The Man of Steel trailer has arrived, and regardless of your opinion of the new footage, Superman's latest adventure certainly has the message boards buzzing with activity. Fans are treated to their first glimpse at General Zod, the antagonist of the film, whose appearance marks the first cinematic portrayal of the character since Christopher Reeve's Superman II released in 1981.
The Man of Steel's official synopsis reads, "In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Cavill) is a young twentysomething journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond anyone's imagination. Transported to Earth years ago from Krypton, an advanced alien planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question - Why am I here? Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Costner), Clark soon discovers that having super abilities means making very difficult decisions. But when the world needs stability the most, it comes under attack. Will his abilities be used to maintain peace or ultimately used to divide and conquer? Clark must become the hero known as "Superman," not only to shine as the world's last beacon of hope but to protect the ones he loves."
So, how did the trailer fare among moviegoers? Let's take a look at a swath of fan comments.
Fan Reactions (IGN Users)
JRMBlahBlah8 deflects criticism that the filmmakers should have chosen Darkseid or Doomsday as villains for the film, suggesting that "[Zod is] a great choice for a opener. I'm just hoping with this franchise they will steer clear of superman fighting natural disasters the whole movie and give him a real challenge. I [want to] see superman fighting a thousand baddies not just one, superman's power has hardly been tapped into in film."
Dalinkwent13 responds to fans who believe that the film's tone is taking itself too seriously. "I don't think the movie itself is going to be dark, they're just trying to convey that Superman is going to be taken more seriously. If anyone like Superman ever appeared on earth, the military would naturally be all over him no matter what his intentions were. Frankly I'm glad some of these things are being addressed."
gustavops360wii reflects on their nostalgia for the older films, noting: "I [kind of] miss the brighter colors, the lighter and more optimistic tone, and the John Williams score. Well... I had a hard time letting go of the Tim Burton Batman movies also, but now I'm a Nolan believer through and through. [I] just hope this more serious and realistic tone can somehow be applied to a flying demigod alien who shoots laser from his eyes without completely taking the fun out of it."
Teslascope suggests that the trailer was emotionally touching, admitting: "I'm not [going to] lie, I went into this trailer hoping that it would excite me. I left it moved, of all things. Not because it looks like we are getting a great Superman film (it does) but because this really captured all the stuff I love about Superman, the things that allow me to relate to him. Powerful stuff."