[Philistine]

I went to see the regular 2D version last night, having seen the trailers and reviews here I had a low level of expectation - which was 'it's going to be another Iron Man 3 or Star Trek'.

Apart from the first 20 minutes being a bit ponderous I thought the rest of the movie was excellent, a very well executed story line and CGI effects that supported the story as opposed to leading it (which was my main criticism of Iron Man and Star Trek).   It set a strong foundation for future sequels and stands on its own as an excellent movie...I can thoroughly recommend it and intend to go back and watch it in 3D.  In the genre of similar releases it stands up there with Oblivion as being one of the better recent movie releases.

 

[TheChairGuy]

I went to see the regular 2D version last night, having seen the trailers and reviews here I had a low level of expectation - which was 'it's going to be another Iron Man 3 or Star Trek'.

Apart from the first 20 minutes being a bit ponderous I thought the rest of the movie was excellent, a very well executed story line and CGI effects that supported the story as opposed to leading it (which was my main criticism of Iron Man and Star Trek).   It set a strong foundation for future sequels and stands on its own as an excellent movie...I can thoroughly recommend it and intend to go back and watch it in 3D.  In the genre of similar releases it stands up there with Oblivion as being one of the better recent movie releases.

I feel much the same.

I watched several of the promo's for the movie at HULU.net a few weeks ago and I wasn't that impressed.  That said, today was dragging and I've been slaving since July 2012 with work, so I excused myself early and went to a midday matinee.

Hey, dang thing was only $5.50 that time of day - I forgot it's like half price at that time 

Anyhow, this movie held my attention for the full 2hours+. I could care less about Superman or most of the other DC Comics (I was HUGE, and snobby, Marvel Comic reader and collector until my mid teen years).  I excuse the Avator-like beginning sequences...I just thought this whole thing was a wham-bam thrill ride.  Very enjoyable - better than all, or at least most, the Marvel movies I think.

Shows up how INCREDIBLY lame the Green Lantern was a couple years back for sure 

[goldlizsts]

Hey Guys,

Wait 'til you see World War Z.  It's getting worse !  With the new digital technologies, you really will be bombarded with dead bodies!  In the old days, when labor was cheap, they'd use thousands of temps in those epic movies, like Ben Hur, etc.  Now, all they have do is just punch a few keys (very casually speaking!), they'd have thousands of bodies, dead or alive.  That's what you get in WWZ!  It's wonderful if they're good, but so far, I've not been impressed with these digital geniuses!

[mclsound]

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! !!!!!!!!!
FINALLY got to see this awsome show....Marvel has competition
I had no problem with the film length and look forward to the next movie.
I have read some of the negative comments here before I went to see it and now I have to disagree with them.
True fans will love this show...and there is plenty of humor although not Will Farrell type.

[wushuliu]

The movie was underwhelming to say the least. It tried so hard to be the opposite of the Donner version. $400 million dollars for a half hour of ridiculous Avatar/Star Wars mash-up, another hour of flashbacks and vignettes that look like outtakes from a bad Terence Malick ripoff, then another hour of pure noise and effects THAT SERVE NO PURPOSE TO THE STORY AT ALL.

MoS has ZERO emotional core. None. I didn't connect with anyone in the film at all except for Zod. And why? Because he was the only character with an actual purpose behind his actions at all times. Granted, that's pretty rare for a villain. Michael Shannon did a great job. Everyone else was a cardboard cutout with ridiculous dialogue who did things that made zero sense.

I mean, I know it's just a movie - but when Superman just happens to overhear dialogue of a mysterious object found, just happens to find his way at the military base overseeing the find, Lois just happens to take a picture JUST when Supe is investigating, then Lois just happens to be an awesome mountaineer and ends up in an UNGUARDED TUNNEL to the said object aka GIANT F'ING SPACESHIP...

The whole movie is like that. Stuff just happens out of nowhere. All of a sudden civilian Lois is doing stuff with super high level military with NO real supervision. All of a sudden she and Supe kiss at the end with seriously one of the WORST romantic one liners I have ever heard.

And on and on and on.

Only the performances saved this film. Crowe was great, Shannon was terrific, Costner did the best he could with a crap role, Amy Adams could only be Amy Adams because her part had zero backstory or personality. Laurence Fishburne wins for getting a paycheck for doing NOTHING.

Oh and what was up with everyone in Metropolis (or wherever, since I don't think anyone actually says the city's name) just standing around as the entire city is being destroyed. Seriously. The Daily Planet watches everything for a good what 10min before Fishburne hauls his fat azz. Even then they only make it like a couple blocks. There is no actual sense of panic. Just extras standing around Grand Central Station when Superman and Zod explode into the building. They had just been hanging around waiting for the train I guess.

Zach Snyder is like Ridley Scott: Amazing visual stylists who are okay with actors but can not tell what makes a good story to save their lives.

Iron Man 3 is a better film by FAR. And Richard Donner can sleep with a smile knowing his 35yr. old version is still the Superman to beat.

Oh and someone explain how no one will recognize Clark Kent now that everyone on the planet has seen Superman. Cause Supe didn't exactly dorkify himself at the end. He just looks like Superman - with glasses.

A joke, man. A $400 million joke. Scratch that - that assumes the film had a sense of humor, and since there were NO jokes at all in the film, make that a $400 million bore.

[ajzepp]

Michael Shannon was the one certainty about this film. The guy is a tremendous actor and from the minute I read he had been cast in the role I knew he'd deliver the goods. It's interesting how polarizing this film has been...looking forward to seeing it for myself.

[wushuliu]

Michael Shannon was the one certainty about this film. The guy is a tremendous actor and from the minute I read he had been cast in the role I knew he'd deliver the goods. It's interesting how polarizing this film has been...looking forward to seeing it for myself.

I know I am grumpy and picky about movies, but this was a real disappointment. Two weeks from now I won't remember what it was about.

The trailers for Pacific Rim on the hand, just keep looking better and better...

[Andre2]

world war z was such a boring movie, no story whatsoever just trying to scape from zombies the entire movie

[ajzepp]

I know I am grumpy and picky about movies, but this was a real disappointment. Two weeks from now I won't remember what it was about.

The trailers for Pacific Rim on the hand, just keep looking better and better...

I can't wait to read some reviews for Pacific Rim. The most recent trailer I watched was pretty damn cool.

[Rob Babcock]

Pacific Rim looks like a "Twinkie" type of a movie, tasty but all empty calories.  Still, I'll probably check it out.   Not every film is designed to be high art.  The late Roger Ebert liked to quote another critic who said movies are so rarely great that if you can't enjoy great trash you might as well stay at home.

As for Man of Steel...you guys knew it was about Superman going in, right?  He's the most vanilla, uncomplicated character in the D.C. universe!  What did you expect, Shakespeare? 

[wushuliu]

Pacific Rim looks like a "Twinkie" type of a movie, tasty but all empty calories.  Still, I'll probably check it out.   Not every film is designed to be high art.  The late Roger Ebert liked to quote another critic who said movies are so rarely great that if you can't enjoy great trash you might as well stay at home.

As for Man of Steel...you guys knew it was about Superman going in, right?  He's the most vanilla, uncomplicated character in the D.C. universe!  What did you expect, Shakespeare? 

Are you telling me Pan's Labyrinthin, Hellboy 1 & 2, etc. are 'Twinkie' movies? Everything Del Toro does IS high art. The originality of his films and visual design AND the guy can tell a good story. Nothing twinkie about that!

You can't tell me Reeve's Superman is not the most completely realized AND complicated superhero hero on film. Donner's Superman is still the best superhero film ever made.

Here's a neat little story:

At a recent Q&A for his latest cinematic contribution Unfinished Song, veteran thespian Terence Stamp, best known to Superman fans as both the original General Zod and, later, the voice of Jor-El in TV's Smallville, recounted an amazing story about a restroom encounter he had just had with a group of moviegoers grumbling about the quality of the new Superman film compared to the original film series.

"I spent an hour and a half driving down here from Ojai, and the first thing I wanted to do when I got out was take a leak. I go into the men's bathroom and there's a whole load of guys — obviously, Man of Steel [the Superman reboot] had just turned out. So I take a pee, and I start washing my hands, and there's about 10 or 12 guys there, and they're talking about Man of Steel. And one says, 'Well, I don't know. If they'd have, like, peeled the buildings off the screen I wouldn't have been surprised, you know?' Another says, 'It was all so loud.' Then the guy down at the other end, who was only a little guy, said, 'Yeah, yeah!' And he said, 'It really wasn't as good as the first one, was it?' And I just couldn't resist, and I said, 'You're a very discerning man.' And as soon as they heard the voice they said, [screaming in shock] 'Oh my God! It's General Zod!' I swear to God, it just happened"!

'Nuff said.

[Rob Babcock]

I don't think Pacific Rim is gonna be another Pan's Labryinthin but hey, I could be wrong!   It looks more like an attempt to grab some of the cash left over from rabid Transformers fans that can't wait for another one to be crapped out.  I'm hoping Pacific Rim will be a lot better, though.

I thought Reeve's films were pap so I guess we'll have to disagree on that score.  To me Superman is as shallow as a bird bath, all adolescent wish fullfillment.  What is "complicated" about the comic or the first film?  The appeal completely escapes me.  It's as though he has no personality at all, he's just a list of powers with no purpose.  Completely one dimensional.  And of course, the most absurd of all characters, too.  His "weaknesses" are comical...btw, how many colors of Kryponite are they up to by now?

Of course, the only "DC" books I really liked was Watchmen series.  All those characters were like real people, complete with personalities, motivations and personal foibles.

I do think Cavill did as well as one could at injecting personality into such a cardboard character.  He seemed to pick the characteristic of "outsider" or alien and at least display some of the conflict Supes might feel living as basically a god among mortals.

[wushuliu]

I don't think Pacific Rim is gonna be another Pan's Labryinthin but hey, I could be wrong!   It looks more like an attempt to grab some of the cash left over from rabid Transformers fans that can't wait for another one to be crapped out.  I'm hoping Pacific Rim will be a lot better, though.

I thought Reeve's films were pap so I guess we'll have to disagree on that score.  To me Superman is as shallow as a bird bath, all adolescent wish fullfillment.  What is "complicated" about the comic or the first film?  The appeal completely escapes me.  It's as though he has no personality at all, he's just a list of powers with no purpose.  Completely one dimensional.  And of course, the most absurd of all characters, too.  His "weaknesses" are comical...btw, how many colors of Kryponite are they up to by now?

Of course, the only "DC" books I really liked was Watchmen series.  All those characters were like real people, complete with personalities, motivations and personal foibles.

I do think Cavill did as well as one could at injecting personality into such a cardboard character.  He seemed to pick the characteristic of "outsider" or alien and at least display some of the conflict Supes might feel living as basically a god among mortals.

I can't speak for the comics. I never got into comics, just movies. I know comic fans bring a whole other perspective to these movies, so yeah if Reeve's Superman came off as 'pap' , there's not much I can say to that!

[Rob Babcock]

I don't "get" the love for the Reeves films.  They were unbelievably cheesy, even for the era.  They have not aged well IMO.  I'm as much comic geek as film buff, but for the most part the two are different art forms.  Of course, there's something out there for everyone.

As long as Cavill is playing Supes I'll probably watch future installments.  This one had problems but few movies today (or ever, I suppose) are instant classics.

[Chazro]

I don't think Pacific Rim is gonna be another Pan's Labryinthin but hey, I could be wrong!   It looks more like an attempt to grab some of the cash left over from rabid Transformers fans that can't wait for another one to be crapped out.  I'm hoping Pacific Rim will be a lot better, though.

I thought Reeve's films were pap so I guess we'll have to disagree on that score.  To me Superman is as shallow as a bird bath, all adolescent wish fullfillment.  What is "complicated" about the comic or the first film?  The appeal completely escapes me.  It's as though he has no personality at all, he's just a list of powers with no purpose.  Completely one dimensional.  And of course, the most absurd of all characters, too.  His "weaknesses" are comical...btw, how many colors of Kryponite are they up to by now?

Of course, the only "DC" books I really liked was Watchmen series.  All those characters were like real people, complete with personalities, motivations and personal foibles.

I do think Cavill did as well as one could at injecting personality into such a cardboard character.  He seemed to pick the characteristic of "outsider" or alien and at least display some of the conflict Supes might feel living as basically a god among mortals.

Rob, your unrestrained hatred for Superman seems to suggest something else is at work.  Understand I'm simply curious.  Speaking for myself, when I totally skeeve someone or something, I can't be bothered to even check what's being said about that person/thing.  You on the other hand, at this point, have written quite a bit about this character that you hate.  Not to mention that you've simply been repeating yourself from the very beginning!  Wazzup!!??  Maybe someone put a red towel around yr neck and dropped you from yr crib!!;)  Just kidding bro!  Hate who you want, I know I do!  It may interest you to know; 'Watchmen' was simply DC's 'modern' take on some comic book properties they acquired from a company called Charleston.  The original characters and stories were typical, standard comix.  My point is that the writing is what elevated those characters and that story, the same scenario is conceivably a possibility for any and all comic book properties.  Including Superman.  The fact that DC/WB has collectively got their heads up their asses is probably a discussion best had elsewhere!;)

[Rob Babcock]

That's why I said 'DC' in quotes- they put their little symbol on the corner but had little other input.  It was mostly Moore.  The lack of DC input was probably why it didn't suck.

I'm fine if other people like Supes.  He's the Beiber of mainstream comics- the unoriginal, shallow low-brow stuff that's inexplicably massively popular. What can you do?

[ajzepp]

That's why I said 'DC' in quotes- they put their little symbol on the corner but had little other input.  It was mostly Moore.  The lack of DC input was probably why it didn't suck.

I'm fine if other people like Supes.  He's the Beiber of mainstream comics- the unoriginal, shallow low-brow stuff that's inexplicably massively popular. What can you do?

Dude, use ANYONE but Bieber...that kid has become an uberdouche

[rooze]

I don't know where this leaves me but I thought 'Watchmen' was one of the best Superhero movies of the lot, in fact it was a really good movie IMO.

Now will I like MOS or not? Just tell me yes or no then I won't even need to bother going..

[Rob Babcock]

Dude, use ANYONE but Bieber...that kid has become an uberdouche

That's kind of the point.