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Our take
Man of Steel gives Superman's origin a sombre, disaster-film scale. Young Clark is bullied and frightened by his powers; later fights destroy buildings and put whole communities in danger. Language is mild to moderate, romance is limited to a brief kiss, and a parent's death brings grief. We put it at around 11 and up, with a parent nearby for the destruction and loss.
Uplifting themes
Clark keeps choosing to protect people even when it costs him, and the film talks about hope as something you grow into. Kindness from his parents shapes who he becomes. The idea that power needs a conscience is front and centre Ma and Pa Kent try to raise a good man under impossible pressure, and Lois keeps digging for the truth. Clark is decent, though the fights still solve a lot with force. There is plenty here to talk about with a teen
Story (may spoil tone)
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Long fights tear through Smallville and Metropolis, with collapsing bui…
Long fights tear through Smallville and Metropolis, with collapsing buildings and people killed in the streets. The final clash ends with Superman taking a life, which the film treats seriously
Language Swearing is scattered and fairly mild: hell, damn, crap, and the a-word…
Swearing is scattered and fairly mild: hell, damn, crap, and the a-word. The s-word appears once in the chaos. It never becomes a barrage, but kids will notice it in the action scenes
Sex / nudity There is a short kiss late in the film, and a throwaway joke about firs…
There is a short kiss late in the film, and a throwaway joke about first kisses. Nobody undresses and there is no sex scene. Romance sits well behind the fighting
Frightening Young Clark is overwhelmed by sound and light, and later whole cities b…
Young Clark is overwhelmed by sound and light, and later whole cities buckle under the invasion. Zod is a cold, relentless threat, and the destruction goes on for a long stretch. Sensitive teens may feel the disaster beats in their chest
Child peril / abuse As a boy, Clark is shoved around at school and nearly loses control of…
As a boy, Clark is shoved around at school and nearly loses control of his strength. A school bus goes into water, and a storm puts him in real danger. Those childhood scenes carry worry before the adult battles begin
Bullying / discrimination Schoolmates pick on Clark for being different, crowding him and pushing…
Schoolmates pick on Clark for being different, crowding him and pushing him to snap. The taunts are short, but they clearly hurt. Later, people also fear him for what he can do
Gore / death / weapons Military guns, jets, and a bomb plan sit beside alien weapons, and a fe…
Military guns, jets, and a bomb plan sit beside alien weapons, and a few people are killed in the fighting. There is some blood on beaten faces, not lingering wound close-ups. Death is shown, but the camera does not dwell on injury detail
Grief / bereavement Clark loses a parent in a storm, and the loss stays with him into adult…
Clark loses a parent in a storm, and the loss stays with him into adulthood. That scene may be particularly hard for families who have experienced a sudden death
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- Clark is asked to hide who he is for years. How would your teen handle that kind of secret?
- The last fight costs the hero something. Did the film make that cost feel real to you?
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Man of Steel
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