dvd of the week
Superman’s unfailing, idealistic, compassionate heroism has never existed in the real world, which is one of the most important reasons that he has been so attractive and so popular for so long. But in Zack Snyder’s massively hyped reboot of the storied franchise – which is written by David Goyer and produced by Christopher Nolan who together created the recent nihilistic and cynical Batman trilogy – Superman (Henry Cavill) is darkened enormously, not just with chiaroscuro lighting but also, and more importantly, in its apocalyptic plot and tone. As young Kal El/Clark Kent/Superman slowly decides to use his powers to help people, piquing the interest of star reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams), evil Kryptonian General Zod (Michael Shannon) comes to Earth in search of Kal and the secrets his father hid with him. Superman ends up making his grand entrance when he must stop Zod from destroying Earth, which (spoiler!) of course Superman does, but not before hundreds of thousands of people are slaughtered in an avalanche of CGI brutality.
