DCEU Current Status my Thoughts #1: Man of Steel

Oh, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Studios, you have created remarkable things, some with great potential but has bumpy starts and some were just straight up terrible. DC Extended Universe is the bumpy status.

Everyone knows Marvel Studios is making big bucks in the movie industry, and they are enjoyable films for the moviegoers and the comic book fans. It's only natural response for other studios to be cashing in on this cinematic universe method, and who better to take up this method than Marvel's biggest rival; DC Comics.
I will admit, I am a DC over a Marvel, but have nothing against Marvel. I just never have gotten around to reading as much Marvel as I do DC Comics. Those of you who know me know that I am a big Superman fan. After the Nolan Batman franchise was finishing up, and I see the teaser to Man of Steel back in 2012, I had tears in my eyes seeing the Man of Steel return to the big screen. It may not have seemed that long ago, but as the calendar says, it's been six years. Where do I stand with DCEU now with people divided over what they see it?

Man of Steel:
 
What can I say about it? Love it. I love it. Still a good film, and we get to see Superman in the big screen after the average "Superman: Returns" film that was years before this film's release. We get to see Krypton, we get to see its society in comparison to being just another world with a global society that has its ups and downs and isn't some utopia. Henrey Cavil did his job in being Clark Kent/Superman who is trying to find his place in the world and trying to find out where he came from. You expect someone to be jolly and happy all the time when someone is having an existential process of finding his identity? Is that Superman-like? I say, yay. Superman's origins base of immigrants; this is the case of the refugee, fleeing a danger of his homeland, in this case, the refugee is grown into this new land, migrants growing up in a new land is always bound to have a struggle/compromise of who they are and what they identify themselves as. I was born in the United States in the southern border region, my family are migrants and the region is heavily populated by a Chicano/Tejano/Hispanic culture, but I know that as a US Citizen I am an American, but I cherish my Mexican heritage but I am loyal to the US. Superman seeks out his heritage and fully embraces what he can through the image of his first flight. As for the critics who think Superman wasn't acting like a true superhero because of all the damage in the fights against the Kryptonians, let me put it in this perspective; 
Superman just barely dawned the cape and suit and has barely learned flight along with figuring out where he came from. Clark has been saving lives throughout his travels and his upbringing but has never ever had any experience in handling multiple hostiles that are just as strong as he is and is out for blood. Superman tried the best he could in an unforeseen situation. Plus, the battles were still amazing. Especially the fight against Zod. 
As for the antagonist; Zod was made his premiere in the Richard Donner films of Superman, and he was portrayed as the power-hungry military commander who was motivated only for the sake of power. "Kneel Before Zod." 
Whereas Znyder's Zod, I actually prefer this one. Michael Shannon did a good job too. Looking through history, military commanders that take power, it is easy to pain in black and white, but there are lots of complexities and factors to why such persons did what they did which take the form of debate; Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Franciso Franco, etc. Zod in this film, he wanted to save Krypton. Zod wanted to ensure that Krypton would survive, and in desperate times with uncertainty when total catastrophe would come Zod did what he thought was right in the form of a coup and purge. Questionable and amoral? Of course, but Zod had a reason behind it. Heck, we see his relationship with Zod and Jor-El, they were both on the same terms and agreed that they needed to save Krypton, and Zod expressed remorse that he didn't want to be an enemy to Jor-El but like a utilitarian, he did what he thought was right. With their world now gone, Zod took the remainder of the survivors to find ways to raise up Krypton, and when they find their best option of resurrecting Krypton, they take the chance and get to it. These are soldiers with the objective of ensuring the prosperity of their homeland, and we compare this to the conquistadors landing in the New World, yeah things are not going to be pretty. Not one bit. 
Now another controversial part of the film; Superman killing Zod. 
What is wrong with the people complaining about this? Did they expect Superman to come up with some elaborate plan of taking away Zod's powers? How could Superman be able to carry out such a plan like that? Oh, wait a second... 

... Hold up. Let's see how Znyder's Superman did it. 

Hmm... okay, we have Christopher Reeve's Superman having deceived the three Kryptonians, and he knows that all three of them are powerless. The only threat there is Ursa holding Lois from behind, but we see how she gets out so easily. Now, even knowing that Reeve's Superman still plays along (For some weird sense of humor?), kneeling down and then crushing the hand of the now human-level Zod and then holding him up and tossing him off and letting him fall. Then Superman triumphantly lets Non fall down into the abyss as well and then when it is made clear that the Kryptonians outside of the containment case and then Lois gets out of Ursa's lock and then punches her knocking her off the ledge and fall. What does Superman do? Superman, the All-American Boy Scout who has also been known to save his enemies, and this is Christopher Reeve's Superman, the EVERYONE loves... Oh, Chris Reeve's Superman just watches her fall with a surprised look but then shrugs it off and then hugs the killer. SO VERY SUPERMAN LIKE!!! 
Now let's look at Cavill's Superman; Superman has barely dawned the colors of his uniform for about a day in front of the whole world and is in the fight of his life against a superpowered blood-lusted military general who has already made it clear that he intends to kill every human being one by one. When finally trying to keep Zod in place, and every civilian is trying to get out, Zod sees a family and intends to make due on his promise by killing the humans. Superman does his best in keeping Zod from killing the family and even begs Zod to stop more than once. Three times actually. When Zod makes it clear that he'll never stop and the heat vision is right there nearing that trapped family, what does Superman do in that present moment what he thinks is the best option to save those people in danger? Superman kills Zod in order to save the lives of that family right there, and in turn protecting the human race from this genocidal intent Kryptonian. What happens after? Superman falls to his knees, silent in shock and then screams in remorse at what had just happened, and Lois runs over to console him and he desperately embraces her. But here are some people's reaction to this; THAT ISN'T SUPERMAN!!! SUPERMAN DOESN'T KILL!! 

Double standards much? 

I didn't have a problem with this at all. Mind you, I'm not at all for the 90s Angsty Edge Lord Superheroes who go on and kill every bad guy left and right. Superman is my second favorite fictional character, and I admire his fundamental beliefs and fighting for what he thinks is right and preserving life by any means necessary. However, Superman has made sacrifices in intense situations before. Does that make him a terrible character? No. It shows that he is only 'Human'. Yet despite his shortcomings, Superman tries his best to make right for his wrongs, and keep flying and being the Man of Steel. 

What are your thoughts on Man of Steel? Yay or neigh? Please leave a comment for a healthy discussion. 

So, 'Man of Steel' is still one of my favorite films and was a good start for bringing back Superman... but then... Warner Bros. Studios could not be patient. They couldn't bide time and build up, so instead forced Snyder to just charge right in with an even more divided film continuation to this film franchise. 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.'
Coming soon...