What does "Man of Steel" (2013) remind you of?...

[BatmanBegins05]

For some reason, I always end up comparing Man of Steel to Bryan Singer's first X-Men film from the year: 2000! Because of the Xenophobic way, Clark Kent is treated by his surrogate father, Jonathan Kent. He tells him to hide what Clark Kent truly is, and NOT to use his powers to save people. Pa Kent almost acts like his "son" Clark is a mutant.

Man of Steel, also reminds me of Martin Campbell's Casino Royale. Because it's about the protagonist becoming the character we all know, except one film accomplishes "THIS" better than the other one. Also, the collateral damage caused by James Bond, Double-O Seven, and Superman/Kal-El. And both of them, seem to be "indifferent" to the collateral damage.

 

[Herofan]

Thor, especially a big powered battle taking place in the main street of a small Midwest town, the hero being a reluctant hero that emerges from that one crisis/confrontation and also being connected with society and motivated to heroism mainly from his relationships with a few individuals and mainly his love interest.

The first X-Men in that Cavill Clark seems pretty inspired by Jackman Wolverine, especially his visual gruffness and his tending to lonerism aside from again protectiveness with women.

And the TV shows The X Files (the general sense of distrust of the government and tending toward fear of aliens and gradual revelations of secrets and conspiracies) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (there being so much collateral damage treated so casually that it just seems intentionally overdone for entertainment).

 

[FunkMiller]

A waste of potential.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Remind me of ? Not a huge amount, but just the best Superman film we'd had in years.

 

[JannTosh]

kind of feels like Batman Begins meets War of the Worlds. One of the reasons I like it a lot

 

[I Am The Knight]

Reminds me of Batman Begins mostly. Unfortunately MOS is not that good.

 

[Batmannerism]

I loved MoS, and I was very skeptical going in. Ended up seeing it 5 times in the cinema.

IMO It is a million times better than Superman Returns mostly because it's a lot more original.

There are elements of Superman the movie and Superman II in there ( well obviously because it's Superman's origin story). I loved the cinematography for all the Kansas and Krypton sequences. VIsually the film is beautiful. Similarly I loved Zimmer's score, he really brought his A game, without going OTT ( like he did in TDKR).

I still feel that with 3 main tweaks it could have been a contender for best Superman film:

- a more supportive Pa Kent with a better death scene
-less destruction in Metropolis after the world engine was destroyed and a different way of dealing with Zod ( have Superman move the fight elsewhere - in the context of the film it made sense because Zod had lost it and had a death wish, but I don't think audiences or critics were ready to see Superman kill an enemy with his bare hands).
- Show Superman helping to repair the damage to Metropolis.

Essentially they needed to sideline David S Goyer.

I know this has all been discussed to death, but 6 years on and it's still bugging me - and if there's one place I could bring it up, it's here. Sorry folks, went way off topic there.

 

[BH/HHH]

I feel like it’s very much a movie unlike any other tobally. Structurally it doesn’t follow Batman Begins with the non linear approach but even that just followed STM but made it non linear. It’s by far for me the best modern superhero film ever made. The score aswell stands out more than any CBM since the Burton Batman Films.

 

[The Batman]

It reminds me of Amazing Spider-Man.

Like ASM, MOS is ultimately a mediocre attempt at replicating Batman Begins' success with another major Superhero.

And just like ASM, MOS was followed by a dumspter fire of a sequel.

 

[BatmanBegins05]

It reminds me of Amazing Spider-Man.

Like ASM, MOS is ultimately a mediocre attempt at replicating Batman Begins' success with another major Superhero.

And just like ASM, MOS was followed by a dumspter fire of a sequel.

I actually like "The Amazing Spider-Man," MORE than "Man of Steel," if I'm being totally honest with myself.

 

[Karelia]

I've recently watched Man of Steel, and I still really enjoy it. The soundtrack is amazing, visuals are great, the action sequences are top notch, although I feel it could have been slimmed down a bit. Some of the characterizations I'm not a fan of, mainly Jonathan Kent. The best Jonathan is Smallville's version. Young Clark: "What was I suppose to do? Just let them die?
Jonathan: "Maybe..."

I still remember that from the trailer and thought it was just edited that way. I was surprised to see it wasn't.

Overall though, I love it. Just a few things I would change.

 

[FunkMiller]

In an alternate universe, there’s a genuinely great version of Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel, where there was genuine oversight of the story at script stage by the likes of Nolan and others, which curtailed the worst of Snyder’s instincts. A version with no neck snap, less tone deaf destruction, and more warmth and heroism injected into Cavill’s depiction of the character. That movie did a billion dollars, and heralded the start of a successful DCEU.

 

[Karelia]

Yeah the neck snap wasn't necessary. And I whole heartedly agree Cavill's Superman needs more of that good hearted feeling. I said this in another thread, but I think a scene akin to the panel in All Star Superman where he talks down the girl who is about to commit suicide by jumping off a roof would be great to see in live action. More of what makes Superman "Super" in my book. I love the action, but you need that other side to get the complete Superman.

 

[Batmannerism]

I've recently watched Man of Steel, and I still really enjoy it. The soundtrack is amazing, visuals are great, the action sequences are top notch, although I feel it could have been slimmed down a bit. Some of the characterizations I'm not a fan of, mainly Jonathan Kent. The best Jonathan is Smallville's version. Young Clark: "What was I suppose to do? Just let them die?
Jonathan: "Maybe..."

I still remember that from the trailer and thought it was just edited that way. I was surprised to see it wasn't.

Overall though, I love it. Just a few things I would change.

In an alternate universe, there’s a genuinely great version of Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel, where there was genuine oversight of the story at script stage by the likes of Nolan and others, which curtailed the worst of Snyder’s instincts. A version with no neck snap, less tone deaf destruction, and more warmth and heroism injected into Cavill’s depiction of the character. That movie did a billion dollars, and heralded the start of a successful DCEU.

Yeah the neck snap wasn't necessary. And I whole heartedly agree Cavill's Superman needs more of that good hearted feeling. I said this in another thread, but I think a scene akin to the panel in All Star Superman where he talks down the girl who is about to commit suicide by jumping off a roof would be great to see in live action. More of what makes Superman "Super" in my book. I love the action, but you need that other side to get the complete Superman.

First .......

to all of that.

Everytime I watch MoS I enjoy it, but I feel a little sad because it could have been not just a good Superman movie, but a great one and avoided all the controversy and divisiveness with just a few changes......

Actually " a little sad" is an understatement because I really want to bang my head against a wall. I have nothing against Zach Snyder or David Goyer personally, but I'd love to time-travel back to the meeting where Goyer says to Nolan and Snyder " And then Superman snaps Zod's neck to save the family. Trust me, it will be great." and at that moment scream "Nooooooooo! You're going to ruin Superman !" and punch Goyer in the face - and at the same time complement Snyder on the establishing shots of Krypton and Kansas.

Now that's utterly ridiculous and irrational - and I don't advocate punching anyone just for writing a sub-par screenplay, but as a lifelong fan of Superman, there's some frustration there.

 

[Jekecy]

Actually " a little sad" is an understatement because I really want to bang my head against a wall. I have nothing against Zach Snyder or David Goyer personally, but I'd love to time-travel back to the meeting where Goyer says to Nolan and Snyder " And then Superman snaps Zod's neck to save the family. Trust me, it will be great." and at that moment scream "Nooooooooo! You're going to ruin Superman !" and punch Goyer in the face - and at the same time complement Snyder on the establishing shots of Krypton and Kansas.

The neck snap was Snyder's idea. Here's an article that chronicles the history of it.

 

[FunkMiller]

The neck snap was Snyder's idea. Here's an article that chronicles the history of it.

Articles that remind me why I dislike Snyder. He had the man responsible for the most successful comic book trilogy in history (and one of our only true great auteurs and storytellers), telling him not to end with the neck snap... and he did it anyway.

And he decided that Superman had to murder someone, otherwise he wouldn’t know that murdering was bad.

Who thinks like that? What kind of warped ideology about the world do you need to have a rationale like that?

Snyder strikes me as an adolescent who never really grew up. There’s something stunted and immature about his outlook on the world, and the way he conducts himself.

Like I said, he needed an adult standing over him, curbing his worst excesses. It must be one of WB’s biggest regrets that they didn’t have anyone doing that.

 

[Iceman]

In an alternate universe, there’s a genuinely great version of Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel, where there was genuine oversight of the story at script stage by the likes of Nolan and others, which curtailed the worst of Snyder’s instincts. A version with no neck snap, less tone deaf destruction, and more warmth and heroism injected into Cavill’s depiction of the character. That movie did a billion dollars, and heralded the start of a successful DCEU.

Snyder with a proper babysitter makes MoS a 9/10 film.

 

[Batmannerism]

The neck snap was Snyder's idea. Here's an article that chronicles the history of it.

Wow! I would need to punch both Goyer and Snyder. I remember seeing an interview that gave Goyer credit for the idea - clearly from that article he and Snyder were on the same page.....although apparently nobody else was on that page.

Why the **** would you want to reboot a classic film character with controversy?

I guess B v S and Justice League are what Snyder superhero films are like when he doesn't have Nolan to supervise him. BUGGER !

 

[Rorschach2012]

The end fight reminds me of Dragon Ball Z or the last episode of JLU where Superman fights Darkseid in Metropolis. The movie is clearly inspired by Batman Begins too.

 

[metaphysician]

Articles that remind me why I dislike Snyder. He had the man responsible for the most successful comic book trilogy in history (and one of our only true great auteurs and storytellers), telling him not to end with the neck snap... and he did it anyway.

And he decided that Superman had to murder someone, otherwise he wouldn’t know that murdering was bad.

Who thinks like that? What kind of warped ideology about the world do you need to have a rationale like that?

Snyder strikes me as an adolescent who never really grew up. There’s something stunted and immature about his outlook on the world, and the way he conducts himself.

Like I said, he needed an adult standing over him, curbing his worst excesses. It must be one of WB’s biggest regrets that they didn’t have anyone doing that.

The worst thing is, IMO? The neck snap is not irredeemable as a plot point. "Superman is forced to kill the villain in order to save others" is not without precedent or purpose. It just needed a bunch of changes:

1. Clark dedication to saving live being properly dramatized earlier, in particular in the big giant fight scenes by having him actually spending effort to save bystanders at his own expense

2. Clark actually dialoguing with Zod during the fight, trying to convince him to stand down in a way more convincing and effortful than just the randomly evoked "Please, no!"

3. Clark responding afterwards in a more coherent and meaningful way, rather than "random scream of angst followed by nothing". Actual consequences, with people reacting to this afterwards with different or differently informed viewpoints, not the least Clark himself. Above all else, Clark needs to feel like he is saddened by someone else's death, not traumatized by the fact that he killed. That is the scene-as-it-exists greatest crime, that it makes Clark look like he's motivated by squeamishness.

Of course, doing all this would have required. . . well, an adult in the writing room, doing the hard work of assembling a coherent meaningful narrative.

 

[Boy Scout]

It reminds me of Amazing Spider-Man.

Like ASM, MOS is ultimately a mediocre attempt at replicating Batman Begins' success with another major Superhero.

And just like ASM, MOS was followed by a dumspter fire of a sequel.

There are similarities, but I think ASM is better.

 

[Avs21]

And he decided that Superman had to murder someone, otherwise he wouldn’t know that murdering was bad.

Who thinks like that? What kind of warped ideology about the world do you need to have a rationale like that?

How can you belive that is murder.
It's obviously not.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Oh god, here we go.....

 

[BatmanBegins05]

Oh god, here we go.....

Where do you fall on the argument? Do you like Man of Steel or do you dislike it?

 

[Lencho01]

Articles that remind me why I dislike Snyder. He had the man responsible for the most successful comic book trilogy in history (and one of our only true great auteurs and storytellers), telling him not to end with the neck snap... and he did it anyway.

And he decided that Superman had to murder someone, otherwise he wouldn’t know that murdering was bad.

Who thinks like that? What kind of warped ideology about the world do you need to have a rationale like that?

Snyder strikes me as an adolescent who never really grew up. There’s something stunted and immature about his outlook on the world, and the way he conducts himself.

Like I said, he needed an adult standing over him, curbing his worst excesses. It must be one of WB’s biggest regrets that they didn’t have anyone doing that.

Yep.

Back when I was following the BvS and JL news more closely, more and more stuff came out about Snyder and his way of thinking which illuminated why Superman and Batman turned out how they did under his supervision. It's why I said earlier in another thread I had no interest in Cavill coming back as I'm not feeling the character and his world as they conceived it. Same for Batman.