2. "They could be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way."
What a great line. Still gives chills every time I hear Brando say it. But it's odd how little that line actually matters in Donner's Superman movies. In those movies, Superman is noble and square-jawed - and just about everyone else is played for laughs. Bryan Singer did a bit better delivering a Superman story where Supes wasn't the only one who could save the day, and Zack Snyder does a better job still. No director yet has completely landed this element of Superman, but Man Of Steel is a big step in the right direction. While it's perhaps overly dramatic, I loved that Snyder played Superman saving the world against Perry White saving one life. It's great to see a superhero movie where the normals aren't waiting around for a cape to save them. Humans give as good as they get in Man Of Steel, and it's all the better for it. Still, one of the last scenes in the movie, where Superman throws a spy drone at some military stooges, is a bit odd. Don't get me wrong, I like that this Superman stands for truth, justice, and Internet privacy - but the scene ends with Superman simply stating that "you're going to have to let me do it my way." This stand-off doesn't end with a sense of trust or cooperation - it's simply another way to make Superman look awesome and tough and right. Again, like the idea - but the problem isn't the intention but the execution. It's another missed opportunity to show a Superman who's here to shine a light in the dark... or at least a Superman who doesn't provide that light by punching and throwing things that blow up real good.