Man Of Steel - Blog Posts

How I would have ended "Man of Steel"

Ok, sort of an unusual post here but I've been bothered by aspects of this film and the ending with how Zod is dealt with so here is my personal alternate ending:

Obviously HUGE SPOILERS for anyone who hasn't seen it. In the film we are shown a piece of technology that can put you in someone else's mind and create some sort of landscape there. Now they didn't really elaborate on it, but had I been writing it, I would have presented that process and piece of equipment differently and then at the end used it against Zod. Borrowing from the climax of the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything" (a must read for fans, it's wonderful), after the others have been sucked back into the Phantom Zone, I'd had moved the narrative to a point where Zod is tricked using that technology into thinking he had created a New Krypton. It would have been a nice nod to that story and would have been  thematically satisfying cause you could frame him in the same way he was when being "frozen" before entering the Zone first time around. He could be placed in a secret underground installation, built by an up and coming genius named Luthor... One of the last scenes could have been Superman talking with that guy General Swanwick and saying: Superman: Well General, he's in his own sort of Phantom Zone right now, only this one appeals to that monster. Swanwick: And if he ever gets out, are you prepared for that Son? You may have to... Superman: I hope that day never comes. but if he does escape, you can count on me. I'll always be around... *beat*  to help. So Zod has gotten his empty victory. Superman hasn't compromised any morals. It uses established technology within the film. Also It strengthens the bond between humans and Superman and sets him out in a far more traditional hero path.  Yes DC I am available.

Emmet O'Brien takes on Superman.

Here is my review of Man of Steel. I've made it pretty much spoiler free but still approach with caution if you're trying to stay uninformed before the film is released!

i mean to be fair? him saying that it's actually kyrptonian sounds kinda made up, especially when he first becomes a hero and there are literally no other people from his home planet around. and even with his powers, you could theoretically say that he got them from some sort of freak accident like some other heroes in the universe

Lois: “What does the S stand for?”

Clark, desperately trying not to crack up and solemnly defend the Kryptonian symbol on his chest which just so happens to look JUST like an S: “It’s not an S.”

Lois:

The Snyderverse is not a grimdark story

Each time I see someone unironically call it grimdark I immediately know they are surface level watchers that let themselves get distracted by the dark lighting and explicit violence.

Because how can a trilogy of movies in which the main focus is returning hope back into the world be considered grimdark? Those movies are all about how trust and understanding are the right way to build connections and how those connections can make the world a better place. With the movie condeming those that refuse to trust and prefer to fear and hate.

Snyderverse Superman

I don't like the angle the story itself is trying to sell on him but I do think the reactions of the characters inside the story are realistic to what would happen to him in the real word.

Lex Luthor hates him because of his own internalized issues, using him as a scapegoat he can pin blame on. Pretending he hates him due to some higher purpose.

Bruce hates Superman because he doesn't understand him, and people fear what they don't understand. (and in this universe metas became common after Superman appeared so this Batman has no experience with superpowered beings, he didn't slowly increase the powerlevel of the powered being around him, he went from 0 to a 100, and that is scary)

The people who he has saved and cared for love him because they've seen him, they know him.

The people that hate him tend to be people in power or those affected by Black Zero.

He didn't get that much time to make the world know him, he was Superman for like 2 years only, compared to the 20+ he has in the comics.

He is this powerful being that sprung out of knowhere, that is bound to make people afraid, and no ones likes being afraid so they hate.

I think the most realistic part of the movie is the tv scene where people are sitting down and talking about weather he should be allowed to roam free or not.

As if it is moral to deny a sentient being freedom/ autonomy.

Because as much as it sucks to think about it is what would most likely happen if a superman appeared.

People say snyder superman is too angry or gloomy but who the fuck wouldn't if they were subject to hearing people treating them like an object and hating him?

MOS Pa Kent and MAWS Pa Kent

I find the polar opposite depictions of Jonathan in these stories incredibly fascinating.

MOS Jonathan shields and separates Clark from anything related his heritage, including things like his ship and powers. Encouraging suppresion and caution in Clark.

Actively telling Clark to hide his powers and never use them, scolding him whenever he used them. He is a man terrified of the world taking his son away from him, specially knowing he has no real way of protecting Clark from anything that may seek to harm him. So he encourages him to hide himself and avoid drawing any attention.

He is a more jaded and cynical man, immediately assuming the world would attack and try to kill his son (he ended up being right, which is its own can of worms), would try to rip his miracle child, his star baby away from him.

He only sees a world that would harm the child he so desperately seeks to protect, that child he loves more than anything.

MAWS Jonathan is the complete opposite of his MOS counterpart. He is the one that encouraged Clark to discover himself, to make contact with the ship, to practice his use and control of his powers, even turning that into a game a young Clark could enjoy.

He is aware of the shock Clark´s existence will create but in the end he has faith in humanity seeing Clark for what he truly is, someone who just wants to help others.

He is more optimistic and cheerful, thinking of the best and encouraging other people to do so too.

In MAWS, Martha is the one who is the one who wants to keep Clark away from anything alien, the one that clings to him and wants to keep him hidden.

While Jonathan is cheerful over Clark deciding to go public and help people, Martha is the one that is slightly reluctant (though not to MOS Jonathan´s level, like letting yourself get killed by a tornado because you don´t want your son to expose himself is extreme though somewhat understandable) to let him go, though she eventually gets on board and creates his trunks.

This dicotomy is reflected on Clark´s abilities.

Flight is one of his most characteristic abilities and it often serves as a metaphor for Clark feeling free and accepted, it comes in moments where Clark learns to love and accept himself.

So it is interesting to see how in MAWS it is one of the first he obtains while in MOS it is one of the last ones. Showing the difference in how their settings and enviroments reacted to them.

MAWS is honestly amazing and I am incredibly glad we got this adaptation of the Superman mythos. It is so unique and refreshing. I can´t wait for season 3.

Regardless of its flaws I genuinely love MOS and its depiction of the Kent family. Its different from what we are used to in comics and tv shows, but it offers a unique take on the Kents dealing with Clark´s powers. At the end the day Jonathan is just a father terrified someone will hurt his child and he won´t be able to protect him.

Anyways this ramble has lasted enough, love both pieces of media to bits.

Happy 50th to my FAVORITE actor, the one and only and iconic Michael Shannon

I’m gonna celebrate with some movie rewatches today :)

Amy Adams photographed by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello for New York Times Magazine (2005).