As previously mentioned in my Charlie Bartlett review, I love Robert Downey, Jr. So when I first saw trailers for Iron Man and saw how good he looked, you can only imagine how excited I was for May 2nd to come around. It also helps that even though the only comic books I’ve ever read are the Archie and Veronica kind, I really do enjoy the film adaptations of comic book stories. And maybe it didn’t take a rocket scientist to decide to use Black Sabbath’s Iron Man in the trailers, but rockin’ out to that at the end of every trailer made me want to see the movie even more.
Since I’ve never read any of the classic comics, I can’t speak to the authenticity of Iron Man as an adaptation. For that, you’ll have to ask Dr. Danger, a.k.a. Nicholas Johnson, resident Culture Feast comic blogger. However, I can tell you, from a Regular Jane’s perspective as a movie lover, that Iron Man was an entertaining 2 hours.
There were a few moments in the beginning that I found a little dull, or maybe it was just that I went to a late showing and was a little tired. As with most movies in this genre, a lot of my favorite parts came during the assembly/training process. Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, the genius, multi-gazillionaire, mastermind CEO behind Stark Industries, has some very entertaining banter with his electronic gizmos and gadgets. He even has a friendly rapport with Jarvis, the witty artificial intelligence which powers his computer systems, voiced by the extremely talented Paul Bettany, from A Knight’s Tale, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code.
The special effects are pretty amazing. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a summer blockbuster type film full of these sorts of special effects, so I sat in awe with drool hanging from my chin – for several reasons *wink wink*. I’m a novice in geek speak, so I’m sure there’s an actual name for the 3-D computer thingy that he uses to literally touch and discard bits of the suit that he doesn’t like or doesn’t need, but knowing the name or not does not decrease the awesomeness of watching those scenes. And by far, one of my favorite parts is watching the Iron Man suit materialize around Stark. Too cool!
Jeff Bridges is convincingly horrible as the bad guy, Obadiah Stane. He started Stark Industries with Tony’s dad way back when. I actually leaned over to my friend with whom I went to see it and said, “I really hate him.” He was just so mean and utterly dislikable.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays Stark’s loyal assistant, Pepper Potts. There’s chemistry between them from the very beginning, but Stark’s a playboy who specializes in one-night stands with difficult reporters, and Potts is the sort of woman with whom he could make a future. So, obviously, they’re not together.
At first, I couldn’t really envision this to be the sort of role that Paltrow would go for, but she proves her acting prowess by being completely believable and bringing credibility to the role; however, I was a little irritated with the damsel in distress type squealing at the end.
A word to the wise: stick around for the credits. My friend and I didn’t, and we missed out on an epilogue, which means we’ll have to go see it again. Oh, shucks.
Popularity: 9% [?]
May 7th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Aww man! Now I’m going to have to go see it again! I didn’t stay around… I wonder if I can find it on youtube
May 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
If you’re lucky, you can find a camera phone craptastic version on youtube. Let’s just say that it sets up the awesomeness that is going to be the next couple of years of Marvel comic book movies. Be sure to look for Robert Downey Jr’s cameo in the upcoming Hulk movie.