TMOS Reviews Thread - Non Spoiler Review and Discussion - Part 6

[kalhawj]

Point blank: This isn't your Grandaddys or Daddys Superman. This is a new Superman for a new fanbase that is willing to take Superman seriously.

People don't want to walk out saying "Meh, it was a okay homage to Christopher Reeve." People want to walk out saying "Okay, THAT was awesome and interesting, can't wait to see where it goes.."

Division is obvious when it comes to Supes. Hopefully, new fans who are onboard outweigh the geezers stuck in the Silver Age of comic-book lore.

This is exactly what's happen with the GA that have seen the movie. In the Philippine they are all going crazy over this movie... We'll see if the US will do the same...

 

[C. Lee]

Remember people...trolling of any kind will not be allowed.

 

[Anjow1060]

I'm getting annoyed at all the people who keeping using "Donner Nostalgia" and "Critics can't get over the old movies" as an excuse for all the negative reviews.

AMEN TO THIS.

That was not my problem with this movie. Not in the least.

- Jow

 

[kalhawj]

More Reviews

Man Of Steel' is definitely my movie of the summer. This CBM is full of insane and intense action scenes that it can makes others action sequences look a little underwhelming. That said, this movie may have been lacking a little in emotion. This film is well thought out, well acted and top that with incredible action, amazing CGI and great cinematography and score. I find this adaptation to be on par with the original Superman: The Movie and this is without a doubt Zack Snyder's best film to date, this is the Superman film I've been waiting for my whole life and I give this a perfect 5/5.

 

[Street Vendor]

Point blank: This isn't your Grandaddys or Daddys Superman. This is a new Superman for a new fanbase that is willing to take Superman seriously.

People don't want to walk out saying "Meh, it was a okay homage to Christopher Reeve." People want to walk out saying "Okay, THAT was awesome and interesting, can't wait to see where it goes.."

Division is obvious when it comes to Supes. Hopefully, new fans who are onboard outweigh the geezers stuck in the Silver Age of comic-book lore.

Hey, I'm one of those geezers. But I can still appreciate a new take on the material.

 

[Gavan]

It's not an excuse, it's a factor in giving the film lower grades. And it's not projecting since they said it themselves.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Honestly the more top critics seem to like it but the unknown small time internet cafe critics are the ones complaining

Here's the breakdown, the top critics give it mixed, the newspaper and magazine critics PAN it, and the geek websites/film blogs tend to give it STRONG to middling at worst.

Also: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zaki-hasan/zakis-review-iman-of-stee_b_3436490.html

^ This dude gave it an A-

 

[Mjölnir]

AMEN TO THIS.

That was not my problem with this movie. Not in the least.

- Jow

Have you written any non-spoiler review or similar?

 

[Tony Stark]

I'm getting annoyed at all the people who keeping using "Donner Nostalgia" and "Critics can't get over the old movies" as an excuse for all the negative reviews.

Invariably it was going to be compared to the Donner films, fair or not. However, I really don't see that "Donner Nostalgia" is causing them to not like the film.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

If Snyder and Goyer wrote a bad movie, that doesn't make Superman Returns good in my book. I have no idea how that movie got the reviews it did.

The John Williams theme being played. The "event" of Superman returning in nearly 20 years. Some of the camp. The movie in of itself isn't that bad, but it's almost to Thor's level of RT. If it didn't have those old references, I guarantee you it would be around 60 or so.

 

[mayo23]

Honestly the more top critics seem to like it but the unknown small time internet cafe critics are the ones complaining

Wasn't it yesterday when it seemed like all the movie blog reviews loved MOS but the professional top critics didn't? But now it's switched around?

 

[FourteenthAngel]

I'm getting annoyed at all the people who keeping using "Donner Nostalgia" and "Critics can't get over the old movies" as an excuse for all the negative reviews.

Lol, I wish that wasn't the problem but you have to understand that there are still some critics out there who still see in rose-tinted glasses.

 

[davejames]

Hmm, still debating whether to see this in 3D or 2D. I watched the new Trek in both, and I thought the 3D made it seem a lot cooler and more epic.

But I also hear that the shaky cam in MOS doesn't translate as well to 3D, so maybe 2D would be better for that.....

 

[Gavan]

Invariably it was going to be compared to the Donner films, fair or not. However, I really don't see that "Donner Nostalgia" is causing them to not like the film.

Since no one is a blank slate, no mind can never be truly open, and everyone is going to see the film with their own preconceived notions. The old films defined those notions for many. It's not hard to see.

 

[Anjow1060]

Have you written any non-spoiler review or similar?

Yes - Put in spoiler tags anyway tho.

If responding put in spoiler tags just in case.

Spoiler

Man of Steel: Be careful what you wish for....

It's no secret that my favorite Superhero movie of all time is Batman Begins. Yes, even over the almighty Dark Knight.

That being said, I went into Man of Steel expecting it to be the Begins version of Superman.

WRONG-O.

That was my first mistake.

To be honest - in the end it felt more like the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern of Superman - without the comedy or whimsicalness of that flick.

And that's not a perk of Green Lantern or a requirement of Superman, more or less something that distinguishes the two films.

Man of Steel plays as if there's no script - but rather what we in the film industry call a "Beat Sheet". A series of events required to tell a story. The script then follows that sheet and expunges upon each beat, elaborating it into something more. Creating moments that matter and make us relate to character through them. That doesn't happen here.

As I described to my friend (who loved the film): Imagine the best Superman movie ever made. Now imagine you didn't see it, but some fanboy just got out of the theater and is telling you all about it. That's how the movie is written.

Truthfully - the components are all there - the liver, the eyes, the lungs, the legs and arms and there is cold and still - beating once or twice to give us a real moment. God forgive me, I love sentimentality and I love it in a Superman movie. Outside of two moments - one with Lois before Superman first meets Zod and the other during a pinnacle moment with Jonathan Kent - the moment had no moments that I really connected to.

The problem is the build for me. By the time Superman is in the suit... he doesn't take it off. The initial fight with Zod and crew and the final fight between Superman and Zod and crew is separated by a mere 10-15 minutes. Clark never even gets out of the suit. I was along with the movie until this point, chalking it all up to a slow build. Once I realized this was the final fight - I started hating the movie.

The fights and such are CGI Gumby men fighting and while I've long pined for Superman to punch something - I got what I wished for. And dammit - I don't think it was worth it. I wasn't riding with Superman. I couldn't get an "in" to be rooting for him.

Most of the build up is about Clark trying to find his place in the world... even though he really kind of already knows what it is. It's more or less him trying to figure out "when" to come out of the alien closet - reducing him to a one note character. The key to Superman, with all his physical prowess, is to give him as many internal and emotional struggles as possible. That not only makes him interesting when he's unbeatable physically - but it also makes him more human and thus more relatable. He does wonder how he got here and what his place is - but then Jor El pops up in the fortress and explains it all to him in under 3 minutes.... effectively ruining the last 30-45 minutes and making them irrelevant to his character arc..... rendering him to have none.

And then it's all punchy punch from there.

And even that has it's issues - whether it be the "ugh" CGI aspect of it, or the fact that the cinematography gets REALLY annoying. If you thought handheld was bad in Nolan's movies? WORSE. If you thought the camera was too close in Nolan's movies? WORSE. If you thought the CGI / Exposion was disgusting in the Transformers movies? WORSE. The cinematography did what I've dubed the "pop shot" in which the camera almost does a jump cut / quick zoom technique in the film and it gets overused and kills it reasoning. It's ok every now and then and especially allowed when Superman is honing in on something - but the rest of the time it's just jarring and takes me out of the moment.

The rest of the characters are also kind of one-note. They're all acted really well by the actors but they have no struggles of their own - sans Lois - which was the highlight of the movie. The direction and purpose they instill her with in this film was perfect and everything she needs for a modernization of her character. I wish we had gotten more.

All in all - I didn't really HATE this movie, but now I understand that justified rating on Rotten Tomatoes I so blindly argued against mere hours before. I stand before you humbled and corrected.

The film is by no means as boring as Superman Returns - but not at all as exciting as the perfect harmonization and balance that Batman Begins is.

This film feels a lot like "Unbreakable" in the sense that it really just feels like the 1st act of something bigger. Papa jow needs more Clark Kent and less Superman. More build and less fragmentation. More character and yes.... less action.

I'll see it again, hopefully my perception will change - but I'm starting to doubt it. It's still not "my" Superman, as the saying goes. It was however, my best friend's, as I could see the restraint he was holding back from slugging me when I started saying I was disappointed by it. I love you Bud, don't hate me. lol

See it. You'll make some connections with characters - but much like a 56K modem - don't plan on staying connected very long. Your emotions aren't in the back seat while the action takes the wheel - they're in the rear view... waving goodbye.

PS: If you miss the 20 some-odd blatant "LexCorp" logos in the final fight... you're blind. That's overkill on the easter eggs.

- Jow

 

[Anjow1060]

Hmm, still debating whether to see this in 3D or 2D. I watched the new Trek in both, and I thought the 3D made it seem a lot cooler and more epic.

But I also hear that the shaky cam in MOS doesn't translate as well to 3D, so maybe 2D would be better for that.....

2D.

Trust me - the handheld was really jarring.

Plus there were no "whoaaaa......." visual 3D moments. Plus it's POST conversion the worst kind of 3D. Go 2D.

- Jow

 

[747]

I love STM with all my heart, but I have also loved every bit of footage seen so far from MoS. I don't get why some seem to be unable to grasp the concept of loving more than one version of something.

 

[db85usa]

Hmm, still debating whether to see this in 3D or 2D. I watched the new Trek in both, and I thought the 3D made it seem a lot cooler and more epic.

But I also hear that the shaky cam in MOS doesn't translate as well to 3D, so maybe 2D would be better for that.....

I would definitely try to see it in IMAX somehow whether it be in LieMAX (if that is all that is available and in 2D,) but if a true 70mm screen exists somewhere, go there. Nothing beats the experience.

 

[747]

Open mindedness ftw.

 

[Hammer!]

Yes - Put in spoiler tags anyway tho.

If responding put in spoiler tags just in case.

Spoiler

Man of Steel: Be careful what you wish for....

It's no secret that my favorite Superhero movie of all time is Batman Begins. Yes, even over the almighty Dark Knight.

That being said, I went into Man of Steel expecting it to be the Begins version of Superman.

WRONG-O.

That was my first mistake.

To be honest - in the end it felt more like the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern of Superman - without the comedy or whimsicalness of that flick.

And that's not a perk of Green Lantern or a requirement of Superman, more or less something that distinguishes the two films.

Man of Steel plays as if there's no script - but rather what we in the film industry call a "Beat Sheet". A series of events required to tell a story. The script then follows that sheet and expunges upon each beat, elaborating it into something more. Creating moments that matter and make us relate to character through them. That doesn't happen here.

As I described to my friend (who loved the film): Imagine the best Superman movie ever made. Now imagine you didn't see it, but some fanboy just got out of the theater and is telling you all about it. That's how the movie is written.

Truthfully - the components are all there - the liver, the eyes, the lungs, the legs and arms and there is cold and still - beating once or twice to give us a real moment. God forgive me, I love sentimentality and I love it in a Superman movie. Outside of two moments - one with Lois before Superman first meets Zod and the other during a pinnacle moment with Jonathan Kent - the moment had no moments that I really connected to.

The problem is the build for me. By the time Superman is in the suit... he doesn't take it off. The initial fight with Zod and crew and the final fight between Superman and Zod and crew is separated by a mere 10-15 minutes. Clark never even gets out of the suit. I was along with the movie until this point, chalking it all up to a slow build. Once I realized this was the final fight - I started hating the movie.

The fights and such are CGI Gumby men fighting and while I've long pined for Superman to punch something - I got what I wished for. And dammit - I don't think it was worth it. I wasn't riding with Superman. I couldn't get an "in" to be rooting for him.

Most of the build up is about Clark trying to find his place in the world... even though he really kind of already knows what it is. It's more or less him trying to figure out "when" to come out of the alien closet - reducing him to a one note character. The key to Superman, with all his physical prowess, is to give him as many internal and emotional struggles as possible. That not only makes him interesting when he's unbeatable physically - but it also makes him more human and thus more relatable. He does wonder how he got here and what his place is - but then Jor El pops up in the fortress and explains it all to him in under 3 minutes.... effectively ruining the last 30-45 minutes and making them irrelevant to his character arc..... rendering him to have none.

And then it's all punchy punch from there.

And even that has it's issues - whether it be the "ugh" CGI aspect of it, or the fact that the cinematography gets REALLY annoying. If you thought handheld was bad in Nolan's movies? WORSE. If you thought the camera was too close in Nolan's movies? WORSE. If you thought the CGI / Exposion was disgusting in the Transformers movies? WORSE. The cinematography did what I've dubed the "pop shot" in which the camera almost does a jump cut / quick zoom technique in the film and it gets overused and kills it reasoning. It's ok every now and then and especially allowed when Superman is honing in on something - but the rest of the time it's just jarring and takes me out of the moment.

The rest of the characters are also kind of one-note. They're all acted really well by the actors but they have no struggles of their own - sans Lois - which was the highlight of the movie. The direction and purpose they instill her with in this film was perfect and everything she needs for a modernization of her character. I wish we had gotten more.

All in all - I didn't really HATE this movie, but now I understand that justified rating on Rotten Tomatoes I so blindly argued against mere hours before. I stand before you humbled and corrected.

The film is by no means as boring as Superman Returns - but not at all as exciting as the perfect harmonization and balance that Batman Begins is.

This film feels a lot like "Unbreakable" in the sense that it really just feels like the 1st act of something bigger. Papa jow needs more Clark Kent and less Superman. More build and less fragmentation. More character and yes.... less action.

I'll see it again, hopefully my perception will change - but I'm starting to doubt it. It's still not "my" Superman, as the saying goes. It was however, my best friend's, as I could see the restraint he was holding back from slugging me when I started saying I was disappointed by it. I love you Bud, don't hate me. lol

See it. You'll make some connections with characters - but much like a 56K modem - don't plan on staying connected very long. Your emotions aren't in the back seat while the action takes the wheel - they're in the rear view... waving goodbye.

PS: If you miss the 20 some-odd blatant "LexCorp" logos in the final fight... you're blind. That's overkill on the easter eggs.

- Jow

I liked the movie more than you, even though I was underwhelmed by it. Agree with many of the issues you bring up, good review!

 

[FourteenthAngel]

Since no one is a blank slate, no mind can never be truly open, and everyone is going to see the film with their own preconceived notions. The old films defined those notions for many. It's not hard to see.

This user gets it. You can go into a film without any sort of bias. The basis of these critics so-called objectivity is subjectivity. This is why it all goes down to your opinion.

 

[\S/JcDc\S/]

I was worried that there would be some critics that hold on to the Reeve/Donner era and while they appreciated the continuation of it with Superman Returns, they may be too connected to that 1978 version and dismiss a modern take with MOS. I was worried it would score lower than SR, but I didn't think it would end up 15% lower. Hopefully it will stay fresh. I'm sure there is always some impact on box office if the critics are scoring a film bad. We need our sequel and JL film at some point. bah

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Wow, this reviewer gave MOS a 3.5 out of 4 stars
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/13/movie-review-man-steel/

 

[Dragon_316ca]

http://www.philly.com/philly/entert...an_of_Steel__quot__the_same_old_same_old.html

RT critic, 2 stars out of 4

Same old, same old.

At least an hour of Man of Steel's excessive running time is devoted to the sort of crash-and-burn, slamming-into-skyscrapers CG fight scenes that we've already seen in The Avengers and Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.

 

[robot]

I would definitely try to see it in IMAX somehow whether it be in LieMAX (if that is all that is available,) but if a true 70mm screen exists somewhere, go there. Nothing beats the experience.

With some of the new LieMAX, it's actually better than the traditional 70mm Imax... Here's why:

1. the new LieMAX uses the latest 4K Barco projectors (2 of them). This means, the quality is as good as you can get out of 35mm films and all movies are shot in that format (not the 70mm shot for imax documentaries).

2. The new LieMAX also have far superior sound system. (They have now installed the latest and it was way better than anything else I have heard).

Even on the actual IMAX, you're just getting 35mm quality film, not the actual IMAX films.. so, it's just bigger screen, not better quality...