Hello guys, hope you're all having a pleasant weekend! 👋🏻🌟 As some of you might know, yesterday (June 12) marked the 13th anniversary since Man of Steel had its worldwide premiere in 2013. When this movie came out, I was in middle school; I still remember watching it in the cinema and being blown away by its visual spectacle and action sequences, it became one of my favorite superhero movies released in the 2010s at one point. 

While I was a Superman fan since a young age, it wasn't until my late teens that I found a deeper appreciation for the character. It was then I realized that Man of Steel was a decidedly grimmer and grittier take on the character compared to most of the live action and animated adaptations we've had. As I now prefer the brighter and more earnest versions of Superman, I've grown to have mixed feelings about his DCEU portrayal. While I think it's fair and understandable for different writers to add their own take on such an iconic character as long as they respect and retain the character's essential traits; I can see why some viewers (many of them longtime Superman fans) aren't too fond of Zack Snyder's more cynical storytelling choices or the brooding, distant depiction of Clark as an outcast who's constantly rejected by the world he's trying to save.

Aside from its boldness and unrelenting action, I think where Man of Steel works for the most part is that it presents an interesting journey for Clark: he goes from someone who just wants to help people incognito whenever he can (thanks in part to Jonathan Kent's pessimism and reluctance in letting young Clark use his powers out of fear for how the world might treat him) to a person with a newfound destiny upon embracing his true identity and the immense powers he was gifted with. The scene of Clark trying, stumbling, and eventually excelling during his first flight feels genuinely triumphant to watch because of the way he's established prior to the scene. That being said, the movie's framing of Clark's heroic journey like an epic mythological tale comes at the cost of the character's signature warmth and approachability; one of the main reasons why Superman resonates well with audiences of all ages is that despite his world shattering abilities, he's someone who feels like a friend that will protect and support you whenever you need it. This wouldn't have been an issue if we saw Clark grow gradually into the sunny and inspiring figure he's meant to be in his subsequent appearances, but BvS: Dawn of Justice dives deeper into the doom and gloom while seldom providing the hopeful and slice of life moments that would have made Clark more recognizable, though that's a topic for another time. Speaking strictly in the context of Man of Steel, I think Clark is overall a believable and empathetic hero who audiences can root for during all of his greater than life challenges, and Henry Cavill actually shows promising potential in how great he can be in the softer scenes between Clark and Lois or Clark with his family, it's a pity that the epic battles and gloomy sequences his Superman went through would eclipse the equally crucial moments of Clark being his kind, hopeful self. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast does a fine job in their respective roles despite their varying levels of significance and characterization, with Michael Shannon as General Zod being the clear standout. The intensity, fury, and sense of self-righteous he embodies as Zod makes him one of, if not the most menacing Superman villain we've had in a live action setting so far. All in all, I appreciate Man of Steel for what it is, a fairly well made sci-fi action/adventure movie that also happens to be a flawed Superman story. 

Man of Steel just turned 13 yesterday! 🦸🏻‍♂️👊🏻🖤 Do you remember where you were when this movie came out, and have your feelings about it changed over the years?