Man of Steel

"This is an expensive movie and Snyder makes sure you leave the theatre feeling happy about investing your money in his work. The frustrations arrive in the form of 3D, which absolutely hacks the cinematography and the special effects with a scythe and murders the fun out of the film."

"With all its pluses and minuses, 'Man of Steel', is a fairly satisfying entertainer, complete with 3-D gimmickry. And it has sufficient star clout: Russell Crowe as Papa Superman is reliably impressive, delivering the most mundane lines of dialogue with a Shakespearean flourish. Kevin Costner is excellent. Michael Shannon oozes menace as all impactful superfoes should. And the British actor, Henry Cavill, fits the bill with his body-beautiful screen presence."

"'Man of Steel' leans more towards Nolan's angsty 'Dark Knight' movies than Marvel's playful 'Avengers'. Yet it doesn't have the great ideas of that Batman trilogy. What it does have - despite all its shortcomings - is genuine awe and wonder in the bits where Superman takes flight. For those portions, for the charming new leading man, and some solid special effects, it's worth a watch."

"It looks good and is populated by fine actors (and we get a peek at trucks belonging to a bald man this movie could have used but doesn't have), but the clunky Superman-as-Jesus imagery running through it all symptomises the problem with this narrative: too much steel, not enough man."

"What is the most disconcerting part about Man of Steel though is its uneven pacing, unsure of whether it wants to be a blockbuster or a film about a man finding himself, or a boy growing up with scary powers, or a man finding his feet. It achieves none of the above credibly, being too loud (in all senses of the word) when it comes to the bang and too obvious when it comes to the pangs, and being always very, very solemn, trying very, very hard."

"This is a Superman film for today's audience. A hugely impressive and entertaining story of arguably the most powerful character in the superhero pantheon (and also one of the biggest pop culture icons), it's clear that the Man of Steel is here to stay."

"While Snyder has succeeded in turning out a Superman that isn't silly (not a small feat) and will likely lay enough of a bedrock for further sequels, it's a missed opportunity — particularly with a bright cast of Shannon, Adams and Lane — for a more fun-loving spirit."

"Watch it closely and you would be in for a few treats if you know the supporting characters well. MOS won't dissapoint, it gives you the right bang for you buck, but we wish this Superman soared a bit higher."

"The film is gripping even in its humourless tone and persistently noisy destructive aesthetics. It connects with its audience on the emotional front. `Man Of Steel` is definitely a recommended watch."

"The film is a fun watch. But Man Of Steel won't redefine its genre as, say, The Dark Knight did. Watch it for some amazing 3D action and the odd burst of humour."

"Man Of Steel definitely glorifies Superman rendering a magnanimous impression! With very little words, and alluring vigorous action, this time Superman shines in his swanky new matted scaly suit and presents to us a story which effectively challenges a few prevailing mythical ideas about the character. Synder's direction is intelligent and Man Of Steel which gives wholesome entertainment despite its hitches manages to get a 3/5. Go with relaxed expectations and watch this one for sure!"

"The movie springs into belated flight during the ferocious finale. The body count would turn mayhem-meisters Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay green with envy. Besides some blatant product placements, there are none-too-subtle allusions to the 9/11 devastation. A curiously empty exercise in blockbuster filmmaking, Man Of Steel is full of sound and fury signifying... you know what."