Man of Steel, the story of Superman

With this sci-fi epic, Zack Snyder has rebooted the Superman mythos with a dark and thought-provoking tone.

From his gripping opening frames on the dying planet Krypton, he immersed us in a thrilling, existential vision of the superhero's classic origin.

Henry Cavill perfectly embodied the conflicted Clark Kent/Kal-El, imbuing depth and vulnerability to both the alien and human sides of this iconic figure. Amy Adams and Michael Shannon also brought gravitas to their supporting roles.

Snyder invited us to feel the crushing weight of divine power and responsibility on Superman's shoulders. The climactic confrontation between the Kryptonians had an eerie, almost Lovecraftian dread befitting their ability to destroy the planet.

Although some plot points frustrated die-hard fans, as a non-traditional superhero movie, Man of Steel shone brightly.

Its game-changing cinematography and stirring performances resonated far beyond the genre. For this reviewer, it reignited interest in mature, intelligent versions of the mythologies we all grew up with.

A complex blockbuster that left audiences stunned and stimulated long after the credits rolled. An important milestone in the evolution of pop culture storytelling.

Hans Zimmer's thrilling, melancholic score received widespread critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for Best Score, elevating the film's emotional weight and scale.

At the box office, with a budget of $225 million, Man of Steel grossed over $668 million worldwide. It showed that audiences were eager to see a thoughtful reinvention of Superman with the scope and budget of modern blockbusters.

Although the Academy overlooked its artistic merits that year, Snyder and Cavill's gripping interpretation of the Superman mythos ignited everyone's imagination and laid the groundwork for the DC Extended Universe.