Man of Steel: 5 Reasons It Could Transcend The Comic Book Movie Genre
1. Tone
In the Christopher Reeve "Superman" films, there was a certain charm and humor running over the entire series. The jingling musical beats and snappy Metropolis banter give the films a whimsical tone, never getting too deep in any serious thought before leaping to another high point usually bringing a smile to audiences. Where Reeve's Superman was self-assured and immediately confident upon donning the red "S", Henry Cavill's Man of Steel is conflicted and troubled at the concept of being the savior of the world. The tone of Man of Steel, from the very first teaser trailers released a year ago, showed that this film would be a completely different and refreshing take not only on a cinematic Superman, but for the comic book movie genre in totality. Aiming for substance over sensationalism, these premiere teasers caught many off-guard and unexpected seeing such artful subtext and subtle piquancy. The irresistible water rushing over immovable rocks, a clothesline full of laundry colliding with the winds, the winged butterfly caught in the chain-linked swing set fence, a bird taking flight. 
All images of the labored effort of resistance against monuments, clashes of gravity, and human shackles caging nature's gifts. The dual teaser trailers were released simultaneously and both contained the same footage, but with the only difference being the paternal voiceovers - providing an early glimpse into the mental and emotional wrangling Superman would contend with - each trying to father a young man to the best of their abilities. The young boy in a corn field fashions a red sheet into the form of a cape until he takes that familiar pose. The teaser closes with a sound-barrier shattering take-off, providing a tremendous encapsulation of what Man of Steel looks to deliver: realism and action.
In the Christopher Reeve "Superman" films, there was a certain charm and humor running over the entire series. The jingling musical beats and snappy Metropolis banter give the films a whimsical tone, never getting too deep in any serious thought before leaping to another high point usually bringing a smile to audiences. Where Reeve's Superman was self-assured and immediately confident upon donning the red "S", Henry Cavill's Man of Steel is conflicted and troubled at the concept of being the savior of the world. The tone of Man of Steel, from the very first teaser trailers released a year ago, showed that this film would be a completely different and refreshing take not only on a cinematic Superman, but for the comic book movie genre in totality. Aiming for substance over sensationalism, these premiere teasers caught many off-guard and unexpected seeing such artful subtext and subtle piquancy. The irresistible water rushing over immovable rocks, a clothesline full of laundry colliding with the winds, the winged butterfly caught in the chain-linked swing set fence, a bird taking flight. All images of the labored effort of resistance against monuments, clashes of gravity, and human shackles caging nature's gifts. The dual teaser trailers were released simultaneously and both contained the same footage, but with the only difference being the paternal voiceovers - providing an early glimpse into the mental and emotional wrangling Superman would contend with - each trying to father a young man to the best of their abilities. The young boy in a corn field fashions a red sheet into the form of a cape until he takes that familiar pose. The teaser closes with a sound-barrier shattering take-off, providing a tremendous encapsulation of what Man of Steel looks to deliver: realism and action. 