Man of Steel: A More Conflicted and Kinetic Superman

The new Man of Steel trailer gives hope to the Superman franchise by showcasing Clark Kent as a conflicted man.  A conflicted man that can throw anything that bothers him into the heart of the Sun.  From the moment we see a young Clark Kent pull a bus full of kids out of the water we are reminded that more than any other hero, Superman is about choices.  We hear Jonathan Kent tell his adolescent son that maybe he should have let the children die in order to keep his abilities a secret.  And after a moment’s pause we realize Jonathon Kent is no sadist, he’s just trying to raise a superhero.

With the ability to be everywhere, Clark must constantly choose to be somewhere.  Tragedies don’t line up, they pile up.  An tsunami off the cost of Japan, a hostage situation in Manhattan, an earthquake in Silicon Valley.  Each could occur at the same moment, and Clark would have to choose.  Choose who to save first, and tragically, who to let die.   The weight of these choices is shown to us as we see Clark’s somber eyes slowly open underwater after a shipwreck, as he allows armed guards to take him prisoner, and as he gazes into the rising Antarctic sun and takes flight.

The second material aspect of Superman the new trailer hits home is Superman’s physicality.  Superman Returns lacked the kinetic energy this trailer puts front and center.  Superman being thrown through steel walls, Superman screaming in exertion as he lifts the unliftable, Superman quite literally on fire.  The physical aspects of the hero coupled with huge effects scenes give us a feel for the visceral nature of the battles we will witness in the film.  There is even a glimpse of Superman fighting a foe (presumably General Zod) in mid-air toward the end. 

Much like the Hulk in The Avengers, when you have a hero that can punch a building in half, you need to show him in action.  Yet Superman’s strength must be showcased in a complete context; one that brings to life the human side of the character.  The new Man of Steel trailer shows promise as it looks like Zack Snyder has done just that.