Looking back, “Man of Steel” did a lot of heavy lifting. It was the first Superman movie in almost 10 years, was the first entry in the DCEU, and our introduction to Henry Cavill as Supes. Directed by Zack Snyder, “Man of Steel” rehashed Superman’s origin story bringing us to Krypton and Kansas, welcoming us into the home of Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, respectively), and into the Daily Planet newsroom with editor-in-chief Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) and reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams).
The film was decidedly darker in tone than fans were expecting (and as compared to the popcorn-lite MCU films that had been released), but it struck a chord and had us excited for what was to come. And no scene in the film inspired more hope and optimism for the future of Cavill’s Superman than his first flight.
With the sun on his back, Cavill steps through the doors of the found Kryptonian ship wearing the classic, but updated, Superman suit. Taking steady but careful steps across the snowy plains, Jor-El’s (Russell Crowe) words echo in his mind. The first burst into the air is shaky, as expected. The hit of power overwhelms Kal as he crashes back to the ground. “You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards,” assures Jor-El. And with his Kryptonian father’s encouragement and one power fist to the ground, Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman takes flight.