Man of Steel opens with the obligatory introductory Krypton sequence. Somewhere, Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay are smiling. And one senses that director Zack Snyder is less interested in Superman than he is in the orgy of destruction he gets to rain down on Metropolis.

The characters are so thinly drawn that it's tough to get much feel for them. But something important has been lost along the way: heart. That's right: blow everything up, real good! Pyrotechnics! Special Effects! CGI up the wazoo! For those who crave cinematic mayhem, Man of Steel is right up your alley (and it will make a ton of money). On the other hand, it's not good, because the sci-fi feel has been overly influenced by the likes of Independence Day and Transformers. In a way that's good, because it doesn't come across like a tired retread of every origin story we've ever seen. It's more of a science fiction/fantasy adventure than a superhero movie.

This movie certainly looks and feels a lot different than any of its predecessors, and that's not just because of the crappy 3-D. Man of Steel represents the latest attempt by Warner Brothers to revive a Superman franchise that, since its stunning 1978 revival, has been abominably treated for about 30 years (ever since Richard Donner was unceremoniously fired from Superman II). How long until Marty McFly takes a detour down Remake Road or along Reboot Lane? I also refer in vague terms to the ending of this film.

Not a big thing if you've seen the movie (or even if you haven't) but don't say you haven't been warned. Note: There is a 'spoiler' in passing for Star Trek into Darkness.

Man of steel movies