I know this has already been posted here and there in various threads, but I find it interesting that so many people are struggling with the fact that Superman a) wasn't more careful when he was fighting, b) didn't show obvious remorse whenever people died around him, and c) didn't constantly tell people to get out of the way. Additionally, I've read posts that indicate that people believe that his relationship with Lois moved too quickly and didn't make sense. Here is my response to those issues:
I find this story fascinating because it is far more realistic than other interpretations of Superman. He was raised as a human; therefore, he reacts to things in the same way a human would. For example, it doesn't occur to him that he can fly because his brain has been trained to believe that gravity holds him back just like it does for anyone else. Clark has been raised to believe that birds fly, and people don’t. He can register the idea of jumping, so he just jumps higher than everyone else, but it takes his conversation with Jor-El to push his powers beyond the limits that his mind has created.
Given this, why would anyone think that he would be able to deal with extreme stress and fear of death (when he has to face the possibility for the first time EVER) any differently than anyone else? He is a Kansas farm boy. And he is not even a typical one, but a person who has grown up without friends, without the ability to connect with others. He has never honed his skills in anything because he hasn't been allowed to do so.
How can he possibly control what is happening in his fights with Zod when he doesn't even know how to fight? How can he be thinking about the innocent bystanders nearby when he can barely see when the next punch is coming? He has never been in a fight in his life and is completely and utterly overwhelmed and in shock.
In the one moment that he has a few seconds to think, he tells some people in Smallville to get out of the way. How could anyone honestly think he would have the time or composure to warn people of anything, let alone make the decision to fight and somehow move Zod safely away buildings? He is fighting for his life and has no time to think. He is a confused, isolated person who has no idea what he is doing, but is trying desperately to do the right thing. He is BECOMING Superman in this film; that’s the whole point. He makes a lot of mistakes because he really has no idea what he is doing. He is just trying to do the right thing.
I believe that Superman prevailed for several reasons: 1) Zod was weakened and disoriented tremendously by his heightened senses, 2) Zod knew that his plan for Krypton was lost, and it affected his will to continue to fight and c) Superman’s will to save the people of Earth surpassed Zod’s desire for vengeance.
As far as his relationship with Lois, I do agree that some scenes were a bit choppy and could have had more back story, but I believe that was an editing issue. I really liked the way their relationship progressed. I don’t think it was odd that he kissed her at the end, or was holding her hand earlier in the film; she was the first person, other than his parents, who knew what he was. Even so, she accepted him and wanted to help him.
It is completely natural that he would connect with her instantly; he had been a loner and an outcast all his life, and suddenly, an intelligent, attractive woman is talking to him and showing an interest in his well-being. Of course he is going to latch on to her.
People may be angry that Superman blew it so much in Man of Steel, but that’s what makes it so great. He is not a god. He’s truly human and this is a human story. I wouldn't have wanted him to be any other way.
I find this story fascinating because it is far more realistic than other interpretations of Superman. He was raised as a human; therefore, he reacts to things in the same way a human would. For example, it doesn't occur to him that he can fly because his brain has been trained to believe that gravity holds him back just like it does for anyone else. Clark has been raised to believe that birds fly, and people don’t. He can register the idea of jumping, so he just jumps higher than everyone else, but it takes his conversation with Jor-El to push his powers beyond the limits that his mind has created.
Given this, why would anyone think that he would be able to deal with extreme stress and fear of death (when he has to face the possibility for the first time EVER) any differently than anyone else? He is a Kansas farm boy. And he is not even a typical one, but a person who has grown up without friends, without the ability to connect with others. He has never honed his skills in anything because he hasn't been allowed to do so.
How can he possibly control what is happening in his fights with Zod when he doesn't even know how to fight? How can he be thinking about the innocent bystanders nearby when he can barely see when the next punch is coming? He has never been in a fight in his life and is completely and utterly overwhelmed and in shock.
In the one moment that he has a few seconds to think, he tells some people in Smallville to get out of the way. How could anyone honestly think he would have the time or composure to warn people of anything, let alone make the decision to fight and somehow move Zod safely away buildings? He is fighting for his life and has no time to think. He is a confused, isolated person who has no idea what he is doing, but is trying desperately to do the right thing. He is BECOMING Superman in this film; that’s the whole point. He makes a lot of mistakes because he really has no idea what he is doing. He is just trying to do the right thing.
I believe that Superman prevailed for several reasons: 1) Zod was weakened and disoriented tremendously by his heightened senses, 2) Zod knew that his plan for Krypton was lost, and it affected his will to continue to fight and c) Superman’s will to save the people of Earth surpassed Zod’s desire for vengeance.
As far as his relationship with Lois, I do agree that some scenes were a bit choppy and could have had more back story, but I believe that was an editing issue. I really liked the way their relationship progressed. I don’t think it was odd that he kissed her at the end, or was holding her hand earlier in the film; she was the first person, other than his parents, who knew what he was. Even so, she accepted him and wanted to help him.
It is completely natural that he would connect with her instantly; he had been a loner and an outcast all his life, and suddenly, an intelligent, attractive woman is talking to him and showing an interest in his well-being. Of course he is going to latch on to her.
People may be angry that Superman blew it so much in Man of Steel, but that’s what makes it so great. He is not a god. He’s truly human and this is a human story. I wouldn't have wanted him to be any other way.
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