Man of Steel: Super Slow

With Zack Snyder, Chris Nolan, Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey on board this movie was supposed to be SUPER-awesome. But, the movie is painfully slow paced. The first thing about superhero movies is the fast paced action, which was completely absent from the much awaited reboot to the Superman's Cinematic Universe.

THE PLOT

The movie starts off with the first ever Kryptonian natural birth in many millennia, outside a birthing matrix. Superman's story essentially remains somewhat same. Krypton is a dying planet. They possess very advanced technology. Jor-El, father of the child and a prominent scientist has foreseen the destruction of the planet owing to it's unstable core refuses to join General Zod in staging a coup. El escapes captivity at the hands of Zod and steals the Kryptonian codex which contains the genetic information of all the genetically engineered Kryptonians, managing to upload the codex into his son and sends him off the planet in a spaceship to Earth. He then suits up to battle Zod, who finally manages to kill him only to be captured and then sentenced to the Phantom Zone along with his accomplices.

Fast forward 35 Earth Years. Clark Kent who has developed superpowers owing to his Kryptonian physiology's exposure to the yellow sun, shows up on a fishing ship and goes on to save people on an oil rig. There he is caught in an explosion and is knocked unconscious. He has recollections from his childhood, revealing the problems he had controlling/honing his skills. He finally ends up finding a Kryptonian Scout Ship, which when activated helps Jor-El's conscience to communicate with his son and explain his origins. He also meets Lois Lane for the first time there on the ship, and from there he returns to meet his adoptive mother. Zod, and his followers are freed from their imprisonment after Krypton explodes. They are led to earth after Clark activates the ship. They demand the surrender of Kal-El (Clark's birth name) or they'll destroy earth. Clark surrenders to the army and the rest of the film is pretty physical, with Superman trading blows with Zod and his followers, then he is shown tearing ships apart, breaking murder machines, hurling satellites and then the final showdown with Zod, and by the time they finish they have easily managed to level down half of what was the fictional city of Metropolis.

TIES TO THE COMIC

Cover Art: Superman:Braniac

The origin of Superman is same as in the comics. There are minor changes in the way Krypton is portrayed. Instead of the crystal based tech as depicted in the previous movies, they seem to possess bio-organic technology. The way Kryptonians sent scout ships to search for habitable colonies on other worlds suggests Imperialism and seeing a scientist 

like Jor-El's battle prowess it would be very safe to assume that the Kryptonians followed a martial culture too.

Moving to the regular cast of the Superman Universe: Perry White is Black, Jenny Olsen replaces Jimmy Olsen. Lois Lane isn't a brunette. 

Then, there is a sequence, where Zod is overwhelmed on his hypersenses' first exposure to earth's atmosphere and subsequently Clark is able to best him (for a brief period though). I remember a similar sequence in Geoff Johns' 5 issue story arc "Braniac" featured in the Action Comics #866-870.

There are references to Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor both! The satellite which Zod and Clark tear apart had "Wayne Enterprises" on it and then there were tankers from "Lexcorp" too.

THE VERDICT

Frankly, I'm very disappointed. I had very high expectations, but the movie was waaaay too slow. The non-linear storytelling has been the undoing. What I mean is that the "non-believers" would find it extremely difficult to relate to the events.

There were some patches of brilliance, very few though, e.g. the conversations between Clark and his adoptive father and then the sequence about Clark's hypersenses confusing him. These sequences were sadly rendered ineffective again by the Non-linear screenplay.

The movie was dominated by physical action towards the end, and there wasn't much to offer. 

But, I would commend Snyder et al, for showcasing the problems faced by Clark. The way he feels: alone in an alien world where there isn't anyone like him, his inability to save his adoptive father, which forces him to undertake a nomadic life. 

Also, taking into account the fact that Snyder was tasked at reformulating the Superman Mythos anew, it was surely one helluva tough job! But, with Nolan involved I expected something refreshingly exceptional and not to mention that despite all the positives the movie fails to compensate for the snail pace it crawls at.

BOTTOMLINE: The movie would appeal to the people who have a taste for 3D movies, the kind of people who found Transformers 3 great. To me, the plus point was the slightly newer (read darker) approach to Superman who hasn't always had the proverbial bed of roses for life, and struggles to gradually transcend into becoming a Savior to his adopted home, Earth.

Iron Mania Returns!

And, I'm back to my blogging ways. Back after a gap of what? 10 months, maybe? Can't blame anybody but me. Anyway, let's get down to business. I came back after watching Iron Man 3. The movie had already been spoiled by Shaumik. (He's a total jerk! He even spoiled TDKR for me the last year!)

Shaumik expressed his opinion over the movie, invited my comments, forced me into reading his blogpost full of spoilers, yet I found the movie a good one! In fact, one of the better SUPERHERO movies you are likely to see. (Okay maybe not as awesome as the Nolan Trilogy)

THE PLOT

The movie begins with a flashback narrative by Tony Stark, some 13 years ago. It's New Year's eve '99. Our timeless playboy Anthony Stark is in his Let's-party-Let's-get-laid mood. Accompanying him is his trusted bodyguard Happy Hogan (Random Trivia: In the comics, Pepper Potts and Hogan were romantically involved even married until the latter's death, that is) and his biologist friend Maya Hansen. While, Stark, Hansen and Hogan get into an elevator, in comes our Creepy-mad-scientist-next-door Aldrich Killian. (Who is well hopelessly nerdy in his looks) There he offers Stark and Hansen a job to join his new venture: The Advanced Idea Mechanics aka A.I.M. Stark tells him to wait for him on the roof and never shows up, this kinda ticks the nerd off and in a way constructs the major plot of the movie. Then, Maya and Stark discuss about her work, "Extremis" which is a tech doohickey which can be used to reprogram a living being enhancing their physique and even developing super powers.

Cut to the present, the Malibu residence of our protagonist who's working on his armors bullying his robotic instruments and exchanging witty banter with his Butler like A.I., J.A.R.V.I.S. Next, we move to Stark Industries, where Pepper Potts is expected to meet her ex-boyfriend (no cookies for guessing) Killian, who has mysteriously lost his buck teeth, nerdy glasses, crutch and the old nerdy ways. They discuss EXTREMIS and Pepper refuses any business collaboration. Hogan is doubtful about Killian, recognizing him to be the same nerd who showed up 12 years ago, he decides to tail his associate, which does not end very well. He ends up at the Chinese theatre at the time of a Suicide Bombing and subsequently is hospitalised. Meanwhile, Stark has been having panic attacks owing to his exploits during the Chitauri invasion at New York, and this has actually resulted in a strained relationship with Pepper, who has agreed to move in with him after the events of The Avengers. 

Between, all this there have been Suicide Bombings across whole of the world, with a terrorist leader named the Mandarin taking the responsibility. With Happy in a coma owing to a similar blast, Stark issues a threat to the Mandarin on national television, and well... Mandarin issues a preemptive strike, and some Ka-Pow, Boom and Bang later, Stark finds himself in the middle of nowhere, with his suit offline and him presumed dead. And, from there on he goes on to connect the dots with the help of a new found sidekick, a kid with a rockety mouth. There a few twists and turns, which ultimately leads to a spectacular climax, with 3 and a half dozens of Iron Man armors all operating simultaneously! 'nuff said! 

TIES TO THE COMICS

The storyline is loosely based on the "EXTREMIS" story arc

The storyline is loosely based on the "EXTREMIS" story arc. Then, there is the Iron Patriot! Iron Patriot is the War Machine armor painted "All American" commissioned by the POTUS to counter Mandarin. In the MCU, (Marvel Comics Universe) however Iron Patriot was the armor used by Norman Osbourne (yes the Green Goblin!) while he was in charge of the Homeland Security after the events of the Skrull Invasion. So, basically he was a villain. 

Norman Osbourne as the Iron Patriot. I hate him!

The movie also served as the official introduction to the Super Crime Cartel the A.I.M. into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which might have an implication in the Avengers sequel maybe? 

THE VERDICT

I wanted to watch a badass Mandarin!
*sigh*

Kudos to Shane Black, the movie is simply the best out of the 3 Iron Man movies. Downey Jr., is again a class act. You cannot distinguish if he's playing Tony Stark or if he's being himself. Being a comic book enthusiast I know one thing for sure that he has actually redefined one of the most dull comic characters of all times (Tony Stark, NOT Iron Man!) and transformed him into something awe inspiring! Guy Pearce sure did look nasty! But, it was Downey Jr. all the way. I somewhat missed Agent Coulson here. I hear that Clark Gregg is all set to reprise his role as the S.H.I.E.L.D. top agent Coulson in the ABC TV series, featuring the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

However, I am thoroughly disappointed with the portrayal of the Mandarin, I expected a lot more! In fact, I even had sought a connection between the Terrorist group "The 10 Rings" (which is quite obvious, or was supposed to be) from the first part and the Mandarin, which only seemed logical, but sadly there wasn't one.

All in all, I went to watch Tony Stark, and he did not fail to deliver.