes Superman. I was literally teary-eyed. He takes off into the sky, his first flight. Dont forget, this is his first time hes ever flown. Because of the gravity differences between Krypton and Earth, this explains why Kryptonians are super-human. Clark is overjoyed by his new power and hes just zipping through the world. First place he goes after donning his suit, like a roided Forrest Gump, is visit is aging mama.
She dispenses some life lessons about how shed like to see him live a normal life, get married, all that good motherly stuff. So he stays with her in Smallville as a newly energized playa Clark Kent for a while. And this is where we are introduced to Lois Lane. She wants to be a reporter and plans to go to Metropolis. The two have mutual attraction for each other. And before it becomes a sappy, cookie-cutter romantic comedy
Zod arrives. And chaos ensues. Hes under new commands, having be released from impending imprisonment, to find the last son of Krypton. They need his DNA to recreate the Kryptonian race. Of course, we know the protagonist doesnt just submit to the antagonist, otherwise there is no conflict, and you dont get your popcorn movie. So Superman resists and a lot of Metropolis/Smallville people die. Superman defeating Zod eventually goes without saying.
As for the love angle, Lois is the daughter of a military general. Shes got the hots for Superman, the bad boy in the leather jacket that vrooms in on a motorcycle and seduces the virgin Mary. Lois has access to her little crony team and military transport because of her connection. So naturally, she uses it to stalk Superman.
Eventually, Superman hands himself over to the military. Says hes their friend, then acts as a wannabe diplomat/envoy to discuss negotiations with Zod. They board Zods crab ship and negotiations never go as planned. Big surprise. Lois gets mind-controlled by Faora. Superman, of course, trying to save her, submits to their bidding. They strap Superman to a torture device and Zod starts ****ing with his mind. This is how Superman gets his laser vision. It runs on rage and Faora has triggered it out of him. Of course, he overcomes this with a vision from Jor-El, and breaks free from the contraption. Zod activates a beam and Superman blows it up, flying himself and Lois out of there. Faora gets fried with Supermans uncontrollable first time usage of his laser beams.
Of course, Zod escapes. The fight goes one-on-one in the streets now. And the two giants decimate the city.
Eventually, Zod gets killed by a giant octopus looking robot. Gets crushed right away.
So the final fight is between Superman and giant octo bot. Saves the day. Everyone cheers.
Lois helps him find a job at the Daily Planet as mild-mannered Clark Kent to pass the time when hes not busy being Superman. Clark responds, Ill always be Superman, Lois. Cut to montage of him being Superman. Flies into Earths orbit. The End. Cheer.
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