Superman has been a fixture in movies and TV every decade since he showed up in 1938. The new “Man of Steel” works hard to reclaim ground the iconic comic creation has lost to other heroes.
The serious-minded result has many super-cool moments. But when it gets clunky, it’s super-meh.
Basically a remake of the action bits from 1980’s “Superman II,” “Steel” pushes the sci-fi elements. The alien invasion-heavy result is like “Independence Day” in a cape, though at least its hero doesn’t get Green Lantern-ized. Director Zack Snyder (“300”) keeps it reverent up to a point.
A lengthy setup details Krypton’s destruction, as scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) tells the planet’s rulers that abuse of natural resources has doomed them. Military enforcer General Zod (Michael Shannon) seems to be an ally, but Zod wants revolution.








