Is MOS emotionally cold?

[TheFlamingCoco]

I've seen it, and I don't think so, but a LOT of critics (and some fans) have complained about it. Sure there a few moments that lack weight, but I find it to be VERY compelling overall.

 

[tomoe]

To me it turns cold shortly after he boarded Zods ship.

 

[KalMart]

On paper, no...in execution and delivery, yeah somewhat. I think that's the issue with critics and those who call it 'cold', not that the creators intentionally kept emotional material outside of the story or what have you.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

I wouldn't say "cold", not exactly. I'd say that, largely due to it's script and editing problems, it's emotionally confused.

Pa Kent's death scene highlights perfectly what I mean. What was that scene? No, really... what was it? I got the feeling that this was supposed to be the big emotional centrepiece of Clark's journey and it was just illogical to the point of incoherence.

If you stop and think about it, nothing about it makes sense. And the thing about MoS is that, although I don't hate it, most of the "emotional" scenes are like that.

 

[KalMart]

Maybe more 'aloof' than 'cold' in personality.

 

[Tra-El]

Cold? Hell no! When something comes off as COLD, then that means there's no feeling or beat to the characters playing a deep roll that's in depth. The acting in Man of Steel is outstanding and you get a sense of STRONG emotion by not only the dialogue per-say, but their body language as well. This movie is FULL of emotion and heart, it's just not CRAMMED down your throat because it's a very SERIOUS take on Clark and his relationships involving Krypton and the Super-MAN himself.

It's SERIOUS. BIG difference from being "cold." I respectfully disagree with anybody who sees otherwise.

 

[Bran-El]

Sometimes I read stuff online and I'm like 'did we see the same movie?'

Emotional Roller Coaster is the best way I can describe the drama and action mixed together in MOS.

 

[manofsteel4life]

I wouldn't say "cold", not exactly. I'd say that, largely due to it's script and editing problems, it's emotionally confused.

Pa Kent's death scene highlights perfectly what I mean. What was that scene? No, really... what was it? I got the feeling that this was supposed to be the big emotional centrepiece of Clark's journey and it was just illogical to the point of incoherence.

If you stop and think about it, nothing about it makes sense. And the thing about MoS is that, although I don't hate it, most of the "emotional" scenes are like that.

I didn't really like it for the fact, I thought Clark should've saved him regardless but it made sense to me.....I agree there are some scenes that had potential to be more emotional but cold is not the word id choose to describe it

 

[SlamAdams]

On paper, no...in execution and delivery, yeah somewhat. I think that's the issue with critics and those who call it 'cold', not that the creators intentionally kept emotional material outside of the story or what have you.

I wouldn't say "cold", not exactly. I'd say that, largely due to it's script and editing problems, it's emotionally confused.

Pa Kent's death scene highlights perfectly what I mean. What was that scene? No, really... what was it? I got the feeling that this was supposed to be the big emotional centrepiece of Clark's journey and it was just illogical to the point of incoherence.

If you stop and think about it, nothing about it makes sense. And the thing about MoS is that, although I don't hate it, most of the "emotional" scenes are like that.

^These

 

[KalMart]

Cold? Hell no! When something comes off as COLD, then that means there's no feeling or beat to the characters playing a deep roll that's in depth. The acting in Man of Steel is outstanding and you get a sense of STRONG emotion by not only the dialogue per-say, but their body language as well. This movie is FULL of emotion and heart, it's just not CRAMMED down your throat because it's a very SERIOUS take on Clark and his relationships involving Krypton and the Super-MAN himself.

It's SERIOUS. BIG difference from being "cold." I respectfully disagree with anybody who sees otherwise.

That's not the only way to handle genuine emotion in storytelling that's sincere and immersive. But again, I don't thin kit was purposely stifled in this film...the feeling of coldness was more a by-product of a rather disconnected flow of the film itself.

 

[Jim-El]

I'll tell you what was cold: When Clark tells his supposedly loving mother...

Spoiler

"Mother, I have found out who I am and where I come from." Ma Kent replies, "Oh (ho hum) that's great"...Next subject...

This is a writing travesty that far too often rears it's ugly head in the film.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

I'll tell you what was cold: When Clark tells his supposedly loving mother...

Spoiler

"Mother, I have found out who I am and where I come from." Ma Kent replies, "Oh (ho hum) that's great"...Next subject...

This is a writing travesty that far too often rears it's ugly head in the film.

That's exactly how the scene would've happened in real life.

Ma Kent is insecure that she may be replaced in Clark's mind.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

^ If I said that to my mom, she would probably react similarly, so I don't think that's so unrealistic. But you feel like they became close in the long run. Nice Suit>Nice Coat But not because of the adoption thing :P

 

[blumatic]

It was as warm or as cold as Batman Begins, both Spidey intro movies. Its like these critics are looking to catch the holy spirit from Superman.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

I don't want this to be an "appeal to authority" or something, but I do kinda speak from experience. I have two mothers. One is my biological, the other my stepmother. The one I grew up with pretty much brushes the other off when she comes up in conversation. She's never rude about it, but it's noticeable.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

It was as warm or as cold as Batman Begins, both Spidey intro movies. Its like these critics are looking to catch the holy spirit from Superman.

Yep. Batman Begins developed Bruce so far that there was less to work with as far as a sequel goes, and TDK was more of a stand-alone film than a sequel, unlike TDKR. As far as character development, it's more similar to Spider-Man 1 than BB in that the plot and action dominate the second half, to the point that the characters feel underdeveloped.

I still consider Spidey 2 to be the most reflective of comics in terms of narrative scope.

 

[Iceman]

It doesn't go as far emotionally as I'd expected given the events of the film. Wouldn't call it cold but could have reached further.

 

[Jim-El]

You people have to be kidding me!!

Spoiler

A "STEP" mother's son finds out about his true identity and where he comes from and his "STEP" mother doesn't give a flip???? She needed to ask a BASIC question like, "Where?"

You people blow me away accepting such pathetic writing!!!!

 

[MadVillainy]

I wouldnt say cold or unemotional. Like the scene where Pa Kent died I felt was really well done. Or the "nice suit" scene i really like. I just wish there were more moments like that.

 

[Tra-El]

That's not the only way to handle genuine emotion in storytelling that's sincere and immersive. But again, I don't thin kit was purposely stifled in this film...the feeling of coldness was more a by-product of a rather disconnected flow of the film itself.

I think if there was a "cold-tone" to be set, it is that of Clark's lifelong journey becoming a man with these great and absolutely terrifying powers he experiences as a child. It's PETRIFYING. Did you see little Clark's face in the school when he saw his teachers heart-pumping? That's an incredible way of story-telling Clark's life that people don't want to seem to understand.

Most see Superman as "Golly, Miss Lane" while Man of Steel came off as a REAL story to the realism of Clark Kents destiny as a super-power alien, alienated from Earth.

It's deep and I thought the emotion was right by the story they wanted to tell.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

I got choked up a tad at certain points, starting with the Krypton beginning we knew was coming. Pushed my buttons in the right places at other times as well.

 

[KalMart]

I think if there was a "cold-tone" to be set, it is that of Clark's lifelong journey becoming a man with these great and absolutely terrifying powers he experiences as a child. It's PETRIFYING. Did you see little Clark's face in the school when he saw his teachers heart-pumping? That's an incredible way of story-telling Clark's life that people don't want to seem to understand.

It was written that way sure...but it played pretty flat.

Most see Superman as "Golly, Miss Lane" while Man of Steel came off as a REAL story to the realism of Clark Kents destiny as a super-power alien, alienated from Earth.

It's deep and I thought the emotion was right by the story they wanted to tell.

I still think you're looking at it in a too polarized way to see straight up campiness as the only other solution. I said it elsewhere but amusingly enough, Singer is better at imbedding more genuine heart and personal connection than Snyder or Nolan, for the most part. And no, 'realism' didn't really come into play as an asset or what have you in MOS, not when it came to this.

 

[Krumm]

I wouldn't say "cold", not exactly. I'd say that, largely due to it's script and editing problems, it's emotionally confused.

Pa Kent's death scene highlights perfectly what I mean. What was that scene? No, really... what was it? I got the feeling that this was supposed to be the big emotional centrepiece of Clark's journey and it was just illogical to the point of incoherence.

If you stop and think about it, nothing about it makes sense. And the thing about MoS is that, although I don't hate it, most of the "emotional" scenes are like that.

I actually found that scene resonated with me more upon second viewing. And it's actually Mark Waid's favorite scene to the point that he was jealous he didn't write it -- and he hated the film, I think it's fair to say.

As for overall, I don't think it's emotionally cold. I got many a misty eye.

 

[KalMart]

What I don't get is when some call it 'joyless'. I mean really...no joy at all? I dunno about that. Hulk...now THAT was **********ing joyless. Like...suicidal it was so joyless. Watchmen too, for that matter (not as much so). MOS is certainly not along those lines.

 

[blumatic]

It was written that way sure...but it played pretty flat.



I still think you're looking at it in a too polarized way to see straight up campiness as the only other solution. I said it elsewhere but amusingly enough, Singer is better at imbedding more genuine heart and personal connection than Snyder or Nolan, for the most part. And no, 'realism' didn't really come into play as an asset or what have you in MOS, not when it came to this.

Singer is not better. At least by way of SR. He put in a lot of scenes that tried to be emotional.

Or maybe it better I put it this way. Critics label MOS as disaster porn because the constant action was mind numbing blah blah blah.

SR was Emo porn. Trying so hard to bring the emotion of the Donner films, he over did it, he needed that kind of fake magic in every scene thus dragging the film at a slow and boring pace.

I don't think MOS was emotional. But it had feelings that felt relevant and didn't over do it. MOS if anything fell short of the emotional threshold while SR ran past it by miles.