We are used to romantic versions of Superman, but Henry Cavill gives us a completely different take on the comic book character in Man of Steel , which opens today.
In the past we have seen a more innocent, for lack of a better word, representation of the superhero. He is here, it’s a fact. We know how he arrived and where, we also know he came from Krypton and is extremely vulnerable to Kryptonite.
We also know that some evil doers want to cause havoc here on Earth, Superman’s adoptive home, but, up until now, we have not seen the inner struggles that someone like him would have to endure if he existed.
Zack Snyder’s reboot is definitely a 21st Century version. We won’t get into the incredible concepts presented in the film, which are reminiscent of Star Wars. Snyder said and he was correct, that every scene is something we haven’t seen before.
Cavill presents a very sympathetic, relatable Superman. He doesn’t just discover one day that he has these super powers and can do things others can’t, as he tells Lois Lane (Amy Adams) in the movie. Henry Cavill was the perfect choice to play the part of Superman. Kudos Zack Snyder.
There is a lot of background information on Krypton in this remake, which we haven’t seen before. Fast forward about thirty years and we see Clark Kent, who people call by other names, bouncing from job to odd job, seemingly trying to fit in.
The story of young Clark is told via flashbacks and we see a boy who was seen as a freak, who realized he was different and couldn’t understand why. We also see his supportive, loving parents played by Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, trying to make sense of things, showing him how he got here.
When he finally decides to use his powers, specifically the flying, it doesn’t come naturally. It’s a thrilling scene in which Henry Cavill is seen trying at first and sort of failing. Everything he does is like that and he cannot protect everyone unfortunately.
That is the difference in this movie compared to past versions. In the past he usually saves everyone that cries for help, in Man of Steel he can’t always do so and you feel his pain. It comes through, this conflict in which he realizes he can do amazing things, but can’t fix every problem.
Henry Cavill does a very credible job as a conflicted man, who is a loner who doesn’t want this role, trying to fit in a place he knows he is not from, trying to belong. This Superman is one for our generation.
