But thankfully it's all new and refreshing; the envisioning of the planet Krypton is breathtakingly imaginative, the Man of Steel even has a brand new suit that is stunning and the new Superman (Henry Cavill) truly embodies the spirit of the iconic superhero. From the first frames of witnessing the birth of Kal-El of Krypton, to our first encounter with Clark Kent on Earth, all expectations are superseded and launches a captivating and ultimate super-sensational and action-packed odyssey into the fantasy realm and real world of The Man of Steel.
The teaming of screenwriter David S Goyer and Christopher Nolan (who wrote the imaginative story and previously collaborated with Goyer on the mega-hit Dark Knight trilogy) with visionary director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) is inspired and sparks a phenomenal and competent collaboration. Its unique world is imaginatively manifested.
An added bonus is that the film embraces its sci-finess; its unique world is imaginatively manifested by Snyder and production designer Alex McDowell, creating a fantastical yet logical imaginary world, with a feast of astounding visual effects by John "DJ" Desjardin, who has been creating visual effects for more than 25 years, working with Snyder on Watchmen and Sucker Punch, and also collaborated with the Wachowskis as a visual effects supervisor on the second and third films in the blockbuster Matrix trilogy), with Amir Mokri's stunning cinematography capturing the raw intensity and awesome beauty.
It's also fantastic how costume designers James Acheson and Michael Wilkinson modernised the suit and the S-shield, perhaps the most instantly recognised family crest in history, which has long represented the strength and courage of the superhero who proudly bears it on his chest (originally standing for Superman, the "S" has since become the heraldic symbol of the house of El, and stands for "hope.")
Hans Zimmer's powerful score poignantly underscores the emotional journey and action sequences, with editor David Brenner (who won an Oscar for his work on Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July) seamlessly connects all the elements of the film.
With heartfelt passion and robust dynamism Man of Steel takes the history, mythology, fantasy and legend of the alien-man superstar to its utmost extreme, delivering intelligent, insightful and sincere escapism that not only pays homage to what it represents, but breathes invigorating and innovative life into a story that captured the imagination of the world. With Man of Steel it is clear that Superman fans and sci-fi lovers will unite to applaud its overwhelming (and welcome) onslaught on the senses. It takes us where we have always wanted to be when it comes to the Superman legend, and beyond.
It never falters by making Man of Steel less than it is - and with its fast-paced action sequences (unlike anything you have seen before), it rules the entertainment arena and is definitely a highlight of the year. What makes Man of Steel even more than any fan could ever wish for is that it thankfully is not a reboot or remake, but an original story about a man who has to redeem himself through his actions, and make an ultimate sacrifice.
In his role as Man of Steel, Henry Cavill is a natural and was born to wear "the suit", and brings an emotional depth to this iconic hero; he succeeds in portraying Clark's innocence and vulnerability with heartfelt honesty, and also does full justice to Kal-El's tenacity and magnitude. There is an also great performance from Russell Crowe, who plays the renegade scientist Jor-El, the planet's leading scientific and an advocate of free choice; potently confronted by Michael Shannon, who portrays the charismatic, militant leader whose behaviour isn't entirely patriotic.
Kevin Costner is great as Jonathan Kent, whose paternal responsibilities are greater than most could ever imagine, with great support from Diane Lane as Clark's Earth mother. Amy Adams shines as one of the most famous female characters in comics, Lois Lane, who has no superpowers of her own-other than those of deduction.
Man of Steel reflects humanity's vulnerability in seeking guidance from super-leaders to guide our respective destinies; it gives us an assurance that hope is not just a four-letter word that falls between hate and love, but that the humane optimism imbedded within us is an instinctive survival mechanism.
Man of Steel represents who we strive to be and through the visceral sensation of its soulful journey, there lies serenity in its resolution that clearly shows how important it is to remain true to ourselves and that secrets are sacred.
Man of Steel is an ultimate high for anyone seeking escapism that provides everything you could wish for: relentless action, spectacular fantasy, a Romeo and Juliet love story, suspense and intrigue and a charming sense of humour. Make a date with Man of Steel, its one experience you will remember long after you have come down to Earth after an eminent exploration.
Though the Man of Steel has graced the pages of comics and the small and big screens in various incarnations for over 75 years, his values have remained constant, serving as a beacon in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world. Cavill admits that he did not fully comprehend the extraordinary responsibility he took on in playing the role of the world's most recognisable superhero until one day in Plano, when he met several Superman fans watching them film. "Their interest, and interaction with me, were enormously flattering, but also made me understand how important it is to them that I do justice to this character," he related. "I had always held the role in very high regard, but that day really instilled in me the value of the choice I'd made, and I was so honoured. Thankfully, I really believe that we've stayed true to the Superman the fans expect, but brought him into our modern times, and I hope they'll really enjoy the result."
To develop the physique that the role required, Henry Cavill engaged in months of training with Mark Twight of Gym Jones, who first worked with Zack Snyder on 300. Incorporating a combination of various transferable functional training techniques, Twight and his team, including trainer Michael Blevins, were able to work with the actor to attain the skills, strength and confidence he needed to perform wire work, fight scenes and stunts. "Once he realised that he could dead-lift more than two times his body weight, he believed," Twight said. "Superman belongs to all of us. He represents the ultimate hero and a celebration of superhero culture by encompassing all the incredibly cool attributes that inspire us-flight, speed, strength-and the best of humanity, like the importance of family, however you define that, and our need for love and a sense of belonging in the world," said director Zack Snyder. "That is why, amidst all the awesome visuals, the intense battles, the problems of the planet that he takes on our behalf, we want him to win: because he's true, because he has a good heart and pure intentions. We want him to choose us, because we want to be the best that we can be, just like him."
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Man of Steel previews nationwide from June 26.
