Overwrought and overlong but thoroughly engrossing, "Man of Steel" is an experience akin to finding yourself standing next to an enormous turbo fan while trying to listen to a friend talk about his arduous Mount Everest expedition. On the one hand, you want to get out of the wind. It would be impolite to interrupt. I mean, what's a little wind compared to what this guy had to go through? Still, that fan. It's all you can do to keep shouting "What?" and hope for a happy ending.
Directed by Zack Snyder ("300," "Sucker Punch"), "Man of Steel" is the latest reboot of the "Superman" franchise, and it's an intriguing work that blends snazzed-out superhero antics with brooding superhero angst. In this, we see Superman (an excellent Henry Cavill) as an adopted kid in Kansas renamed Clark Kent, struggling with his Kryptonian lineage and incredible superpowers while at the same time wondering how to put them to use — a theme also visited in the hit TV series "Smallville."
The young Clark's adoptive parents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) encourage the boy to find his place on Earth and save mankind, which is pretty timely considering the evil General Zod (Michael Shannon) back on Krypton has been plotting a major attack on both Earth and Clark, whose real dad (Russell Crowe) Zod had previously left the worse for wear. Surrounded by a supportive family and clear about who the enemy is, Clark is in two minds: He wants to be accepted as a regular American guy but he also wants to live up to his superhero destiny as Kal-El, son of Jor-El of Krypton.