Spider-Man: No Way Home (Spoiler Free) Review

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a film with almost unmatched levels of hype and expectation, where fan theories and potential plot leaks have been much discussed and analysed in the months prior to it’s release. Avoiding spoilers has been a real challenge, one I thankfully passed, so I know how much it means to fans to have nothing spoiled before seeing the film for themselves. It would be an almost impossible task to review the film without detailing some plot points and mentioning a number of the characters who appear so I will only be covering those parts which have been revealed in the two theatrical trailers which have been released. If you still want to go in completely blind then stop reading now and come back after you’ve seen the movie!

No Way Home picks up immediately after the shocking ending of Far From Home where Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) revealed Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) identity to the world and threw Peter Parker’s life into chaos. As the trailers have revealed, this leaves our hero struggling to deal with those consequences and he seeks the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), in the hopes perhaps there is a magic based solution to his problems. As this version of Peter Parker has in each of his film’s so far, he ends up messing everything up and causing himself a whole world (or multiverse) of problems, as his interference with Strange’s spell leads to a host of villains from different universes entering Spidey’s world. Peter must learn to take responsibility for his actions, and keep his loved ones safe, whilst also learning what sacrifices need to be made to truly be Spider-Man.

Spider-Man in his Iron Spider costume

My initial feelings after watching No Way Home for the first time are that I absolutely loved the film, and felt it was not only the finest Spider-Man film ever made, but potentially one of the greatest superhero films of all time too. Having slept on it and had some time to think about the film in a more considered manner, I still feel exactly the same. This truly is a masterpiece. The sheer scale and ambition of this film is frankly stupid to be honest, and I mean that as a compliment! What director, Jon Watts, has accomplished here is nothing short of remarkable. No Way Home isn’t just a 2 and a half hour long CGI fest, there is a real heart to this film, and it is clear that over the course of this trilogy, the director has matured as a filmmaker just as his young cast have as actors. Tom Holland gives a career best performance, showing more sides to his Spider-Man than we have ever seen from any actor in the role so far. It’s amazing to see how far he has come in the last few years, and in my opinion, Holland is now the definitive on-screen Spider-Man (sorry Tobey and Andrew!). Zendaya is given more to do this time around as MJ and is there for Peter when he needs her most, whilst Jacob Batalon continues to impress as best friend Ned, bringing a great deal of heart and humour to the film, and confirming his place as the best MCU ‘sidekick’. I won’t spend too long talking about the villains of the film but just know that Alfred Molina and Willem Dafoe are as great as ever returning to the roles of Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin, almost 20 years since they last played them. Jamie Foxx also gets another shot at Electro and he’s SO much better this time around! What impressed and surprised me most about the villains involved were just how well balanced they all were and they weren’t just thrown into the story for fan service, they all have a reason to be here and all leave their mark on the film with some great and at times shocking performances, I loved seeing them all but Dafoe was the standout for me!

The film isn’t perfect, no film is or ever will be, but Spider-Man: No Way Home is as perfect as they come if you love the character and are hoping for a fun and thrilling few hours of escapism. Maybe the first act of the film is a little rushed and frantic, perhaps there’s a couple of predictable moments, but at the end of the day you’ll be having such a great time with this movie you’ll overlook such minor issues. There’s something incredible and truly magical (not just because of Strange’s involvement) about No Way Home, and this feels every bit as much of an event as Avengers: Endgame did a few years ago. As someone who missed the cinema experience so much over numerous lockdowns, getting the opportunity to see this film in an actual cinema and be part of an audience of strangers cheering, laughing and sobbing on the opening day of release felt like a genuinely special occasion and one of those experiences I will treasure forever.

Green Goblin back in his ‘iconic’ costume from 2002’s Spider-Man

To me, Spider-Man is the greatest superhero ever created, I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember and have loved the character in every game, film, comic book, cartoon or other iteration there’s been. For me, there are two recent versions which I feel have encapsulated Peter Parker and Spider-Man better than any other, and those are the PS4 game from 2018, and now this version in No Way Home. As there’s only so much I can say about this film without getting into spoiler territory, this has felt much less like a review but more just a random jumble of superlatives with very little detail but I hope you get the point, Spider-Man: No Way Home is spectacular! There is so, so much to unpack and I hope to do so in future articles so keep an eye out for those soon. For now, I suggest you get off your butt and watch this film and I really hope you have as great a time with it as I did!

10/10

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review

The original Ghostbusters was released almost 40 years ago, and in that time it has become a staple of pop culture. Thanks to its perfectly cast group of protagonists, hilarious script and absolute classic of a theme song, Ghostbusters instantly went down as one of the greatest comedy films of not just the 1980’s, but of all time. Since the original’s release in 1984, we’ve had an official sequel, an animated series, and a remake/reboot, but none have been able to recreate the magic of the original. Now, in 2021, Jason Reitman (son of original director Ivan Reitman) has brought his vision of the franchise to our screens with Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and I’m happy to say it’s successful as both a tribute to the original film, as well as a solid and entertaining film in its own right.

In Afterlife, we follow Phoebe (McKenna Grace), a very geeky 12 year old girl, and her mother and brother (played by Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard) after they move in to her estranged grandfather’s creepy old farmhouse, in the fictional town of Summerville, Oklahoma, after his recent death. As the family try to settle in to their new surroundings, Phoebe discovers there are some strange goings on in the town and she forms a mystery-solving crew with teacher and Ghostbusters super-fan Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd), and supernatural conspiracy theorist Podcast (Logan Kim). Initially, the film does take perhaps a bit too long to get going, but as the trio learn more about the history of the town, as well as Phoebe’s grandfather’s bizarre behavior, familiar names such as Shandor and Gozer start to pop up, piquing any Ghostbusters fans’ interest, as well as leading to a whole host of spooky and hilarious supernatural sequences in the film’s second half.

New ghost Munch voiced by Josh Gad

One of the most impressive things with the original Ghostbusters was the perfect casting of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson in the lead roles, something I believe Jason Reitman must have considered when casting his protagonists for Afterlife. McKenna Grace may only be young but in the last few years has shown her incredible talent in a number of projects including Captain Marvel, The Haunting of Hill House, and Gifted, and she continues her terrific work here with a phenomenal performance for someone so young. Phoebe is a kid too smart for her age who struggles to make friends, and Grace finds a confidence in her which makes her an incredibly endearing young lead. As Phoebe learns about the Ghostbusters and their heroics in New York in 1984, we get to feel like kids again as she discovers proton packs, ghost traps and Ecto-1, putting us right back to where we were when we watched the classic film for the first time. Bringing an experienced comic actor like Paul Rudd into the proceedings is another masterstroke as he brings his impeccable comic timing and loveable every-man charm to his role. The rest of the supporting cast all do great work, Carrie Coon in particular with a wry performance which becomes incredibly emotional during the film’s latter stages. Shoutout also to Bokeem Woodbine who only has about 2 scenes but gets the honour of saying the legendary line of “Who ya gonna call?”.

There are a number of classic throwbacks and easter eggs for fans of the original and some viewers may find this tedious, feeling that the film as a whole leans a bit too much on the side of nostalgia, for this particular reviewer however, it worked perfectly. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a celebration of a film which will never be matched, and Jason Reitman has not tried to outdo his dad’s work, but instead make a film for the fans, and a younger generation who will collect all kinds of toys and memorabilia just as kids in the 80’s did. As the film moves towards it’s climax, there is a remarkable change in tone and things get surprisingly emotional for a Ghosbusters movie, to go into any greater detail would lead to spoilers but there is a very touching tribute to the legendary Harold Ramis who sadly left us in 2014, I guarantee you’ll be weeping by the time the credits roll!

Paul Rudd, Logan Kim and McKenna Grace

When dealing with a franchise as iconic as Ghostbusters, it was never going to be an easy task to create a film which fans will appreciate as much as the original (and its underrated sequel!), but Jason Reitman has made a truly wonderful movie which contains much of the original’s charm, as well as putting it’s own unique stamp on what the potential of the franchise could be. McKenna Grace is the heart of the film and this is a star-making performance from the young actress as she embodies the childlike wonder and excitement of discovering the world of the Ghostbusters for the first time. Whilst nostalgia isn’t for everyone and its use here will be divisive, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time with Afterlife and every nod to the earlier films put a grin on my face. A couple of final bits of advice before watching the film, bring tissues for the final 20 minutes, you will need them! And make sure to stay behind for the credits for a couple of very special and exciting scenes. I feel a review for a franchise as iconic as this would be nothing without a cheesy final line so let’s just say Bustin’ still makes me feel good!

8/10

WandaVision Episode 4 Review

Wow. Okay, well I’ve thought about it for a few days and as much as I prefer writing spoiler-free reviews, there’s really no way I can talk about episode 4 of WandaVision without going into spoiler territory. So, look away now if you’re yet to watch the episode!

Episode 3 of WandaVision finished with Geraldine (Teyonah Parris) being thrown from Westview and back into the ‘real world’, we assume by Wanda, and providing us with yet more questions about what the hell is going on. Luckily, episode 4 of WandaVision, gives us the answers to almost all the questions we’ve had so far from the previous episodes, as well as bringing some new elements in to an already fascinating series.

The opening scene of this week’s episode is one of the most intense sequences the MCU has ever produced, as we witness the results of Hulk’s ‘snap’ from Avengers Endgame (2019), immediately separating us from the show’s sitcom style of previous episodes. From the start, we learn that Geraldine/a grown up Monica Rambeau (from Captain Marvel) was snapped out of existence 5 years ago, and during that time her mother, Maria (Carol Danvers’ BFF), died. We see Monica panicking as more and more people return to the world after ‘the blip’ and there is a real sense of chaos, giving some proper disaster movie vibes and showing just how crazy and scary this experience was for people.

The first half of this episode has us following Monica in the days preceding episode 1 of the show, as she gets back to work at SWORD (Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Department), which is a new addition to the MCU, having been hinted at in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). After being sent on an assignment to escort a surveillance drone to help out the FBI with a missing persons’ case, Monica meets with Agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), who fans will recognise from Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), who in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment introduces himself in a brilliant way which is a throwback moment to that film (truth be told I didn’t notice it until my 2nd viewing, shame on me!). The duo learn that something strange is going on in Westview, New Jersey, and this leads to Monica being dragged beyond the strange barrier she flew out from in episode 3, and into the sitcom world of WandaVision.

From here, things play out almost like a classic X-Files episode, as a bunch of suits try to uncover the mystery behind what is really going on in Westview. A group of scientific experts are brought in by SWORD, including a certain Dr. Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), who’s not been seen in the MCU since Thor: The Dark World (2013). Her reintroduction further shows that no character is beyond coming back in this universe, something which may happen a whole lot more in this show if certain rumours are to be believed! Darcy brings some much needed laughs to an episode which is probably the least comedic of the series so far, and her chemistry with Woo as they watch episodes of the in-show WandaVision sitcom bodes well for any future episodes of the series they share together.

Many mysteries from previous episodes are solved, such as the beekeeper who emerged from the sewers, the voice calling Wanda’s name through the radio, and the bombshell that it is in fact Wanda behind the creation of this bizarre sitcom reality. Some may complain that by revealing so much, there is little mystery left, but I feel that the Wanda reveal may in fact be a red herring with the true conspirator still out there somewhere (my money is on Mephisto still). As I get towards the end of this review, I almost forgot to mention one of the best moments of the episode! We finally see the full confrontation between Wanda and Monica, and oh boy, Elizabeth Olsen can be terrifying when she wants to be! This standoff leads to Monica’s expulsion from Westview, but we also get a haunting look at Vision, looking the way we last saw him in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) after Thanos had removed the mind stone from his head. It’s a horrifying image which sticks with you long after watching for sure.

With many questions answered, and a number of new (returning) characters introduced, this is the most exciting episode of the series so far, and yet again the wait for next Friday feels too long!

9/10

WandaVision Episodes 1-3 Review

WandaVision is the long awaited return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans have been waiting for since 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. In a genius new move, the MCU is taking to TV screens and through the streaming service of Disney Plus, and WandaVision happens to be the first of several new shows coming to the service over the next few years. This review will cover the first 3 episodes of the show, I have tried to avoid spoilers so feel free to read on, even if you’ve not watched them yet!

For those unaware, WandaVision finds us following a recently married Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), as they move into the town of Westview and begin their new lives as a happy couple, the twist is (well one of many) everything is black and white and they seem to be in a 1950’s sitcom. When we last saw Vision in the MCU he had just been killed for a second time in a matter of moments at the hands of Thanos (Josh Brolin), so immediately we find ourselves questioning how he appears here, but for now we have to just go with it and realise it’s part of the wider mystery!

The first two episodes of the show take influence from classic TV sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke show and Bewitched, and although this style may not be to everyone’s liking, it’s wonderful to see how the creators of WandaVision have thrown themselves into this project and truly captured the essence of shows from this era. There are some fantastic jokes involving some very simple yet clever visual effects, and the fact the first episode of the show is filmed in front of a live studio audience is just a masterstroke and a real love letter to classic sitcoms!

This sitcom style is the one thing which concerned me most going in to WandaVision, as I wondered would it actually be funny? Thankfully, it’s hilarious! The script is so well written with some genuinely funny jokes, both visual and spoken, and they hold up even on multiple viewings. Episode 2 is arguably the funniest of the series so far, with Paul Bettany showcasing his superb comic talent, unseen since his A Knight’s Tale days, in a very memorable magic act with his on-screen wife. He’s honestly never been better in the MCU, and it’s great to see this side of him. Elizabeth Olsen is just as brilliant and the chemistry between the two actors is a joy to watch as they bounce off one another, seemingly improving each other’s performance.

For those reading this and wondering ‘so how does this link to the wider MCU?’ well, it’s hard to say, especially without going into spoiler territory. It’s fair to say after the first couple of episodes there are a dozen or so theories going round about what is really going and where the story may be headed, but if there is one criticism of the episodes, it’s that the plot doesn’t progress too far or give too many clues about where it could be headed. Episode 3 is where things get pretty juicy though as the final minutes of it reveal a much more sinister tone and have us viewers really questioning who is behind this surreal world our heroes are now living in. There are a number of easter eggs subtly planted in the episodes for eagle-eyed viewers, which relate to famous comic book stories involving the Vision and Scarlet Witch and could hint at the future of the series. I really hope from this episode onward things will really pick up and the veil of mystery regarding the main plot will gradually be pulled back. We still don’t even know who the ‘big bad’ really is!

As great as Olsen and Bettany are in WandaVision, I can’t forget to mention the brilliant supporting cast and how much they bring to the series. Kathryn Hahn (who I absolutely loved in Parks and Recreation) plays Agnes, a nosy neighbour who may or may not actually be a famous character from the comic books, and her hilarious performance probably make her the standout supporting character of these opening episodes. Emma Caulfield, of Buffy fame, appears in episode 2 in a very ‘Stepford Wives’ role and adds some sassiness to the series as well as a certain level of intrigue regarding her role in the wider story. Perhaps most interesting is the inclusion of Geraldine (Teyonah Parris), who before the series release was revealed to be playing the grown up Monica Rambeau, who we last saw as a child in Captain Marvel, so it will be exciting to see how her role develops over the next few weeks, especially as she appears to know more than initially thought in episode 3.

Although this may not be the standard superhero fare we have come to expect from Marvel Studios over the past few years, the first 3 episodes of WandaVision have enough humour and mystery to keep audiences interested. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany have never been better in these roles, and I feel there’s even more to come from the pair as things get weirder and the stakes get higher. The plot has been fairly slow moving so far, but as things begin to pick up I’m confident we are well on our way to experiencing another epic addition to the MCU. I for one, can’t wait for episode 4!

8.5/10

Guardians of the Galaxy review

The Guardians of the Galaxy have been an on/off fixture in Marvel Comics since the 1960’s but have never really been seen as A-listers despite having many different heroes step in and play their part as Guardians over time. The lineup we see in the film is based off the 2008 comic book revival which consists of the human leader of the group Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), a deadly female assassin called Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a maniac quite rightly named Drax the Destroyer (former WWE star Dave Bautista) and the duo of Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel), a genetically engineered raccoon and a giant tree like creature restricted to only 3 words of dialogue. This crazy bunch of individuals are soon brought together after Quill finds a mysterious orb with unknown power which just about every evil person in the universe wants to get their hands on, including the terrifying Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), a Kree (blue-skinned alien, keep up people!) thirsty for power and willing to end the lives of billions.

Avengers had the (relatively) easy task of making a superhero team up movie with characters that had already been established and were known to the wider public so it’s credit to the film makers that by the end of this 2 hour film you care so much about each of the main characters. The people who deserve the real credit though are the exceptional cast who all give brilliant performances full of humour and heart. Pratt plays Star-Lord as a confident, cocky Han Solo/Captain Kirk type and he is the true hero of the film. We meet him in 1988 at the beginning of the film in the only scene set on Earth and immediately feel connected to his character who isn’t quite as sure of himself as he makes out. Zoe Saldana is reliable as ever as Gamora and she gets to really kick ass in several scenes, I sometimes felt however in a couple of her fight scenes that she didn’t live up to her status as ‘the most deadly woman in the galaxy’. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper are arguably the biggest stars in the cast so it was understandably risky putting them in the film only as voice talent for Groot and Rocket, the performances they produce however are so brilliant they still manage to stand out. Cooper pulls off the sarcastic and short-fused Rocket perfectly and he carries the film with his many brilliant one-liners, we also see a little in to Rocket’s dark and troubled past and really begin to care for this unloved creature. Diesel meanwhile manages to find a million different ways to say “I am Groot” yet it never gets boring and I’m sure he will be many people’s favourite character by the end of the film (something that could probably be said for each Guardian, they’re just that good!) The real breakout star of the film however is surprisingly the former wrestler Dave Bautista. As expected he is great in all of Drax’s action scenes and smashes plenty of heads in but where he caught me by surprise is just how fantastic a comedy actor he is. Bautista has such excellent timing that many of the top actors in Hollywood could only dream of having.

Comedy really is a big part of this film and I know that troubles some Marvel movie fans, especially when it is timed badly and takes away any danger from a scene. On the whole I will say the jokes are done incredibly well and every one seems to hit it’s mark and get the audience laughing, however there is a moment which I feel may prove controversial where a scene is played for laughs and it sadly feels like a bit of a cop out and lack of creativity from the writers but I will leave it up to you to decide, you will surely notice this when it happens.   Don’t worry though there is plenty of action and tension throughout the film and it is balanced perfectly with the comedy. Captain America: The Winter Soldier had big ideas and proved that Marvel Studios aren’t afraid to go serious and despite not being quite so politically centred this story contains a plot where the lives of billions are at stake and the threat seems real despite it being alien. We even get to meet a character who was glimpsed at the end of the Avengers and has already been compared to The Emperor from Star Wars. A true evil being overseeing everything who has very big plans and we are sure to meet again soon in a Marvel film!

Along with great comedy and action come some truly jaw dropping visuals. Director James Gunn insisted on using as many practical effects as possible and we get some great and very exotic set designs, as well as plenty of brightly coloured alien extras. Of course a film of this scale contains a great deal of special effects and they are tremendous, we get thrilling spaceship battles rivalling anything seen before in a sci-fi film and also some really cool looking planets and scenery. The work done in bringing Rocket and Groot to life deserves special mention as they really are terrific, I would say on the same level as Gollum from the Lord of the Rings films and Caesar from the recent Planet of the Apes, they are just so realistic and you feel all their emotions.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a real cinematic treat, it will have you on the edge of your seat from the word go and it is highly likely you will fall off that seat from laughing so hard. I was lucky enough to watch this in IMAX 3D and would highly recommend others to watch it in this format if they get the chance, it is a film made for the biggest screen. Avengers 2 is coming next year, until then this bunch of A-holes are here to keep us entertained, and I’m sure this isn’t the last we will see of them.

5/5

Transformers: Age of Extinction review

Transformers: Age of Extinction is director Michael Bay’s fourth film in his entertaining yet critically panned alien/robot franchise. This film is set five years after the events of Dark of the Moon where most of the city of Chicago was destroyed in an alien invasion before being stopped by Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Now it is present day and the remaining Transformers, both Autobot and Decepticon are being hunted down by the US government and another mysterious enemy. After a short recap of events we meet down on his luck inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and his 17 year old daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz, who is clearly in the ‘dodgy acting but good eye candy’ role for this film) who struggles to have a normal life with her overbearing father, she does however have a boyfriend called Shane (Jack Reynor) who she’s been hiding from her dad. Everything changes for them when Cade discovers an old truck which just so happens to be Optimus Prime! This leads us in to a story full of car chases, evil government types and of course massive explosions! Exciting stuff right? Sadly not…

Having enjoyed the previous Transformers films despite being well aware of their flaws I went in to this movie knowing what to expect and in fairness you do get all the customary Michael Bay features, most within the first 5 minutes of the film! The man is well aware of the criticism he receives and if anything he’s on his worst behaviour in this film. Explosions come thick and fast, each one seeming to say “f**k you random critic who doesn’t like me blowing shit up!” The action has never been a problem for me with these movies but in this film I think the quality of the set pieces has dipped since the previous film which really had some jaw dropping moments, for example the wingsuit scene which I still enjoy watching back. This film does get it’s standout moment when we finally see the Dinobots, they prove to be just as badass as you would imagine but they have such small screentime they are soon forgotten about.

We get a few new Autobots in this film and they all play their part and are voiced adequately by John Goodman, Ken Watanabe and John DiMaggio, although you never really care much for their characters. The standout voice actor again however is Peter Cullen reprising his role as Optimus, a role he has played since 1986 and he has never sounded better. A special mention too has to go to Mark Ryan who voices Lockdown, the new threat that the Autobots have to face. He is a brilliant villain who rivals Megatron from the previous films as most ruthless and pure evil baddie. His mission is to take out Transformers and he does it with a chilling ease.

Mark Wahlberg is the main human protagonist in this film and he is actually a very likeable and believable hero. His performance is one of the highlights of the movie as you see the love he has for his daughter and that everything he does is to protect her. As well as his caring side he does get several chances to prove himself as the hero, one standout moment being when he is chased down several floors of a Chinese housing estate by a CIA agent, a great setpiece which ends in a bloody fight. Some of the other new human characters we meet are Kelsey Grammer’s hate fuelled CIA operative Attinger, who works with Lockdown in tracking the remaining Autobots and Decepticons, and Stanley Tucci’s Joshua Joyce who is the head of a company called KSI which plans on creating Transformers of their own. Both of these are experienced and well loved actors and as expected are the standouts in this film, especially Tucci who adds some great moments of comic relief which helped me stay awake during a painfully long finale.

Yes, painfully long you read that correctly, this is a 2 and a half hour film after all. Now I have no issues with long films BUT they have to do enough to keep the audience’s attention. You can’t just keep a film running with robot fight after robot fight, it needs more! The last 30/40 minutes of this film had me checking the time just hoping it was nearly over and that’s just not good enough from a summer blockbuster.

Transformers: Age of Extinction does have a few things going for it such as the performances of Tucci, Wahlberg and Grammer but it sadly proves to be one movie too many in this franchise many thought they had seen the end of. If the ending of this film is anything to go by we are in for at least one more Michael Bay smash fest, let’s just hope it’s a little shorter next time.

2/5

Man Of Steel review

Supes soars!

Superman, arguably the most famous and iconic superhero of all time. Everyone knows the story about the child from Krypton who crash landed in Smallville and was raised by the Kents before becoming Earth’s flying protector, so why are we watching all this again Mr Snyder? Well because we haven’t seen Superman or his origin told like this before.

The film opens with the audience being introduced to the dying planet of Krypton, however unlike the 1978 original Krypton which looked like an icy desert, this is a magical looking place which makes the most of modern CGI (THERE IS A FOUR WINGED DRAGON!) and has some of the film’s best visual moments. Instantly you know that this is an incredibly ambitious film. 

It is in this opening sequence where we meet Jor-El, played brilliantly by Russell Crowe who effortlessly steals every scene he’s in. Much like in the original Superman film (which I promise to stop referencing soon) we see Jor-El informing a Kryptonian council of the planet’s impending doom, but before he can tell them how their race can be saved he is interrupted by the menacing General Zod, played here by Michael Shannon. Now, Shannon’s name was unfamiliar with me before seeing the film but after watching him in this i’m making it my mission to watch everything he has been in because boy is he a good actor! Great superhero movies need great villains and General Zod proves to be one of the most memorable of recent times as he is genuinely terrifying in his unrelentless mission to restore Krypton to it’s former glory, but i’ll touch more on that later…

I went off a bit there but yes Zod interrupts the council, this leads to Jor-El and his wife Lara sending their newborn son Kal off to Earth in a very emotional scene. Hans Zimmer’s fantastic score brings tears to the eyes as we see the sacrifice these parents are making for their son’s future.

Cut forward and we are shown a grown up Kal-El (now Clark Kent) but going by several different names as he goes about doing good in the world in his pre-costumed days. We do however throughout the film see glimpses of Clark’s childhood and some of the moments which help him become the hero we will see by the end of the film. I am a big supporter of the way the film is structured with these flashbacks as they all help make Clark a more relatable character as we see the struggles he has to face and signs of the good inside him.

We gradually meet key characters from the Superman mythos including his Earth parents, Daily Planet editor Perry White and of course Lois Lane, arguably the most famous woman in the world of comics. The casting for the film is perfect as all of the actors excel in their roles, some perhaps don’t get enough time on screen but this is Clark/Superman’s film and I have to say Henry Cavill absolutely owns the role. I was a huge fan of Christopher Reeve and thought nobody would ever be that good again but after seeing this film (twice at the time of writing) I think Cavill is the standard for all other actors playing this character to reach. Much like Zod’s Shannon I was relatively unaware of who Henry Cavill was and don’t recall seeing him in anything else apart from the mildly entertaining Immortals where he didn’t exactly blow me away. Here however Cavill lights up the film and really looks like he is the next big thing in the acting world. This is a different Superman to Reeve’s but it has to be! These are different times and audiences are tired of the boyscout who in recent times has been described as dull. Cavill still plays Superman as someone who is undeniably ‘good’ but this is a more powerful and more grown-up Superman than we’ve seen in the past.

The hidden gem in this is definitely the relatively unknown German actress Antje Traue who plays Zod’s accomplice Faora who is just as, if not more, deadly as her General. Her character is as memorable for her ruthlessness as her beauty and I will definitely be looking for her in more films in future!

The 2 standout actors in the film are Russell Crowe, who i’ve already talked about, and the brilliant Kevin Costner who seems as though he was born to play Jonathan Kent, Clark’s Earth father. His are the most emotional scenes in the film as we see how he shapes Clark to be the hero the world needs.

If emotional films aren’t your thing though don’t worry as this film has a crazy amount of action and we see destruction on a ridiculous scale, think Avengers x10. Director Zack Snyder is famous for his stylish action sequences and if you’ve seen 300 or Watchmen you will be aware of this and I think it is fair to say this is his best film in terms of action. I’ve seen some crtics have said there is too much action in this film and it takes away from the characters but if you ask me I say that’s a load of rubbish. Sure there’s a lot of fight scenes but there has to be! It’s Superman! 2006’s Superman Returns was a decent film but there was no way near enough going on to make it interesting enough to watch again and again. In this film however, you see some of the most incredible looking fights seen on film and they blow the action scenes from any other superhero films out of the water. The action isn’t just restricted to punches though as we see the true god-like abilities of Superman and when he flies through the air these are the standout moments. Snyder’s decision to film with a shaky handheld camera is a wise one as you really feel the speed at which our hero is flying. Perhaps my favourite scene in the film is when Clark is first learning to make the most of his powers and takes flight for the first time, it’s a beautiful scene and the mix of brilliant cinematography and the joy on Cavill’s face makes it wonderful to watch.

The film is not perfect though despite how highly i’m speaking of it. One of the few faults of the film is that it is perhaps a bit too simplified some of the time, on several occasions some of the characters think it is necessary to tell previous events in the film again and again which can be tiresome. Another problem I had with the film was that the romance between Lois and Supes was a bit too rushed and a tad unconvincing, there’s a sequel coming though so there’s hope for it to be explored more then. One thing that really sucked though was a lack of “Kneel before Zod!” (for those unaware of what i mean by that quote then you need to see this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFyHTU8tg_0) not a serious point but still would have been nice!

So in conclusion I would say that Man Of Steel is not only the best Superman film ever but also one of the greatest superhero films of all time. It is definitely my favourite film of the year and it will take something special to beat it. For fans of the character it is the film you’ve waited to see, and for people more unfamiliar with Superman it makes you want to see more. There are also a few cheeky Easter Eggs to look out for with references to both Lex Luthor and the dark knight himself Bruce Wayne so pay attention to those. Exciting times ahead for DC!

10/10