Man Of Steel

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (US, 2013) - RATING: 3.5 - An unapologetically supersized reboot of the Superman franchise, Man Of Steel doesn’t lack for spectacle, but after a while its emphasis on grand gestures and unwavering gravitas stops feeling heroic and begins to seem like overkill. Director Zack Snyder has fashioned a brawny, science-fiction-heavy action movie that’s far removed from the charming, understated tone of the original Christopher Reeve films of 30 years ago, and the boldness of that vision — aided by a quietly compelling turn from Henry Cavill — has its merits. But despite being intermittently gloriously thrilling, Man Of Steelstruggles to juggle all its many ambitions and plot strands, resulting in a film that never quite soars like a bird or a plane.