Celebrating Zack Snyder's Man of Steel on its 5th Anniversary

Written by Gregg Katzman

I was able to see director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel early. The film opened on this day five years ago, but thanks to being a freelance writer for Comic Vine at the time, I had the opportunity to attend a screening on June 11 at the AMC in Lincoln Square. My memory is a little fuzzy on the details before and after the screening in New York, but I have a vivid memory of how I felt while watching the first DC Extended Universe movie.

I remember having my jaw-dropped during the remarkable opening sequence on Krypton. I remember Hans Zimmer’s epic score elevating just about every single scene. I remember Amy Adams’ Lois Lane being an impressive investigative journalist by quickly discovering Superman’s identity (her blasting Kryptonians was a nice bonus). I remember Kevin Costner’s handling of the line “you are my son” making me hold back a tear, and I remember feeling heartbreak and understanding as he did his best to help his son but wasn’t completely sure how to handle their totally surreal situation. I remember being awe-struck as Superman struggled to battle Kryptonians in Smallville while also trying to save soldiers. I remember being filled with joy as Kal-El wore the iconic costume for the first time and learned how to fly. I remember Michael Shannon’s Zod feeling like a truly imposing and engrossing villain, and Antje Traue’s Faora-Ul being the ultimate badass villain (and not to mention Martha Kent standing up to them). I remember being completely captivated as Superman almost gave his life to stop the World Engine. I remember Superman’s gripping battle with Zod and being stunned by the display of power and how the cinematography followed them as they zipped around the city – it was (and still is) unlike any other cinematic superhero battle that I’ve seen. I remember feeling pure happiness during the movie’s final line and Clark Kent’s smirk. And when the credits began to roll, I remember feeling completely blown away and wanting to watch it all over again.

Man of Steel is one of my favorite comic book movies. It brought Superman into a world that felt like our own, took a more realistic approach to how the world may react to such a drastic scenario, and reminded us that the hero’s conflicts are frightening but also inspiring. It sprinkled in Easter Eggs to build a universe while keeping the focus on the most important element: character. It's yet another blockbuster end of the world plot but handled everything in such a refreshing way. Man of Steel didn't play it safe and it challenged us to imagine Superman's emergence - and the threats that come with it - in our own world.  

Look, I understand why Man of Steel is such a divisive movie – Superman is such a beloved character, and everyone has their preconceived notions of what he should be. Many people wanted a film that has a tone like the classic Christopher Reeve ones, and that’s totally okay – they’re such lovable films and so many people have amazing memories attached to them. However, I appreciate that Man of Steel tried to do something a little different while staying true to the hero’s most important quality: wanting to help others, even if it means putting himself in danger. Being someone with Superman’s power shouldn’t be easy. Raising someone with his kind of power shouldn’t be simple. And when it comes to saving the world from genocidal aliens with terrifying power, it shouldn’t be all jokes and smiles.

I understand why so many people dislike Man of Steel, but I love it. Happy fifth anniversary, Man of Steel.

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