Man of Steel is starting to screen now for critics and the general public alike, and so discussions are starting surrounding what does - and what doesn't - happen in Zack Snyder's ambitious reboot. You can read my review here, but now it's time to get into the nitty-gritty of Supes' latest outing; while it's safe to say that the film didn't deliver a wealth of plot twists and surprises, it gave us a smooth, thoughtful take on the Man of Steel that nevertheless served up a couple of unexpected moments. A more brutal, introspective Superman film than we're used to, Snyder, Goyer and Nolan certainly weren't afraid to shift the tone away from the lightness of prior entries, fashioning a film that may follow a similar narrative trajectory, but in terms of its style and its characters, is something quite bold and different indeed. Without any further ado, let's get on with the spoiler discussion...
10. Jor-El's Presence
I was among those mystified by the presence of Russell Crowe's Jor-El in one of the more recent MoS trailers, appearing to talk to Superman once he had donned the suit; how can the guy be alive when he's supposed to die on Krypton? Well, he does die in the opening act of the film, stabbed by an enraged General Zod (Michael Shannon), but his presence is allowed to permeate throughout the film by way of the S-shaped key shown in trailers that he gives to a baby Kal-El at the start of the film. This key stores Jor-El's consciousness, and as a result he is able to appear throughout the film without requiring a flaky ethereal explanation; what we see is a summation of the man's memories and experiences, and having him in portable form also allows him to manipulate Kryptonian ships, later on helping Lois to escape Zod's clutches once she is kidnapped.