Many of the superheroes that were created by Marvel and DC Comics had ties to the Bible. The greatest allegory has been sown into a red S and continues to captivate believers and unbelievers to this day. Superman has had no shortage of fans and debates over wither he or other heroes are the greatest continues to wage on. I myself have never been partial to Superman, I always felt as child that he was too incredible and too invincible. The villains he faced seemed one-dimensional and never as compelling as Batman's Joker or Spider-Man's Doc Ock. However, as child I was blind to the messianic message that was wrapped in the red and blue suit of this superhero.
Man of Steel is a reboot. After the mediocre ratings and revenues from Superman Returns, the big wigs in Hollywood decided to give the Kryptonian Crusader another rebirth. To ensure the success of this reboot Christopher Nolan, the mastermind behind The Dark Knight Trilogy was brought on to produce and offer advice. My greatest fear going to see Man of Steel was that it would be another Nolanized Superhero film and would lack the heart that is necessary to make Superman's Story compelling. To my delight Nolan's influence has not been a determent but a blessing.
Man of Steel is gritty retelling of DC's iconic alien. The entire origins story is retold but in flashbacks as Clark under aliases helps those in dire need. This time around the focus is on the Fate of Krypton and how Kal-el will be the "bridge between" the kryptonians and the human race (a reference to Christ who is bridge between Man and the Father as Mediator). It is clear from several scenes that Kal-El (Superman/Clark Kent), who comes from the house of El is meant to be an allegorical Jesus. El in Hebrew means God, as in El-ohim and El-Olam. Kal-El has been sent to Earth to save his own race and humanity. Jor-El, Kal-El's father, says to him in important moment, "You can save her (Lois Lane), you can save all of them." This is a speech you can imagine Jehovah might have given to Christ. At the very moment these words are said, Kal-El or Superman stretches his arms out and makes the messianic symbol of the cross before racing to save Lois.
Then we have General Zod and his kryptonian commanders. Zod when Krypton is meeting It's demise seeks to take over and incites a coupe de ete against the leadership. Zod was once close friends with Jor-El before his treachery. This coup is clearly an allegory of when Satan (then Lucifer) took a third of the angels and waged a war in heaven against The Most High. After being beaten, Zod and his legion are sent to the Phantom Zone, a black abyss to live for eternity. This is reference to Earth, it says in Genesis "The Earth was Formless and Void." It is believed by many theologians that a great battle was waged on our planet between God's Legions and Satan's legion and that it destroyed the First Eden. Thus Krypton and It's destruction could be an allegory of Earth during the War in Heaven.
Zod's ambition in this film is to use the codex which contains all the D.N.A of his race to bring back Krypton. However, the consequence of terraforming Earth into Krypton will be the death of the entire human race. In one scene when Superman is learning of Zod's plan finds himself on a plain of skulls sinking. Zod tells Superman that the human race will perish so that he and his people can live. This reminds me of Satan's plan, that he wants every human being to be eradicated.
At the climax Superman with the help of the American Army creates a singularity between Zod's ship and his vessel. Every warrior-kryptonian is sucked into the void. All except Zod, who upon realizing his people are dead decides to have a final showdown with Kal-El. The two wreck havoc around Metropolis. Finally, after the ensuing battle, Superman has Zod pinned on his knees with his arms around his neck. Zod using his laser eyes attempts to kill some civilians. Kal-El is faced with the terrible choice of letting Zod slay them or kill the last kryptonian. Kal-El snaps Zod's neck and unleashes his anger and despair. Superman knows full well that he is now completely alone in the univese.
In the last scene Kal-El takes to his alias Clark and arrives at the Daily Planet. There he reunites with Lois who says with great wit, "welcome to the planet." It is evident between the smiles the two share, that Ms. Lane knows Kal-El is Clark, which is a nice spin on the original story.
Man Of Steel is the best retelling of Superman in ages. While respect should be paid to Christopher Reeves, Henry Cavill is a Kal-El for a new generation. Superman is now serious and his story more spectacular than ever. This isn't the Man of Steel you grew up with, it is a new steel forged from the mind of Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and the writers. Like the Dark Knight, a superhero has been transformed and for the first time you feel like you can touch and relate to the Man of Steel.
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