A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
Man of Steel receives a neutral rating as its core conflict and solution champion individual heroism and universal themes of identity and responsibility, rather than explicitly promoting a specific political ideology. The film balances potential left-leaning interpretations (immigrant narrative, collateral damage) with right-leaning ones (individual strength, defense of homeland) without a clear political agenda.
The movie incorporates diversity through the explicit racial recasting of a traditionally white character, Perry White. However, its narrative does not feature a critical portrayal of traditional identities, maintaining a neutral to positive framing for such roles.
The film features Faora-Ul, a Kryptonian military officer, who demonstrates superior physical combat skills and strength against multiple male US soldiers during the Smallville confrontation, defeating them in hand-to-hand engagements.
Perry White, a long-established character in DC Comics and previous adaptations, was consistently depicted as white. In "Man of Steel," the character is portrayed by a Black actor, constituting a race swap.
The film portrays a Christian church and priest as a source of solace and moral guidance for Clark Kent during a pivotal moment of self-doubt. The narrative respectfully uses Christian iconography and themes to underscore the protagonist's journey and values.
Man of Steel does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses on the origin story of Superman and his heterosexual relationships, without exploring queer identities or experiences within its plot.
All major characters in "Man of Steel" maintain their established canonical gender from the DC Comics source material. No significant character, historically or canonically male or female, is portrayed as a different gender in the film.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources