Now that everyone has had an opportunity to either see "Man of Steel" for themselves or read enough information and reviews about Zack Snyder's reboot of the Superman film franchise to feel as though they've seen it, I felt that it was time to chime in with my own review of the movie.

Before I jump into my review of "Man of Steel", I'd first like to offer a little bit of information on actually seeing the movie for the first time.

On Monday, June 10th, both my wife and I had the opportunity to see the film at the red carpet world premiere which took place at the Alice Tully Center in New York City, NY. It was an amazing experience to not only be among the first people to see the film, but also to be in the same theater as the cast and crew. It made the evening all the more special.

The screening was followed by an equally wonderful after party and I can say, without a doubt, that Warner Bros. certainly knows how to throw one heck of a party. Not only was a Superman costume present for photo-ops as well as Hans Zimmer conducting an orchestra who played selections from the film's epic score, but we also had the opportunity to meet and speak with both Henry Cavill and Christopher Meloni.

It was an evening we both will never forget and an experience we will always cherish.

I'll begin my review by saying that there are some spoilers, which I will reveal, so if you are among those who have not yet seen the movie, please stop reading here unless you don't mind learning more about the film itself.

Just as with the original 1978 film, "Man of Steel" begins on Krypton with plans being made to send Kal-El to Earth due to the impending destruction of the planet. That is pretty much where the similarities end.

Following an attempted takeover of the Kryptonian Council by General Zod (Michael Shannon) which results in the death of Jor-El (Russell Crowe), Zod along with several of his co-conspirators are found guilty and sentenced to the Phantom Zone. Shortly thereafter, Krypton implodes and, in the process, unintentionally frees Zod and his minions who begin their search for Kal-El.

Krypton is portrayed completely different from the ice covered planet that Richard Donner created in his 1978 film. The planet more closely resembles that of an advanced alien race complete with otherworldly technology, huge battleships and dinosaur like creatures which have been featured in Superman comics in the past.

The film leaps back and forth between Kal-El (who we now know as Clark Kent) searching for clues to his past, to sequences of his younger years where he is adjusting to control his powers, while also trying to keep them secret at the request of his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner).

During these flashbacks, Snyder does a good job of depicting someone who is an alien among us, while also offering glimpses at the man he will become, such as saving his classmates from drowning after their bus plunges into a river or resisting the urge to fight a bully knowing that one punch could critically injure, or kill, him.

Ultimately, Clark learns of his true origins but it will be several years before he learns the complete history of his home planet and how he came to be on Earth.

Following up on information he has accumulated over several years of searching, Clark is able to make his way onto an ancient Kryptonian scout ship which the military has discovered buried under several layers of ice. Unfortunately, Lois Lane (Amy Adams) who is reporting on the military discovery follows Clark on board and is attacked by a guardian robot.

Clark is able to heal Lois' wound with his heat vision and leaves her safely behind while a hologram of his father ultimately reveals his past to him. Clark emerges from the scout ship in the Kryptonian garb of the House of El which is, of course, the film's new version of the Superman costume.

I'll pause here to touch on the new costume. There are those who have voiced their opinions on the new costume ranging from the extreme of hating it to the extreme of loving it. Based on the explanation that it is indeed a Kryptonian outfit that was worn by Kal-El's ancestors and not something stitched together by Martha Kent (Diane Lane) (which has been the origin of the costume many times over), I for one am fine with the redesigned costume and think it works well within the confines of this world Snyder has created.

Lois, who has passed along her alien encounter story to a blogger after Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) refuses to run it, is able to track down her savior after pursuing many leads. In a final flashback, which is a true tear jerker, we learn of Jonathan's passing during a tornado and the reasons why Clark has always kept his powers and origins a secret.

The movie now jumps into high gear with the reveal of General Zod and his minions to the inhabitants of Earth. He issues a warning that unless the being known as Kal-El is turned over to him, the planet will suffer the consequences.

Knowing of Zod's past from the information the Jor-El hologram provided to him, Clark reveals himself to the military who ultimately take him into custody and later turn him over to Zod's trusted ally, Faora (Antje Traue). Lois is also forced to join them at the request of Zod himself.

On Zod's ship, Clark suffers the effects of the Kryptonian environment which render him powerless. Using a realistic projection of Earth, Zod reveals his plans for the planet to Clark which consists of creating a new Krypton and wiping out the entire human race.

Through the help of the hologram Jor-El, Lois and Clark are able to escape from Zod's ship. Sensing that his mother is in trouble, Clark flies off and engages in an epic battle with Zod and Faora throughout the city of Smallville. The military joins in on the fight and, not knowing whether Clark can be fully trusted or not, engages every combatant in sight.

Thanks to the effects of Earth's environment on Zod and Faora, the two ultimately retreat while Clark is able to finally earn the trust of the military.

Aided by information she received from the hologram Jor-El, Lois along with Dr. Hamilton (Richard Schiff) and Clark, formulate a plan to use the spacecraft he arrived in as an infant to send Zod and his cohorts back to the Phantom Zone.

Back on his ship, Zod learns from his head scientist (Mackenzie Gray) that the DNA to create a new generation of Kryptonians resides within Kal-El due to Jor-El infusing it within him prior to his ship's departure to Earth at the beginning of the film.

Zod puts his plan into action to turn Earth into a new Krypton using an ancient Kryptonian tera-forming machine which begins to destroy the inner portions of Metropolis while Clark races to stop him.

Through brute strength and intense desire, Clark succeeds in destroying the machine which allows the military to successfully attack Zod's ship and send all those on board back into the Phantom Zone. The attack comes at a heavy price though as both Faora and Colonel Hardy (Christoher Meloni) are killed in the process.

Left with no one else to aid him or any possibility of recreating Krypton, Zod launches into an epic battle with Clark throughout the skies and buildings of Metropolis causing serious damage to everything in sight in the process.

Clark ultimately gets the upper hand and places Zod in a head lock but the General refuses to surrender. In a last ditch effort of defiance, Zod fires his heat vision at a family while Clark begs him to stop. Clark is forced to break Zod's neck in order to save the family and has immediate regret for his actions even though there was no other choice.

As Lois consoles him, survivors from the devastation throughout Metropolis begin to emerge from the rubble.

The film fast-forwards an unknown amount of time where Clark, taking down a drone which is searching for information on him, confronts General Swanwick (Harry Lennix) about the military's continued lack of trust. Clark explains he grew up in Kansas and you can't get more trustworthy than that. Reaching an understanding, Swanwick agrees to try and pursuade others to reach a trust between the two.

In the last sequence, Clark explains to his mother that he is going to secure a job which allows him to keep his ear to the ground while also living his double life as Superman, whom he has now become to be called.

We see Clark riding through the streets of Metropolis and entering the elevator of the Daily Planet. He appears in full Clark Kent mode complete with glasses as Perry White introduces him to Lois Lane as the latest addition to the Planet staff.

It's a perfect set-up to a sequel and a great ending to Superman's return to the silver screen.

All-in-all, "Man of Steel" delivers a home run when it comes to bringing Superman into the modern age. Changes are always necessary in each new generation of a character and, although some fans are not happy with the end result, Zack Snyder and company have done a great job of re-introducing Superman to today's audience.

I know some fans have had an issue with the fact that Superman is forced to kill in "Man of Steel" and the key word here is "forced". He is immediately remorseful for his actions and this will most likely establish his credo in the comics of "never killing" again unless he has no other choice such as the case was in the film.

I, along with several other Superman fans, grew up with Christopher Reeve as my Superman just as my parents grew up with George Reeves as their Superman in the 1950's. Henry Cavill will now be the Superman of the current generation, who will pretend to be him, just as we all did in our younger years by tieing a cape around our necks and "flying" through the air.

While "Man of Steel" is not perfect (What movie really is?), it does succeed where "Superman Returns" failed in regard to bringing action to the forefront and not trying to continue the franchise established by Richard Donner.

The universe that Donner, the Salkinds, and Reeve created was wonderful and always will be. However, "Man of Steel" is a reboot and the universe that Snyder and Cavill have created is wonderful in it's own right, and I for one cannot wait to witness more adventures take place within it.