Man of Steel Directed by: Zack Snyder Starring: Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: June 14, 2013
TRAILER SCORES: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: I’m not sure what I expected from the first teaser for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, but it wasn’t this. There are the Terrence Malick-esque shots (such as the butterfly on the swing set), and the stuff with Kal-El trying to find himself on a fishing boat is reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Don’t get me wrong, with Nolan producing I expected we’d have a more subdued Snyder. I just didn’t expect it to be on this level. I do wish the teaser had a bit more of Zack Snyder’s DNA on display, but that can come later. At this stage I really like what it’s going for. Now that Nolan’s Batman trilogy is finished I wouldn’t be opposed if we start moving away from the more mournful, serious takes on superheroes, but when it’s done right I have no problem with it. We won't know if Snyder succeeded until next summer, but this elegiac teaser has me intrigued.
I quite like Kevin Costner’s voiceover. It’s made even better by being paired with the shots of a young Kal-El running around and standing in a classic Superman pose with a red cape billowing in the wind. While I’m looking forward to seeing Michael Shannon’s General Zod and some real Superman action, this mood setting teaser serves as an effective introduction to this new take on the iconic hero.
As if a teaser featuring voiceover by Kevin Costner’s Pa Kent wasn’t enough, we also have one featuring the voice of Russell Crowe’s Jor-El. As much as I liked the first teaser, this one is even more effective. They both feature the same footage, but Jor-El’s voiceover is really powerful – especially when coupled with the music from The Lord of the Rings (I don’t always love the use of instantly recognizable music in trailers, but this one worked for me). “You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They’ll rest behind you. They will stumble. They will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders,” is a beautiful bit of writing that gives me chills every time. Despite mostly liking Snyder’s previous work – yes, even Sucker Punch – I’ve been a bit skeptical of this one. It would be foolish to say I’m completely won over, but this pair of teasers has me champing at the bit for more.