Man of Steel (2013)

In more ways than one Superman is America's myth. He embodies everything that is good about the country and its values. Not just that, but Superman is also universal, he is the everyman. When I first saw the Richard Donner Superman movie as a kid I fell in love with the mythical, idealistic aspects of the character and his story. It is a great, timeless story. He is the outsider looking in while also being the insider. When he first dons his cape in that movie and flies, the feeling of wonder just overcame me. There is none of that wonder and magic here. Instead we get Chris Nolan's gritty wet dream as filmed by former advertising wiz Zack Snyder (I am embarrassed to share a name with this man). Clark Kent is a brooding, angsty mess. Everything is shot in the most ugly gray/blue palette. This movie was clearly sponsored by Sears and 7/11. There are a lot of explosions and death. There is also an obsession with the military and military technology. Basically this is a uber-macho, Michael Bay-esque fascist fantasy with a guy in Superman's costume. This movie is devoid of all life and joy. I hate it. I hate this gritty trend in popular filmmaking. Where is the energy, the humor, the fantasy? Zack Snyder and Chris Nolan should be exiled to the Phantom Zone for their lack of imagination and creativity. They would do well to study up on the masters of action and adventure filmmaking. The Richard Donner Superman still works and still holds up because it feels magical, it has the aura of a great story surrounding it. Superman is not even his name here, it is a media nickname, a meme. How sad. Strangely I do have a compulsion to spend all of my money at Sears.