Man of Steel , the long-awaited Superman reboot, is finally here and it rocks. The Zack Snyder-directed film revisits Superman’s origin, but unlike Batman Begins it’s not quite as slavish to justifying every single aspect of the character’s mythology. We find out why Kal-El (Henry Cavill) has the Fortress of Solitude, why the costume is the way it is, but at a certain point you just accept the fact that this is an alien on Earth and you run with it.

While certainly a superhero movie, Man of Steel is first and foremost a science fiction drama about an alien trying to find his place in our world and dealing with humanity’s reaction to his existence. More than any other Superman film since the 1978 one, Man of Steel reminds us that Superman isn't human.Clark Kent yearns to be one of us, but instead he will learn that he has a special place in our world. Superman is forced to choose between his adopted world and his home world when General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his Kryptonian minions come to Earth looking for him. Needless to say a battle for the fate of our planet ensues.The hugely entertaining Man of Steel is the best Superman movie since the 1978 original. Cavill makes a great Superman, but we don’t really get a true emotional attachment to the adult Clark Kent until he meets Lois Lane (Amy Adams). The flashbacks to Clark’s youth inform us of his journey thus far and give us a sense of his inner demons. Otherwise, Clark is, as Lois describes him at different points, like a ghost or a cypher.The movie shows that this Superman's moral character is formed by his two fathers, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner). Crowe and Costner are real standouts in this stellar ensemble. Both men loom large whenever they’re not on screen, and their impact on Clark’s life is deeply felt. (Jor-El's not a Brando-style cameo; Crowe’s in the movie at least 45 minutes.)Adams is solid as Lois Lane, but this is not a Lois and Clark story. This is a story about Clark finding his place in the world. For those expecting a lot of heat between this famous comic book couple, you might be slightly disappointed. However, by the end you’ll see how their relationship can definitely be taken farther and in more interesting directions in future films.Shannon is suitably creepy and imposing as Zod, but Antje Traue's merciless Faora is the real surprise amongst the villains. You definitely understand what drives Zod; he's a zealot and a career warrior (it's literally in his blood), and Faora is his unquestioning disciple. This film establishes more of a backstory between Zod and Jor-El, which lends some additional dimension to Zod that even the great Terence Stamp's incarnation didn't possess.The supporting cast includes respectable appearances by Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Laurence Fishburne as Daily Planet honcho Perry White, Ayelet Zurer as Lara, Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton, and Harry Lennix and Christopher Meloni as U.S. military brass.Man of Steel is director Zack Snyder’s best movie to date. Snyder exhibits a confidence and maturity here apart from his past films, and more than atones for the mess that was Sucker Punch. Snyder keeps Man of Steel clipping along at a brisk pace, sometimes at the expense of character development but one gets the sense that the filmmakers didn't want to mimic the sometimes stately pace of the earlier Superman movies or Superman Returns.And while we all love John Williams' classic score from the old movies, Hans Zimmer's score is atmospheric, enchanting and catchy in its own very modern and compelling way.The film's action is often relentless, especially during the latter half when we finally see Superman throw down against supervillains (something we never got enough of in past films). The action and carnage is arguably more epic than what The Avengers offered, particularly during the attack on Metropolis.

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Man of Steel has a clever way of making the alien hero and villains vulnerable in light of the distinct lack of Kryptonite, and we get the impression this is a Superman who can't just do anything (like, say, turn back time by reversing Earth's orbit). Man of Steel does a good job of justifying the character's existing lore without ever over-explaining or disavowing it.The visual effects, many of which were created by WETA Workshop, are generally great, especially the screen's most fully realized depiction of Krypton yet. Some, however, may be irked by the not always seamless transition from digital stand-in character to the real person within the same (usually action-oriented) shot.My biggest gripe with Man of Steel is that Cavill’s Superman is so serious. Christian Bale's Batman had more of a sense of humor. I wanted to see a bit more levity from the character, more moments like "It's not an 'S'" if only because it helps humanize Kal-El and that's ultimately his quest.Even more than that, though, there's a certain climactic choice made by Superman that will surely spark a fan debate. It's not a nitpick, but rather a pretty bold decision made by the creative team that definitely leaves you thinking about Superman's character.Those particular issues kept the film from being a "10" for me, but overall Man of Steel is a grand achievement. Man of Steel makes you happy and excited to be a Superman fan again. It is indeed the Superman film you’ve long wanted. (Just don't bother paying to see it in 3D as that higher-priced format didn’t really add anything to the experience.)