Man of Steel Review, Spoiler Free

[Bozo]

Just saw it now, so it's super fresh. If I had to be concise, I'd say I want more of the movie, but not this movie. Now let me elaborate.

We've got ourselves a great Superman/Kent. I want to see a lot more of this character. He's believable and multifaceted. He struggles to do the right thing like so many of us, and that's what makes him a great figure to look up to. He's not just some boyscout. He's real. This is what was lacking from Routh's performance. When I remember Routh, I think of him as a blank-faced robot doing his best Christopher Reeve impersonation. This new Superman feels fear, self-doubt, and anger. For a superhuman, he's remarkably human. That's the core appeal of any superhero that this movie nailed, and it nailed it with arguably the hardest superhero to pull off the effect, given how much larger than life he is.

The problem comes from the story, I think. They're telling an origin story which is understandably going to start slow, but it never hits 4th gear. If I could describe it as ambiguously as possible, I'd say we don't ever get to see him be Superman. Sure, he spends a lot of time in the suit and uses all his powers plenty, but he lacks a certain amount of, "Tra la la, just doin' the Superman thing today."

I don't know if I'd give it a second watch. I probably will. What I will do is wait very, very eagerly for the second film. This first one leaves off with everything just in the right place to produce an awesome sequel. I do very much want to see more of the world they've created and the characters they put in it.

And there are no end credits. I don't consider that a spoiler, as I think I just saved you some blue balls. If they're trying to do a Justice League thing, they're definitely waiting for more success until they reveal it.