MAN OF STEEL (Zack Snyder/Chris Nolan 2013)

[Johann]

I would also like to recommend two Superman graphic novels:

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison & art by Frank Quitely- pure GENIUS in the comics medium. Two Scots who deliver GENIUS!!
Sun-Eaters! Superman is at grave risk of dying due to too much solar exposure. He battles baddies on Bizarro World, shared billing with Samson the Time-Traveller & Atlas, and Lois Lane gets Superman's powers for one day. (AND her own Super-costume!) READ IT. BUY IT.

and one I like even more:

Red Son by Mark Millar and art by Dave Johnson. Superman is a Communist in 50's Russia, Loyal to Stalin. He crash-landed in Russia as a boy, Not the Good 'ol USA. So the results are quite different. YEARS in the making (in the 90's) and it is just a really cool ELSEWORLDS tale, a must-buy if you are a comic book nut.

[tabuno]

I'm intrigued by Johann's little reminders of various elements of Man of Steel. Interestingly for me it's not about "stepping back" from the film as Johann suggested but becoming more immersed in stepping 'closer' to the movie. Using Johann as a guide, he can enhance the particular moments of the film that emphasize the "entertainment" and "violence" depiction, and the contrast between normal humanity and super-humanity. While I probably will never be able to appreciate and become so enamored with this movie as Johann because of the way this movie was shot and edited, Johann's helpful pointers do enhance the memories of the movie and I can endorse these bits of comments that he has described about the movie.

[Johann]

Stepping closer is great! See it as many times as you can tabuno! Get as close as you can.
This movie is a jewel in a sea of crap.
I'm so tired of by-the-numbers movies, especially popcorn movies. Audiences are fairly savvy now I think.
We can handle more out-of-the-box and unique ways of telling stories with a camera.
I think MAN OF STEEL is an up-sized value meal, and a lot of people just groan at the weight of the action scenes.
Again, I wonder what people think they are going to see when they buy a ticket.
And I'm pretty sure you can get your money back if you leave the theatre within 30 minutes. (at least you can here in Canada).

I'll see it a few more times this summer and post more concrete "opinions". I don't really write reviews, as you all know.


And I have obtained the gorgeous WHITE Man of Steel poster- that HUGE one. It's gonna cost me to frame it- it's bus shelter sized- but what a piece of film art to hang in my livingroom! It pays to have a Superman tattoo.....

[Chris Knipp]

Armond White has highly praised the movie, said it's unfairly underrated; considers the Iron Man films snarky and overrated.