by Shadowmancer | May 01 2008
Iron Man has always been kind of a second-string hero in the Marvel Universe. Never as pretty or popular as Spider-Man, the Hulk, or the X-Men, until now. I’ve always liked Tony Stark a lot (I haven’t read Civil War), and Robert Downey Jr. is always entertaining. I went into this movie with high hopes and lofty expectations… and it delivered.
This film is the first in Marvel’s new world order, the first paid for entirely by Marvel Comics new film fund. Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark is a scoundrel. He’s engaging, funny, and irresponsible. He’s also in a boatload of trouble, thanks to a terrorist organization called the Ten Rings (readers of the comic will recognize the reference to the Mandarin’s mystical rings of power, though he doesn’t appear in the film), who want Stark to build them a missile called the Jericho. Of course, Tony builds the first Iron Man suit and escapes, and things go from there.
A lot of footage has been released online, in little snippets. Enough that I was actually worried whether there would be anything left to see in the film. Thankfully, they held the best stuff back. Stark’s best lines aren’t in the trailers, and neither is the best scene in the film.
At the preview I went to, the first shot of the (unpainted) armor got a standing ovation from the audience. Seriously. I’ve heard applause at previews, even cheers, but I’d never seen a standing ovation. It’s nice to see that many people get so absorbed in a story.
All the actors were excellent. Nobody really stole the show, but they were up against Robert Downey Jr. and the suit itself, which is a technophile’s wet dream. Jeff Bridges got close, though. Obadiah Stane is freaking intimidating and *terrifying*, because he still sounds like the Dude from the Big Lebowski under that freaky Cossack beard. I look forward to seeing Terrence Howard get into the armor in part two… And there will be a part two, and a three, at least. Robert Downey Jr. said he’d make fifteen films if they’d let him. After this one, I hope they do.
The only negative thing I can say about this movie is that it suffered from “first movie syndrome.” Too much time taken up with origins and set up when I just want to watch him blow stuff up. Oh well. The S.H.I.E.L.D. subplot was cute, and Tony Stark listens to Suicidal Tendencies. That’s awesome.
Rating: 9/10
Tags:
review, iron man, comics, movie
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S p o n s o r s
Shadowmancer,
This looks like one I will probably make an effort to see. I wonder how much this Tony Stark will be like the one the Ultimates series. In there, he was a womanizing drunk who chased anything in skirts.
Article Author
That’s not really much different from the original recipe version. There was a long time there where Rhodes was the acting Iron Man because Stark was in an alcoholic stupor.
That said, yes, he’s pretty much a womanizing drunk in the film too. :P
“Is it true that you’re 12 for 12 with last year’s Maxim models, Mr. Stark?”
“Well, yes and no. Miss March and I had a scheduling conflict, but luckily December was twins.”