Man of Steel begins on the last day of Krypton’s existence. Rendered with art design straight out of a forties comic book, the purple-and-gray planet is on the verge of literal implosion. Its residents are strangely nonplussed, save for Jor-El (a Xanaxed Russell Crowe), Krypton’s top scientist, and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer), who send their infant son to a distant planet – can you guess which? – so the latter can avoid being snuffed out by Jor-El’s foe, General Zod (Michael Shannon). The rest of the film is a portrait of the superhero as a young man – learning of his alien ancestry, dealing with it in fits and starts, and finally getting over it because he has better things to do, like preventing genocide.

It’s nearly impossible to avoid comparing Man of Steel to the last solemn superhero franchise, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Nolan served as a co-producer here, and like his pointy-eared movies, this update of the Metropolis Marvel is overlong, plays annoyingly coy with the protagonist’s hero-name, and throws out a lot of random ideas instead of asserting a coherent vision. But this Clark Kent also shares with Nolan’s Bruce Wayne a great origin story full of lovely moments and, at least with Batman Begins, a captivating love object who’s not an insult to women. It also departs from The Dark Knight in the best way by not being the least bit pretentious. Superman has always been the jock at The Breakfast Club of superheroes, and director Zack Snyder made the right choice not to burden his film with Bat-like brooding.

Man of Steel’s soul resides in its tender origin story, told in flashbacks. Clark’s powers make him more of a freak than a hero in his small town (shades of X-Men here), and his constant struggles to rein in his powers, which are a liability in the classroom and a barely restrained A-bomb among bullies – are touching, if familiar. There’s an intriguing suggestion of Midwestern conformity that makes Smallville less of a Mayberry and more like a real place. The flashbacks hit just the right note of earnestness without sentimentality and are edited so that you want more, even if another half-minute would be too much. Diane Lane and Kevin Costner look more like lifelong Californians with picture-perfect tans than Bible-belt farmers, but they bring a grounded sweetness to Ma and Pa Kent, as do the child actors who play Little Clarklet (Dylan Sprayberry and Cooper Timberline – such child-actor names!).

Unfortunately, grown-up Clark Kent is a lot less interesting. Star Henry Cavill plays Superman as an icon, not as the human being his character (sort of) tries to be. Snyder gets a lot out of trading card-worthy images of Cavill’s determined blue eyes and Schwarzeneggerian muscles, but the hero himself is as blandly all-American as product placement in summer blockbusters. (Rest assured, Sears, IHOP, and 7-11 all get the beauty shots they paid for.) In a different movie, maybe on Lifetime, the pre-superhero Clark, a suspiciously pretty rambler, might be an obvious serial killer. But in Man of Steel, he’s just an extraterrestrial variation of Your LL Bean Boyfriend – just as pretty, but glossy and two-dimensional.

Likewise, Shannon’s Zod is a disappointingly ordinary villain. He’s a thematically muddled character, cobbled together from a grab bag of super-villain motivations: Look, up there in the sky! It’s family rivalry! It’s eugenics! No, it’s nihilism! Snyder makes a point of the super-ness of Kal-El and Zod in the initially fun, then seemingly interminable fight scenes. Hurtling through skycrapers and toward helicopters, their battles are superhuman-scaled, making the fight scenes simultaneously more interesting – what else in downtown Metropolis will they collaterally obliterate while pummeling each other in the face? – and more tedious, since they’re both possess such invincible physiology it’s hard to get a sense of narrative momentum. As the action drags on, it becomes difficult not to feel numbed by all the violence for the sake of violence.

Bereft of a compelling hero or villain, the film at least offers a deliciously sensible Lois Lane (Amy Adams) as a consolation prize. Dressed in business-casual clothes for most of the film, Adams’ Lois possesses a keen sense of compassion and journalistic daring, and is as put-together as Clark is initially confused. Cavill and Adams have a warm chemistry, but it feels so much closer to that of platonic friends, or even a big sister/little brother relationship, that their inevitable lip-lock feels not just forced but kinda gross. Lois can do better than the Man of Steel, and so can audiences.

If he actually decides to go through with it, Cavill will play American spy Napoleon Solo, replacing Tom Cruise who replaced George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, Bradley Cooper, and Channing Tatum. Lone Ranger star Armie Hammer is still attached to play Agent Illya Kuryakin — the role Cavill originally tested for. As of now, it’s a big wait-and-see as neither Cavill or Hammer are considered “names” but this summer could change all that. At any rate, casting this role is a thankless job. Everyone knows there will always be only one Solo.

Is there any higher praise than acknowledgement that a film works? (Variety)

And there’s plenty more crazy on display in this trailer as General Zod issues this warning to the people of Earth: “For those of you who know his location, the fate of your planet rests in your hands. To Kal-El I say this: surrender in 24 hours or watch this world suffer the consequences.”

Judging from the mayhem that takes place in the last third of this trailer, I take Zod at his word. I already love this movie. Please don’t let this be another example of excellent trailer, terrible movie.

At the very least, it’s already better than that Superman movie that Shaq did.

Sounds like a pretty good deal except when you stop to think about who you will likely end up sharing a theater with.

(USA Today)

And it delivers.

It’s definitely a moodier take on Superman but it’s also guys fighting the sh*t out of each other in mid-flight. Bravo.

Special thanks to Christopher Dennis – the world renowned Hollywood Blvd. Superman and best reason to never try ChatRoulette.

Today, for the first time, we’ve received a hint that Cavill may lead both films. The New York Post tried to get the info from Zack Snyder. When asked if there were plans to work his Superman into Warner Bros’s larger DC universe, Snyder answered:

“Um, how can I answer that? I can’t really say anything to that, because that’s a big spoiler. I will say, yeah, they trust me to keep them on course.”

We could take that to mean that Warners are pulling a Marvel and filming easter eggs that tie individual films into a larger superhero team-up film. I guess we’ll know for sure when Man of Steel opens in 2013, but we urge Warners not to have too many dudes playing Superman hanging around. It’s starting to confuse the baby. (NY Post)

Second teaser below because the first one wasn’t Kevin Costner-y enough.

But don’t let anybody say that this is evidence of Chris Nolan taking this movie away from Zack Snyder. Here’s Nolan on what he expects his job as producer to be like:

“My big point of responsibility was helping shepherd David [Goyer]‘s script. When I’m finished with this I’ll be there for whatever Zack wants from me, but it’s very much his movie.”

In any case, this will be the first time Snyder has done a movie without his usual composer Tyler Bates, so this is definitely a new and different direction for Snyder. Now if you’ll excuse me — “BRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHM.” (The Playlist)

When asked about his role in Man of Steel, the actor and current star of Boardwalk Empire lamented the fact that so many fanboys are so very, very wrong about his character’s wardrobe.

…There’s people that have these pictures – somebody generated this on a computer, but I don’t know it’s a picture of what people think I’m going to look like in the movie. They have like a Fu Manchu, kind of like this black SS uniform and it’s pretty mind-blowingly awful and it’s completely inaccurate, but I go ahead and sign them anyway. But I tell them when I sign the picture, I say “This isn’t – you’re wrong.” You know, whoever thought that they cracked the case is way off.

While your theories about Zod’s outfit might be way off, chances are you already have a pretty good idea about the plot, not that Shannon is allowed to discuss it.

“It’s kind of like saying I’m not supposed to talk about the Pledge of Allegiance,” Shannon said. “It’s kind of silly.”

You might remember that Juila Ormond was originally set to play the part opposite Russell Crowe as Superman’s father, Jor-El. There are no reports as to why Ormond has left the project but one can imagine that with Russell Crowe’s passionate views on circumcision and Jewish people, the Israeli Zurer will fit right in. (Deadline)

So far, we’ve had a few looks at Superman‘s boyhood home and a downtown area that gets to’ up but now we have a glimpse of the man himself. Check out the first image of Henry Cavill as the Man Of Steel below. We’re not sure if it is a still image or just a super slow-motion shot courtesy of Snyder. But let’s stare at it together for the next few hours to find out. No blinks allowed.

Click the image to enlarge.

7 photosAmy Adams

Fishburne joins Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Russell Crowe, Julia Ormond Harry Lennix and Christopher Meloni, with shooting beginning in the fall. (Deadline)

Total Recall, however, gives us what appears to be a robot clandestinely urinating in the corner, a few futuristic police cruisers (but sadly no Johnny Cabs), and some sort of bustling transportation hub, possibly the immigration office from the original.

Advantage: Total Recall.

But again, it’s not a contest. But if it was, Man of Steel would lose. Hard.

For the 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise, it would seem we’re becoming reacquainted with an old friend by the name of Moneypenny, Bond’s administrative boss that has been conspicuously absent during the previous Daniel Craig entries. The role will be played this time around by Naomie Harris, who made a name for herself in 28 Days Later. She should really start practicing her eye-rolling now when Bond tells her that he’s “polled the electorate” or makes some pun on the word “come.”

Ms. Moneypenny: the original hater.

I don’t know much about Traue, and it doesn’t look like she’s done anything in the past that would suggest the pseudo S&M evil that Ursa has in Superman II. But hey, Heath Ledger hadn’t done anything like The Joker before The Dark Knight, remember? (Deadline)

_{Superman rescues mini Goyer. It doesn’t matter why.}

David Goyer will write the new Superman movie to be titled The Man of Steel. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering Dark Knight partner Christopher Nolan is shepherding the project for Warner Brothers, but a welcome one, nonetheless.  Goyer intends to look to the original John Byrne creation for inspiration. Brandon Routh will not star and Bryan Singer is not expected to direct. So in other other words, less gay, more fun. Don’t pretend like that’s not an accurate description.

Goyer’s story involves Luthor and Brainiac, and won’t be an origin story, so if you don’t know anything about Superman you’ll be like TOTALLY WTF? Don’t worry, we’ll watch all the prior films at my house before The Man of Steel hits theaters. I’ll bring the popcorn, you bring the Bryan Singer  (LatinoReview)