Superman: Man Of Steel (2013)

[Frank]

Do you know there is new superman film out this Friday?

Two new top critic reviews out today but the trend on that aggregate score is only going one way. 97% of the audience still say they want to see it though, so I wouldn't worry about anyone losing money.

[sheldipez]

Do you know there is new superman film out this Friday?

Two new top critic reviews out today but the trend on that aggregate score is only going one way. 97% of the audience still say they want to see it though, so I wouldn't worry about anyone losing money.

I'm not a big Superman fan and I don't like the Reeve movies - sorry! and I want to see this thing. I think it'll do ok!

[Frank]

I'm not a big Superman fan and I don't like the Reeve movies - sorry! and I want to see this thing. I think it'll do ok!

Oh, aye - It'll be an absolute monster. You've hit the nail on the head; it's the kind of film folk with no real interest in seeing it will still go and see. Fair play to them.

[radiator]

Well it's going to have to do colossal business to make a profit on the rumoured $225m budget and the same again on advertising!

[Frank]

Well it's going to have to do colossal business to make a profit on the rumoured $225m budget and the same again on advertising!

Online booking sites say the film's got more pre-bookings than the 1.2 billion dollar smash Iron Man 3 had, it's set box office records in the one territory it's opened in, and the sequel's already been given the green light. Still down to 59% on Rotten Tomatoes today, 50% from Top Critics. The industry survey of audiences mentioned in one of the articles above proports to shed some light on why 97% of the audience still want to see it:

"88% are fans of Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" franchise;

83% said the supporting cast of award-winning and nominated stars increased their interest in seeing the movie;

81% claimed the darker interpretation of Superman made them more interested in buying a ticket;

75% cannot wait to see Michael Shannon's performance as the villain General Zod;

72% are fans of director Zack Snyder's previous films ("300," "Watchmen");

69% want to see "Man of Steel" because the lead is played by Henry Cavill and not by an established box office superstar"

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Finally a superhero film that does the job for me. None of that namby pamby jokey bollocks, this is played for real and we don't have an hour of origins. So all you lot worrying about it being an origins film can forget about that! Those bits are cleverly played out, when on screen!

There are some tiny easter eggs for you that show Lex and Bruce Wayne are on the scene, so keep 'em peeled.

Overall we get to see what people (aliens) can do with amazing powers and how [spoiler]a city is destroyed properly on screen. Very 911, when the shit hits the fan[/spoiler]

There are some extremely powerful scenes throughout the film and one actually brought a tear to my eye! I wonder if anyone else felt the emotion in the scene [spoiler]where Jonathan Kent dies[/spoiler], or am I just getting soft in my old age

If I had to describe the film in one word it would be 'Heartbreaking'

One final thing, I'm sure I saw Superman's face turn into Christopher Reeve's near the end, as he was about to launch into flight. Can someone else confirm that I'm not going

[Goaty]

Good, if John likes it, so I must watch it! Thanks for spoiler as I hadn't looks at it!

Sadly there no subtitle version this weekend, so next week!

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Must add that Carolyn thought it was a tad too loud

[Hawkmumbler]

Saw it. Thought it was meh. Full review forthcoming.

[JOE SOAP]

this is played for real

You've been wearing that uniform too long.

[radiator]

Don't know if I can summon the energy to go see this. I seem to be getting ever more jaded with big blockbuster films - The Hobbit, Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises, Iron Man Three and Star Trek: ID all underwhelmed to varying degrees.

Are blockbusters getting dumber or am I just becoming more discerning?

[JOE SOAP]

Are blockbusters getting dumber or am I just becoming more discerning?

Not exactly dumber but they're getting more convoluted, plot driven and referential at the expense of decent story and characters.

[Goaty]

That's why Dredd great

[Frank]

(films are) getting more convoluted, plot driven and referential at the expense of decent story and characters.

That's why Dredd great

He sets 'em up, you knock 'em down. 57% critics, 82% audience on RT.

Zac Snyder waffles aimlessly here, but the information that he's an adoptive father himself is news to me (3m 15s) - and there's an interesting analysis of Hans Zimmer's score too (7m 23s). Has the whole Islamic immigration metaphor been discussed before (he rejects his parents' guidance and mid-West values, grows a beard, tries to learn more about his original culture, and gets mixed up with militaristic zealots)?

[Hawkmumbler]

Well. I felt it had many things going for it, but very few payed off.
[spoiler]Lets start off with Clark himself, despite a rather uncenventional narrative backstory of jumbled and out of sync flash backs (Snyder, your a blockbuster director not Jan fooking Svankmajor) he has very little going for him, instead he's the canvase for which Superman is painted over the course of the film as he discovers who he really is. Pity that he has to act like a jeryk and trash people's trucks just because they are dicks. A true idol, i'm sure. Superman himself just kind of smiles, claims to have all the answers while really they are just guesstimations, they prove fruitful, snog's Lane and kill's Zod begrudgingly even though he has no reason to spare him. Added to that Superman commits mass genocide by blowing up the codex with all the children inside and orders citizens to hide in there homes on a street where he proceads to blow the shit out of two red shirts (come to that in a bit). Presumably all these people where killed. our hero ladies and gentlemen. Cavill is very, very bland. Has a constant smug look on his face. The "OH! I'm tortured but deep!" face. Nargh!

Now Zod and the others...well, Shannon pull's off an entertaining performence as the general. But it's more unintentionaly hilarious than epic or menacing. He has a constant derp face and is always on the brink of pouting. Now this is no jab at Shannon, he does the best he can with what he has. Which isn't much. But he just come's off as such a none threat as he's constantly being pulled away by his lockies while some other goons (including a hot chick) take on Sup's. Rinse and repeat several time's, adding more and more pressure on our hero blah blah blah.

The rest of the cast where no bland I can barely remember a thing about them. Not even the lovely Amy Adams as Lois Lane. How do you make a combination like that bland!?

The effects varied, while generaly the city skape's where nice, the close up's of the Krypton wild life was awful. Added to the the constantly present ball devices where clearly designed for 3D only anf are really painfull to look at in 2D. Just a sea of ugly mosing mass of shiney marbles. The landscape shot's of Alaska and 'insert name of US desert here' was also very nice and...baron. Snyder can at least do wide shot's well.

The plot has convolutions a plenty but I want to here what everyone else thought before I voice my own opinions as counter arguments. Suffice to say though, this was a rare instance where I didn't feel bad for leaving the cinema to go to the toilet several time's. Never felt like I missed anything.

Also, penis prison modules? Tha fook?[/spoiler]

So yeah, didn't like it.