MovieChat Forums > Man of Steel (2013) Discussion > MOS is a near masterpiece, but here's on...

MOS is a near masterpiece, but here's one thing I would change


Introduction (can skip if you want)

Firstly I should probably start by saying MOS is one of my favourite films, how I felt watching it on the big screen back in 2013 honestly has not been rivalled by any other film yet and this is coming from someone who considers himself a bit of a cinema snob and an aspiring filmmaker, with an aim to show that you can like avant garde art films and summer blockbusters.

Okay the bit I'd change:
People always talk about how Pa Kents death was a weak point but I'm going to disagree and say I felt it wasn't bad at all, however I do feel this one change would've made it so much better!

They should've gone the smallville route and had him die of a heart attack to show that not even superman can save everyone and then have Ma Kent say this "You can't save everybody Clark" and that would reinforce the whole film, because as we saw he couldn't save everybody and this also follows through to BVS

Sneaky other thing I'd change:
Get rid of the church scene, or at least move it earlier it just really throws the pace off it always drives me crazy

Other than that I genuinely think this is a near perfect film, I truly, truly love this film

Interested in hearing what you think!

"Like Tears In The Rain"

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"Like Tears In The Rain"

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Oh God, the church scene... When I saw that I was like "Whaaaat?". They really should have left that one out IMO. I was also scratching my head over how Pa Kent died. I just cannot imagine that Clark would be able to watch his Dad die, when he does have the means to save him, even if his Dad told him to stay where he was.
The part of the movie that makes me say it's one of the best I've ever seen is the last third, when Superman fights his battle against Zod and his allies. The second time I saw the film I was even more blown away by that whole sequence (the last 45-50 minutes) than the first time. The fight scenes are so grandiose, the CGI/visual effects are so well done that I really can't say any other movie that could top the experience I had with MoS.

All in all though I gave the movie a 7/10, because of all the script and dialogue issues in the first half/two-third of the movie.

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I think we're definitely in the same boat then because I totally get what you're saying. I'm not even that much of a fanboy it's just that I can't deny how epic It felt watching it on the big screen.

I wish fan cuts were more appreciated legally, I'd totally attempt a reshuffle of the church scene hahaha

"Like Tears In The Rain"

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That's the problem tho

MoS and BvS try to fee epic but don't have the storytelling ability, characterization, or general charm to back it up

But because most fanboys just wanted SO BAD to finally see a buff, chiseled Superman who throws a punch with top notch visual effects...it was inevitable people who clamor to defend even the stupidest aspects of it

Imo it's an objectively poorly crafted film. It's ok to enjoy it but it's tough to deny the shoddiness of it.

I mean Superman had literally no personality in MoS. that is not debatable. But fanboys still project whatever they need to into the film to trick themselves into thinking it's good.

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I would get rid of the absurd amount of product placement. Other than that, I generally enjoyed the movie.

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I'd love to know how much Wayne Enterprises paid WB to have their logo on that satellite 





All for a box of chocolates...

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Things like that never really tend to bother me but I can totally see why it would annoy people, espeically the amount that's actually in the movi-HEY LOOK AN IHOP!

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Yea the Sears part was the worst.

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Hello, I agree with the bit that the tornado scene should have been much different, but I also think that it was a "weak" point in the movie specially due to its importance. I have made a text about this previously so I´ll just trancrive if you don´t mind!
I think in the tornado scene, there were lots of different outcomes that were possible even in a dense situation like that. The problem is the movie is stuborn in it´s plot, as it wants you the viewer to believe that that scene could only have ocurred as the movie showed, and I am sorry, but that clearly is not the case.

I see the need to create a scene where Jonathan commits to his vision and is ultimately prepared to pay the price, nonetheless that scene doesnt completely embody that feeling, because wether you see it or not, there were other options. And in a scene so important to the movie, because of course it´s a turning point in Clarks life, the idea should be simple and straight forward. As it leaves room for doubt it looses power.

I believe the problem to be this precisely. There is flaw in the conception of this movie that translates in this scene and some others. Not everything in the paper translates itself to the screen with the same power - Snyder wanted his aproach to be realistic, but the problem is when you have people behaving like comic book characters and not actual people, it breaks with the general tone that you have originally conceived. Same thing for Zods death, the film wants me to blieve that superman had to kill him. He just doesn´t seem able to do anything else than just grab his head. He doesnt reach for Zods eyes as to block the ray, he doesnt push him aside away from the family, or takes off while still grabing him, for ex:.
It didn´t seem he was having trouble with it during the fight, but when it comes to that specific moment, there were no other options right?
He had to kill him!
I digress, but I think I have made my point. Feel free to respond, this is an excellent discussion, thank you for your opinion and sorry in advance for the long text.

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Honestly speaking, what you should change is the dosage of your medicine if you think this movie is a masterpiece.

I didn't hate it. I actually liked it more the second time I saw it. But it is FAR from a masterpiece.

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MOS is a perfect film. The action is only paralleled by its successor, BvS, and the score is one of the best ever. People like you, who can't accept that there are different opinions and can't appreciate a movie if the critics don't tell you to are more likely to be taking medicine to help them, cause you sure have a problem.

If you didn't think that it was a masterpiece, elaborate, don't insult a person you don't even know just because you don't agree with his opinion.

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Come on, MOS is far from perfect. You may like the movie to that extent but surely you can see it has problems. The fact that you think that it was a masterpiece just because you liked it, doesn´t make it so. I don´t like the "English Patient" but I can tell the movie has quality. Hell, I love "Commando" and it is almost a B movie. Understand where I´m getting at?
One thing is taste, another thing is quality and MOS had its share of problems.
Perhaps even more. And you don´t have to be a critic for that.
In the end of the day, I respect your opinion and you have all the right to enjoy the movie, but I think you have to be able to tell the difference.

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Says the guy that asked him to "change his medicine dosage" just because he thinks a movie is a masterpiece, while you ask for respect. Clearly you don't asked for respect there mate. Good day sir

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There's a difference between calling a movie a masterpiece and saying it's perfect. No film is perfect.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is absolutely riddled with goofs and silly moments, (please don't ask me to list them), but it is still a masterpiece of modern cinema.

The Godfather trilogy is probably as close to a flawless series as you're likely to get, yet it could still be criticised for things like pacing issues, (and was panned by critics when it was first released).

Imo, Man of Steel is a masterpiece in that it provides a visual spectacle that no other film has ever matched, while at the same time taking risks with its realistic approach and exploring the inner psychology of an alien/superhero in the modern world like no other CBM to date.

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I agree when you say that MOS has presented us with a vision not yet seen in a super hero movie, like the fidelity in wich Snyder brought to the screen the sense of raw power that these beings possess, previously only seen in comics.
However, I disagree with you in this point. The realistic aproach fells flat when you have every actor in the movie behave like a comic book character and not a real person, it actually contrasts against its darker tone. Some examples of this and in very important scenes like when Jonathan dies and also Zod.
Plus the way the movie unfolds itself is actually quite childish, as most of the dialogue.
You say it explores the psychology of an alien superhero, I don´t think I really got to know this superman. The entire movie he has like 40 lines or something. Superman has no visible development whatsoever, he is the same person before he puts on the suit and after, you dont actually see him grow into the superman persona, you never see him evolve from all those doubts that plague him. Actually as I have stated several times, he behaves the entire movie like a teenager!
Zack Snyder is a great visual director, one of the best, but he can´t develop a character, not even if his life depended on it.
And for a movie so mature, it answers none of the questions it raises.

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MOS is a perfect film.


That reminds me. I need to donate more money to the local D.A.R.E. program to make sure more kids learn the dangers of using drugs.

If you didn't think that it was a masterpiece, elaborate,


How about you actually giving something which resembles unbiased and logical reasons why you think this IS a "perfect" film?

Like I said, I didn't hate the film. I watched it a second time and liked it more. I think the tornado scene is over-hated, but I get some of the criticism. The tone of the movie is dull, as in, they used a filter on the camera so that even during daylight scenes it seemed subdued.

The spaceship they found had been there for 20,000 years - yet the technology was still compatible with technology from 30 years ago.

I like Amy Adams and think she's really cute, but she was HORRIBLE as Lois. She was completely unbelievable as a hard-nosed reporter who has balls.

I appreciate that without CGI, most comic book movies couldn't be made. But, even so, most fight scenes looked really fake. The fight in Smallville with Zod's thugs jumping around looked bad, as well as a couple of other scenes.

And, here's the fun one. He crashes a drone because he doesn't want the government to find where he "hangs his cape." But, he tells them he's from Kansas, he's been here 33 years, there was a battle in Smallville, Kansas, and only one private residence was targeted during the battle.

People like you throw around the word "masterpiece" so much that it becomes laughable.

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well said, I have watched this movie over and over and love it, im always been a supes fan tho, im watching it right now as i type this, I got a thrill watching this also on the big screen. Some people just dont understand the mythos of superman or appreciate the spectacular of such films, rich in content and story

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The tornadocide scene was OTT but didn't spoil the movie for me.

The one scene I really wish I could change was Clark destroying the logger's truck in a petulant rage. That was too childish and cowardly to fit the character of Superman that I want to be able to identify with. The diner scene before that was so powerful as well... smh

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You must have mental issues to think this garbage is a masterpiece

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Must do :)

"Like Tears In The Rain"

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Although I think the "Tornadocide" complaints are totally overdone I do agree that the heart attack route or possibly Cancer might have gone over better. At least no tornadoes were harmed in the making of this movie. I also think that it was an excellent movie and this is from a lifelong Superman fan.

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