Man of Steel Revisited

Sally and I watched the Man of Steel again last night with our daughter Hannah, and we both agreed with that it was a much better film upon second viewing.  I still think Superman comes across as an arrogant asshat at the end of the movie when he throws the predator drone at the general out in the middle of the California desert, but the movie's first half is really, really good, and perhaps more importantly, some of the things that I initially thought were holes in the plot made more sense this second time around.  For example, when Superman is in the Kryptonian scout ship during Act I, he finds a super-suit in there.  What the Hell is that thing doing in a ship that's supposed to have been buried in the ice for 20,000 years?

Man of Steel was a better movie on second viewing.

The first time I saw the movie, I thought this was just one of those cheap writer's tricks that you're simply not supposed to think about.  This time, though, I realized that it's there because Clark used his father's code-key to reprogram the ship; that the ship contains an entire colony-factory, including a birthing chamber for future Kryptonian settlers.  It also (presumably) contains minor manufactory facilities--to help support the future colony--so that when Jor-El's ghost takes control using the key, it's a trivial matter for him to then custom-manufacture a super-suit designed for the scion of the House of El.  Granted, a throw-away line of dialogue to explain this might've helped make it a bit clearer, but it really annoyed me the first time around.  This time, I just thought, "Wow, those guys have terrific memory sticks."

It's also still true that Clark fights Zod right in the middle of Metropolis, leveling the second largest city in the country in the process.  And that still struck me as an unfortunate choice, but at the same time, on second viewing I thought that both Clark's inexperience as a superhero and his lack of control over the whole situation were much more apparent.  For example, it's Zod who decides to set his ship down in the heart of the city.  From there, Clark has little choice about where the battle's going to take place.  He can either fight the Kryptonians where they are, or he can watch them level the city out of spite and hate and then terraform the planet.

Finally, when Warner Brothers initial announced plans for a Superman vs. Batman movie, I'll admit that I was skeptical.  But having just seen the original again, it's not all that hard to see where a plot might work.

Since this image was produced, Superman/Batman has
been pushed to May 6, 2016. 

Of course, Warner has already said that the new movie is going to be based loosely on the asthetic of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.  All I'm saying here is that I think I can see it now.

***

We open with Superman watching TV in Lois's apartment.  It's been two years since the Battle of Metropolis, and in that time, he's been working hard to both be the hero he's always wanted to be and to win the trust of the American government.  By now, the Man of Steel is on a first-name basis with the President, although he's refused to allow himself to be inducted in any formal way into the American military.  Still, he lets himself be an occasional tool of the presidency because it's the best way that he knows to reassure people that he's not trying to take over the world.  

The news is showing footage of Gotham City, where the vigilante known as the Batman has put a half-dozen organized crime figures into the hospital, some with permanent injuries.  

Jumpcut to Gotham City.  Batman is conducting surveillance on some underworld figure.  But although he is well-hidden, Superman has little trouble finding him.

Clark

You want to tell me what the heck you think you're doing here?

Bruce

I'm working.  Aren't you supposed to be in Metropolis?

Clark

I want to talk.  I think you're trying to help, but I'm concerned about your methods.

Bruce

Can't it wait?  I'm busy right now.

Clark

You put six people in the hospital last week.  Two won't ever walk again.

Bruce
This from the man who destroyed an entire city in a fistfight not two years ago?

Clark
That isn't fair.  I--

Bruce
Life isn't fair.  That's why the world needs people like me.  Now go home--Clark--before someone gets hurt.

Clark
What?!  How do you know my--

Bruce
I make it my business to know.  And no, I'm not going to tell anyone.  But you need to leave.  Now.

Clark
If you think you can intimidate me just by--

Bruce
(Drops his headset in frustration)  Dammit!  You just cost me an entire night's work.

Listen, I don't care about your damn moralistic crusade, and I don't think you're here to try to take over the world, but Gotham City is MINE!  And I'm doing a damn-sight better protecting my city than you're doing protecting yours.  Now GO HOME!

Clark
You're making people mad, Batman.  Eventually, someone's going to make me bring you in.

Bruce
We both know that no one can make you do anything you don't want to do.
(throws a smoke bomb and dives off the roof).

Clark
(Watches Batman go.  His phone rings, and he answers it.)  Hello?

Lois
What're you doing?

Clark
Wasting my time.

Lois

Then come home.  I miss you.