You know, when Marvel Comics got into the movie business, I had high hopes. Instead, I got an unreleased Fantastic Four movie that was campy and a Captain America movie that had promise but screwed around with the characters and mythos too much (though Matt Sallinger did an admirable job with a terrible script in playing Cap). Of course, there was one hit, Blade, but then we had to suffer through Blade II: Electric Boogaloo and Blade III: Guest Star Bonanza. And of course, there was the Punisher movie starring Dolph Lundgren. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
Then, Marvel got serious. They made Spiderman, and I was thrilled. They made the Fantastic Four, which while not great, was good. Thomas Jane as the Punisher was awesome. The first Xmen movie was good....then we had the lean times of Affleck as Daredevil, Garner in a weird version of the Elektra character, and Ang Lee doing something which was supposed to be about the Incredible Hulk but he didn't appear til well over an hour and 20 into the film. Spiderman 2 restored my faith, only to have it crushed by the likes of Xmen 3 and Spiderman three, or as I call it, Spiderman the Musical.
So, when I heard about Iron Man, and Robert Downey, Jr. being cast to play Tony Stark, I was wary. Would Marvel hit a home run or would this be worse than Kirsten Dunst's singing?
Marvel hit a grand slam. Most of the editorial board of WMD screened the film Thursday night and then again just a couple of hours ago. It was a great, funny, exciting thrill ride.
Robert Downey, Jr. was great as Tony Stark--the flawed but funny billionaire industrialist who gets thrust into heroics. Jeff Bridges was incredible as the villain, Stark's mentor and friend Obadiah Stane, and Terrence Howard did a passable job as James Rhodes, Stark's friend and pilot and liason with the Air Force.
The film begins as most super hero films do...the origin story. However, rather than taking us through some long montage or backstory, they go right with the story: Tony Stark is in Afghanistan demonstrating a new weapon, when his humvee gets hit by terrorists. He takes shrapnel to the heart and is captured. He is forced to build a weapon for the terrorists, and along with Yinsen, the man who saved his life, Stark builds a weapon alright....and so is born Iron Man.
The twist in the movie, directed by Jon Favreau(of Swingers fame and who makes a cameo as Stark's bodyguard and wingman, Harold "Happy" Hogan), takes the origin story, which was written in the 1960s and set in Vietnam/SE Asia, and modernizes it for our current struggles. This is pulled off very well and is a nice adaptation.
Downey does a great job as the funny and narcissistic Stark, who builds weapons, sleeps with any woman he wants, and has everything he could want...except his secretary played by (yawn) Gwynneth Paltrow. However, Stark is woken up to the real world when friends become enemies and he is forced to don armor to save his life and to save innocents from weapons he created that fell into the wrong hands. Downey brings his own battles with addiction into the character, and I think we see a masterful turn from him as the troubled but idealistic genius Anthony Stark. He looks like Stark...he talks like Stark....he acts like Stark...he is Stark. I was pleasantly surprised and think it was an outstanding performance. Downey's wry delivery and nonchalance play well with the script under Favreau's direction. Made me think that this character was meant to be played by Downey and after seeing the film I can't see anyone else in Shellhead's suit.
Fanboys will delight in the portrayal of Stark. The script stayed very true to canon, from Stark being orphaned in a car wreck that killed his dad and mom, to Stark's ego, to the classic lines of the original armor and the mark III armor. Bridges shines as the backstabbing Obadiah Stane, who falls prey to greed and plays both ends against the middle. Downey shows that he understood the character and Stark's passion to keep others from harm. He is very beleivable as Stark...HE IS STARK. Terrence Howard was OK as Rhodey, but I was hoping for Larry Fishburne or someone with a better voice. He just sounded too high pitched. Paltrow was ok as Pepper Potts, but I am not a Paltrow fan. Fans will recognize the appearance of a certain government agency, and there is a surprise after the credits roll which indicates there might be more Iron Man and maybe some of his friends in the future.
The film could have become a bit preachy against weapons and the military, and I was afraid that would happen, especially in light of the fact Liberal Fascist Joe Quesada is editor in chief and thought it would be cool to kill Captain America to make a cheap political statement. However, the film steers clear of that and shows our men and women to be heroes, and does not offer too many comments about the War on Terror. Stark builds weapons for the good guys, and hates to see them fall into the hands of the baddies.
I also liked the way the film brought the origin story and the Obadiah Stane story together with some nice modifications. For more info on the Stane story, see Iron Man 160 or so and all the way thru to issue number 200. I would recommend the Many Armors of Iron Man Trade paperback for more on this.
The visuals are stunning, as the armor is very believable and the CGI effects are very well done. You believe Downey is in that suit, flying around and kicking butt and taking names. Bridges is amazing in a rare turn as a villain.
This film has everything you could ask for as a fan: stunning graphics, good writing, an excellent director, and they DON'T MUCK WITH THE STORY OR TRY TO GUSSY IT UP OR MAKE A STATEMENT. It stays true to the mythos and combines the action and humor Stan Lee's creations are known for. And there is no musical numbers by the cast, or dance numbers, other than a slow dance between Paltrow and Downey.
Finally, Marvel makes a movie that almost rivals the original Michael Keaton Batman. This was the best Marvel movie yet, and the homages and sly references to characters and events in the Marvel universe will keep everyone on their toes. Iron Man is an outstanding film with great writing, direction, and Downey Jr. can be Tony Stark anytime he wants. The film is what a comic hero movie should be: an escape, but with an appeal to what is best about us. Tony Stark is flawed to be sure, but he rises to the challenge to become a modern day night errant, and we see the reverence and care that Favreau has gone to in order to make this a movie that will please fans as well as neophytes. Well done!
However, Marvel will ruin this good feeling with the release of the "rebooted" Incredible Hulk later this year. Edward Norton is chosen to relaunch the franchise since Ang Lee's plodding film did not do so well. From what I have seen, when they aren't ripping off shots from the Bill Bixby series, Ed Norton is his usually whiny, weaselly self. Not exactly the actor to play a sympathetic character. But maybe Marvel is just trying to balance things. Have the greatest film since Batman, then put out another HeMan type film. I will probably skip Ed Norton does Fight Club on Steroids, or as I say, "First rule about reboot...don't bother to see reboot."
Iron Man is the real deal, and it should appeal to fanboys like me and non comics geeks alike. The armor is sweetlooking and believable, the cast is very good, and the direction and feel of the film is outstanding....let's hope for some more....But next time, darnit, play the Black Sabbath song MORE....
Best line: Some people say the best weapon is the one you never have to fire...I respectfully disagree. I say the best weapon is the one you only have to fire once...that's the way dad did it, that's the way America does it, and its worked out pretty good so far...
Heck yeah!
Iron Man...Go see it...but only after you listen to the TIB All Stars....
