MOVIE REVIEW: IRON MAN

[MattBrady]

by Joe Tirella

You have to give credit to Jon Favreau. When I first read that Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Tony Stark/Iron Man I did a double take like everyone else. Robert Downey Jr. as a superhero? Mr. Tabloid Fodder himself? And for that matter: Jon Favreau — you saw Elf, right? — as the director? My initial thought: we were in store for a Fantastic Four redux. Lameski.

Not so fast. My apologies to Favreau, who has managed to turn in one of the most memorable film adaptations of a comic book hero that Hollywood has ever made; perhaps the best since Spider-Man and X-Men 2 (my personal faves). He was also smart and credible enough as a director to lure Downey, a brilliant but troubled actor to play the brilliant but spoiled, faulted, playboy-industrialist Tony Stark, who after a life-altering experience becomes Iron Man. Downey's performance establishes a new standard of depth and complexity largely unseen in superhero films. His only company in the genre is Patrick Stewart as Professor X or Sir Ian McKellan's Magneto.

Joining Downey are three other Oscar-nominated actors: Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays the smart and sassy Pepper Potts (her scenes with Downey are laced with a Mulder-Scully romantic tension that spurs the film on); the always amazing Jeff Bridges as the villainous Obadiah Stane; and Terence Howard as Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes. Iron Man easily has the best cast ever assembled for a comic book adaptation.

The film takes the Iron Man origin story from 1963 and substitutes the war in Afghanistan for the Vietnam War; like in the comic insurgents injure Tony Stark; his heart is damaged in the process and Yisen, a fellow captive and scientist, save his life. When his capturers demand he build them a missile, he makes a crude Iron Man suit instead, that wonderfully resembles Jack Kirby's original gray suit, and uses it to escape.

We see Stark's subtle transformation from war profiteer-to-superhero as he comes to grip with the real life tragedies caused by the products of his fertile imagination; he realizes that Stark Industries is just another Halliburton, profiting from others' misery. He decides to stop producing weapons, which of course, puts him in conflict with his partner Obadiah Stane (played by Bridges) the personification of the industrial-military complex. This neatly sets up the films' climatic battle.

The film works on several levels: as a traditional summer blockbuster (there's plenty of action, cool effects, etc.) that fulfills all the standard requirements while at the same time telling a human story of a very complicated hero in a complicated world and smartly uses the War on Terror and America's own war machine as a backdrop. Favreau also manages to stay true to the key story arcs that made Iron Man into the Marvel legend that he is, while laying the foundation for a sequel (or two) — both the seeds for Mandarin and War Machine have been planted; Marvel and Paramount would be insane not to greenlight both. Immediately.

[Otherguy676]

Goof reivew, Im not really an Iron Man fan but am looking forward to seeing this this weekend.

[VinnyPic]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

both the seeds for Mandarin and War Machine have been planted.

And my pants have been changed.

[SeamusMcClernan]

Originally Posted by JoeTirella

— both the seeds for Mandarin and War Machine have been planted.

The next movie should be the creation of the Crimson Dynamo.

[HartyPotter]

Cannot wait to watch this movie!

[shadowchaser]

i'm so so so siked to see this...i bet this will one the best comic movies, up there with x-men 2, spider-man 2, and batman begins

[dmarvp]

Yeeeeeei

I'm not really a fan of Iron Man... but I have to admit that I'm waaaay excited about this movie. And I'm happy that this review confirms that it will be an amazing one !

Then, just a few months more, and the Dark Knight comes, 2008 it's gonna be a great year

[KyleCowstar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

My apologies to Favreau, who has managed to turn in one of the most memorable film adaptations of a comic book hero that Hollywood has ever made; perhaps the best since Spider-Man and X-Men 2 (my personal faves)

...

Iron Man easily has the best cast ever assembled for a comic book adaptation.

Sorry, but Batman Begins' cast was amazing (minus Holmes) and better than X2 and Spider-Man.

I respectably dissent.

Stil, totally pumped for Iron Man though. May be the best Marvel movie yet.

[Tycho]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

And for that matter: Jon Favreau — you saw Elf, right? — as the director?

But Elf was just a silly little movie he shot off for his kids a few years ago, it's far from the his entire resume. I've been psyched ever since I first heard his name even rumored to be attached to the project. Hell, I even kinda liked Elf.

[deathmasterj]

No Nick Fury?

either way, i can't wait to see this!

[Jeff_14]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

by Joe Tirella

Iron Man easily has the best cast ever assembled for a comic book adaptation.

"Easily"? Its not even in the running by a long shot. That honour easily falls to X-Men 2/3, with Batman Begins as runner up. X-Men 2/3 had just as many big names as Batman, but a bigger and better supporting cast and no miscasting like Batman had in Mrs. Cruise. Plus, X-Men didn't waste anyone the way Batman gave Ken Watanabe nothing to do.

[ubuking]

I don't read Iron Man, but this looks to be a great movie. Downey's great in the role, and all the trailers I've seen look fantastic. Can't wait.

[Tenzel Kim]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

You have to give credit to Jon Favreau. When I first read that Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Tony Stark/Iron Man I did a double take like everyone else. Robert Downey Jr. as a superhero? Mr. Tabloid Fodder himself? And for that matter: Jon Favreau — you saw Elf, right? — as the director? My initial thought: we were in store for a Fantastic Four redux. Lameski.

I always thought that the casting of Downey was brilliant and my only reservation was that the script would probably suck big-time. I must say that after having seen the movie I've been completely won over. I've read a few Iron Man runs now and again based on who the creative team was but was never much of a fan but I have to say that the movie actually made me more interested in the character than I've been for quite some time.

[Happyhatter]

Originally Posted by Tycho

But Elf was just a silly little movie he shot off for his kids a few years ago, it's far from the his entire resume. I've been psyched ever since I first heard his name even rumored to be attached to the project. Hell, I even kinda liked Elf.

I got mad at that comment. Elf was a great movie, seriously what's the critic's problem, it was a kids movie. You can't compare that to Iron Man. Jon was doing what he had to for that flick. Iron Man is completely different project, this just shows how versatile he is as an director. Elf rocked, and Iron Man is going to be awesome.

[lakecreature]

Originally Posted by deathmasterj

No Nick Fury?

either way, i can't wait to see this!

Rumor is that the Nick Fury recruitment scene will be included in the general release. Supposedly, it was withheld from the screening/preview copies to make it a surprise. Again, just a rumor.

[thedanofsteel]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

...while laying the foundation for a sequel (or two) — both the seeds for Mandarin and War Machine have been planted.

Yes, yes and more YES!!!

[deathmasterj]

Originally Posted by lakecreature

Rumor is that the Nick Fury recruitment scene will be included in the general release. Supposedly, it was withheld from the screening/preview copies to make it a surprise. Again, just a rumor.

so that probably means it was never filmed

[Tusko]

No Living laser?

[Daring D]

but is it as good as Batman Begins ?

[TheLizard207]

yessss

[titandeoro]

Originally Posted by Daring D

but is it as good as Batman Begins ?

Spiderman 2 was better than Batman Begins

[DephKon Prym]

I heard at NYCC Ed Norton DOES HAVE A CAMEO as Banner in this film

[shieldboy]

Originally Posted by SeamusMcClernan

The next movie should be the creation of the Crimson Dynamo.

yeah...and the BLACK WIDOW!

[lebeau]

Originally Posted by KyleCowstar

Sorry, but Batman Begins' cast was amazing (minus Holmes) and better than X2 and Spider-Man.

I respectably dissent.

Stil, totally pumped for Iron Man though. May be the best Marvel movie yet.

I was going to say much the same thing. It's like this reviewer never saw Batman Begins.

[JLAJRC]

Can't wait to see this.