# Man of Steel (2013)
Wow.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Zack Snyder's take on Superman, but I certainly wasn't expecting this.
Put simply, it's superb.
From the opening minutes, Man of Steel barely stops to catch its breath. The action comes thick and fast, but unlike some superhero films, there's enough story behind it to make you care about what's happening.
What I liked most was how different it felt from the Christopher Reeve films. Rather than focusing heavily on the people around Superman, this version puts Kal-El and General Zod front and centre. It's very much Superman's story, and for me, that's what makes it work.
The opening sequence on Krypton was spectacular.
Instead of the sterile, crystal-covered Krypton we've seen before, this felt like something straight out of The Matrix and Avatar. Strange creatures, futuristic technology and a world that actually felt alive. I could happily have watched another hour set on Krypton alone.
Then there's the action.
And lots of it.
Smallville gets trashed.
Metropolis gets trashed.
Pretty much anything standing within a five-mile radius gets trashed.
The fight scenes are incredible and genuinely feel like what would happen if beings with god-like powers decided to settle an argument. Every punch lands with the force of a freight train.
I especially enjoyed the fights between Kal-El and Faora. The speed and style of the combat reminded me of Equilibrium and its Gun Kata sequences. Blink and you'll miss half of it.
The biggest compliment I can give the film is that its two-and-a-half-hour runtime absolutely flew by.
No pun intended.
So much happens that I already know I'll need another viewing to appreciate all the little details I've missed.
For me, this isn't just a great Superman film.
It's a great science-fiction film.
And a great action film.
And, most importantly, a great excuse to watch buildings get spectacularly demolished.
5/5
