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- First reviewMay 2, 2008
- Last reviewMay 2, 2008
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RKent's Reviews
Overall rating
4
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5
Iron Man
PostedMay 2, 2008
RKent
from Oklahoma City
To be perfectly honest, I can't think of a single flaw in this movie. As a comic book movie (wherein comic book physics overrule normal physics), it's nigh perfect.
For those of you unaware, Tony Stark (played perfectly by Robert Downey Jr.) is a billionaire playboy genius whose company (Stark Industries) is a leading weapons developer for the US. In the original comic, he was badly injured and captured while in the Far East (Vietnam, I believe, since it was written in the 60s) where he learned firsthand that his weapons were being used against the troops he designed them for. To escape from his captors (who want him to build weapons for them), he constructs the Mark I suit which is rudimentary but allows him to get to safety.
The movie updates this tale by having him be injured/captured in Afghanistan. The bad guys are an organization known as the Ten Rings, which is clearly a homage to a major Iron Man villain known as the Mandarin. Stark actually sees American servicemen killed by his weapons and is horrified to see these terrorist types equipped with the gear that he built for the USA. As before, he builds the Mark I, kicks a crapload of terrorist butt, and returns home to try and change the direction of his company.
There's no shortage of action in this flick, which shouldn't be a surprise since its a movie based on a comic book, but I was surprised at the amount (and effectiveness) of the humor present. It's also a good thing that comic book physics are being employed, 'cause I counted at least three times where a real person would have died.
Visually, the armor is awesome and the CG work is top notch. As it should be, it was mostly seamless throughout, with only one or two instances that leaped out to me as unmistakeably CG work.
Visually, the armor is awesome and the CG work is top notch. As it should be, it was mostly seamless throughout, with only one or two instances that leaped out to me as unmistakeably CG work.
The cast is also first rate. As I said earlier, Downey does a great job with Stark, bringing across the womanizing, borderline alcoholic genius to life. Gwyneth Paltrow is equally great as Stark's long-suffering executive assistant and potential love interest, Pepper Potts; I was especially appreciative that the story actually knew how to use her to great effect, something that even Batman Begins can't say. Unlike the movie versions of Lois Lane or MJ Watson or Mrs. Tom Cruise, Pepper is actually useful for more than just being the damsel in distress. And who knew that Jeff Bridges could look so cool?
So, after having seen it once, I give it a solid 4 Suits out of 5, reserving the right to increase or decrease my ranking as time passes. Trust me, I fully intend to watch it again. The only drawback to it tonight was that there wasn't a new trailer attached for The Dark Knight, though the Indy & Hulk trailers were nice...
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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