Iron Man
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges.
Directed by: Jon Favreau.
Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content.
Running time: 2 hours, 6 minutes.
In keeping with my superhero flick kick (and also because it was next on my boyfriend’s Netflix list), I finally had the opportunity to watch the much-acclaimed “Iron Man.”
And, thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
Last week’s “Wolverine” threw me for a bit of a loop, and I simply didn’t know what to expect from comic adaptations anymore. But there’s no point in comparing the two, really. “Iron Man” blows “Wolverine” out of the water in any imaginable instance. Thank goodness.
First, Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect actor for the intelligent, womanizing, self-serving, pompous jerk-turned-unlikely-hero Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man).
The humor that Downey brings to the role complements the film excellently and is a constant undercurrent through the movie. The script in itself had decent pacing, and though the beginning seems to drag a bit after an awesome start, you’ll quickly find yourself re-immersed.
The basic plot follows weapons inventor Tony Stark through his realization of what his work truly does to the world and his attempt to right his wrongs — and how else to accomplish this goal but to don an astonishingly technologically advanced supersuit.
It’s a fun movie that introduces some sobering topics but never takes itself too seriously. Instead, it’s a great foray into adventure, action and comedy.
Perhaps what makes this movie stand out from the others is that the hero doesn’t start out as someone “good.” He makes his living off of, essentially, killing others. Most comic book heroes start off good. It’s the villains who do the changing — sometimes from normal, well-adjusted people to crazed madmen. But Tony Stark is different, and it’s refreshing. His self-realization is the driving force behind the Iron Man character.
Although the comics in themselves are about four decades old, the movie studio wisely moved the timeline of “Iron Man” from the Vietnamese war to the trials in Afghanistan and the Middle East, helping the film to feel contemporary and to better pull in the audience. Besides, if Robert Downey Jr. were traipsing about the jungle again, I’d wonder where he’d left his blackface makeup from “Tropic Thunder.”
Behind the camera, director Jon Favreau (“Elf,” “Zathura”) shows his immense capabilities, and I hope we see much more of him in the future.
Rest assured, fellow wary comic-adaptationists, “Iron Man” is “Marvel”-ous.
4 of 5 stars
Well said! I too thoroughly enjoyed this movie! As a comic/graphic novel fan I found this to be an excellent film adaptation. Granted they totally changed the time line and setting of iron man's origin, but like you said it definitely worked and I think it helped draw in a lot of audience members who were just getting their first taste of iron man.
ReplyDeleteThey couldn't have picked a better actor for Tony Stark! Robert Downey Jr. Nailed it!
I heard that Favro and Downey are teaming up for another graphic novel movie called Cowboys and Aliens in the bear future. Supposedly the story of the book is supposed to parralel the idea of manifest destiny. Where we believed it was our divine right to push west and settle the land without really respecting the natives, the same line of thought is applied to aliens invading our world. With Favaro on the job I'm excited to see the results.
Anyways...nice post I look forwrd to checking out Your blog more :-)
-Mikey-