The Matrix...when I first heard about it, I expected just another sci-fi action thriller. Good and filled with insane stunts, but not terribly intelligent.
Boy, was I wrong. Oh, the stunts are there in spades, all right, and yes, they are awesome. And the special effects are absolutely amazing (even if similar ones have been used in other movies as a result- and not explained as well).
But the movie has plot as well. It has characters that I cared about, from Keanu Reeves' excellent portrayal of Neo, the man trying to come to grips with his own identity, to Lawrence Fishburne's mysterious Morpheus, and even the creepy Agents, everyone does a stellar job of making their characters more than just the usual action "hero that kicks butt" and "cannon fodder" roles. I cared about each and every one of the heroes, and hated the villains with a passion. It has a plot, and it has a meaning...and lo and behold, a plot does help the fight scenes! Just try it, if you haven't seen the movie before. Watch one of the fight scenes. Then watch the whole movie. There's a big difference in the feeling and excitement of the scenes- sure, they're great as standalones, but the whole thing put together is an experience unlike just about everything else that's come to the theaters. Think about it next time you're watching one of the more brainless action flicks...think how much better it COULD be.
All I can say is WATCH THIS MOVIE. If you haven't, you're missing out on one of the best films of all time. It isn't just special effects.
Rating: 10 out of 10
I know what the critics have said. They complained about too much action, superman being too serious, lack of romance, etc. Since Zack Snyder directed this movie, I don't think he cared about the critics. Don't get me wrong, he DOES care about the fans' opinion.It seems like he really wanted to really satisfy the fans. I can see why critics complained about too much action. For me it's just his way to satisfy the viewers. This is the kind of movie that is just really satisfying. When the movie ended, I got that 'satisfying' feeling instead of the 'wanting more' feeling.
Even Snyder's best movies (before this) which were 300 & Watchmen had mixed critic ratings. I think the fans should have anticipated the bad reviews. His style is actually what critics hate. The over the top action and CGI is his trademark. So, even from the beginning, I think this is actually the kind of movie the producers wanted. About the lack of romance, I really do think it's saved for the sequel. The sequel will definitely explore more about the relationship between Clark and Lois and introduce Batman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor. This film focused on 2 aspects: the origin (krypton,his struggle finding his place) & the action (Zod and his army). Don't expect much humor or romance.
The visuals were spectacular! The best about this movie is its action scenes. The action was just relentless. I think the fans won't be disappointed at all, especially after Superman Returns. Yes, I know there are only a few comedic scenes this movie but that actually doesn't even matter. The battle between Superman & Zod will definitely 'wow' everyone but the critics. I mean who cares about the critics opinion? A superhero movie MUST NOT be judged by the critics opinion, what's more important is the audience's opinion about the movie and especially the fans'. I think the movie really delivered. Most people will probably like this movie. I am really sure that many fanboys will consider this as the best superman movie. This is a MUST SEE for people who like action movie. The action was on par with 2012's The Avengers.
The sequel really has great potential. Considering the minimum amount of romance in this movie (since they just knew each other, and superman was also more focused on Zod), the next movie could explore more of that. One of the things missing from the movie was also the presence of Clark Kent at the daily planet. It's one of the trade marks. But, I believe the sequel will show more scenes in the Daily Planet which is interesting to see. They could also explore the Dc universe with future movies.
In conclusion, I think Man of Steel is so far one of the best the action movies from 2013. This movie really is a Snyder movie. But it also has a quite lot of Nolan-esque feel to it especially in the around first 45 minutes.This is a must own on Blu-Ray, and i can't wait for the sequel in 2016!
Rating: 9.5.
