>>149389856Because the movie runs on one rule and ONLY one rule. "Zack thought it would be cool".
Zod, despite being genetically a part of the soldier caste and having a lifetime of training, is terrible at hand to hand combat AND tactics. Jor El can kick his ass despite the fact that he shouldn't be as strong a fighter. Because Zack though it would be cool to show Jor El as some badass.
Zod is allowed to smash Clark through dozens of buildings instead of being taken out immediately, because Zack thought it would be cool to have a bunch of buildings get smashed.
Clark FINALLY decides one random family is a step too far despite all the destruction that had happened before hand being permissible, because Zack thought it would be cool to have Superman kill someone.
And Zod, despite again being trained a soldier from birth and being souped up and having superpowers, can't escape from a chokehold, because Zack thought the neck snap would be cool.
Zod comes back as a fucked up doomsday mutant troll, because guess what, Zack though it'd be cool!
Zod's strength level is inconsistent because its dependent entirely on what Zack thought would be cool in that exact moment.