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- First reviewMay 2, 2008
- Last reviewMay 2, 2008
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elmo15's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
Highly Entertaining, Downey is Amazing
PostedMay 2, 2008
elmo15
from Dallas, TX
Without a doubt, this movie delivers. Whether it is the note-perfect performance of Downey as Tony Stark or the just plain bad*ss powered suits and weapons being built and perfected throughout the film. In terms of Stark's portrayal, there has NEVER been a better lead acting performance in a superhero movie(that includes Nicholson as the Joker). Downey is predictably great as the carefree, playboy jerk. But it's his transcendent performance in Stark's search for personal redemption that gives weight to what would otherwise be a fairly standard superhero portrayal as written on the page. Bridges is priceless as Obadiah Stane. He is charisma personified on screen and we as an audience just do not see him in enough movies any more(and we should be complaining about that). In portraying Iron Man’s origin, Jon Favreau wisely took a cue from Chris Nolan in Batman Begins in making sure the audience sees the wizard behind the curtain of his hero’s "superpowers". It dramatically increases my enjoyment of comic book movies when I can reasonably believe a hero’s powers can be crafted with enough money, devotion and ingenuity. Favreau's action sequences press all the right buttons. He doesn’t make the frustrating mistake of staying too tight where all you see is a mass of…whatever, and you have no reference point to figure out what’s going on. And while I grant that it must be modestly easier to render metal suits realistically than it is to render flesh and blood superheroes, the CGI is never over-the-top which is more than I can say for the car-chase-by-the-cliffs scene in the Indiana Jones 4 trailer that precedes this film.
On to the not so great, Favreau is a GIFTED director when getting performances, telling the story that’s on the page and in particular, finding the humor in the little life moments of a given scene. He is, however, not quite there yet as an event movie director. Overall, the film lacked the polish and what my moviegoing partner so aptly put, the "flourish", that a Michael Bay, a Gore Verbinski and yes, a Stephen Spielberg will add to the big pictures. Yes, I know Michael Bay is ALL flourish, no substance, but you have to give it up that he really does know that part of the river, cinematically speaking. There are so many scenes in Iron Man that BEG for the topper to really give you that joygasm, but they too often fall short. At least part of it is the absolutely poor music. If there’s a textbook example of filler music, this movie has it. It’s faded up and down during action sequences like you’re constantly being pushed in and out of a cr*p rock muzak elevator. It’s such a shame because it could have really heightened some of the action sequences and punctuated the big moments. The bad music may not be all Favreau’s doing, but he does let you down just a tiny bit with some of his choices during the action sequences. Best example is when Iron Man shoots the Unibeam at War Monger. And I use the word “shoots” because that’s all he did. To me, the Unibeam is a big weapon in Iron Man’s arsenal and Favreau should have shown him UNLEASHING it on War Monger. Instead, Favreau portrays it from a pretty distant vantage point as if it’s almost an afterthought and it causes next to no damage to the War Monger. I suppose it’s a minor criticism, but then again, I am huge fan of this movie and these little things could have put this, a great superhero film, at the top of the conversation of the best superhero film of all time. I actually have no doubt the Favreau will get it absolutely right in the next installment. This was a great movie and I’m going to see it again today.
On to the not so great, Favreau is a GIFTED director when getting performances, telling the story that’s on the page and in particular, finding the humor in the little life moments of a given scene. He is, however, not quite there yet as an event movie director. Overall, the film lacked the polish and what my moviegoing partner so aptly put, the "flourish", that a Michael Bay, a Gore Verbinski and yes, a Stephen Spielberg will add to the big pictures. Yes, I know Michael Bay is ALL flourish, no substance, but you have to give it up that he really does know that part of the river, cinematically speaking. There are so many scenes in Iron Man that BEG for the topper to really give you that joygasm, but they too often fall short. At least part of it is the absolutely poor music. If there’s a textbook example of filler music, this movie has it. It’s faded up and down during action sequences like you’re constantly being pushed in and out of a cr*p rock muzak elevator. It’s such a shame because it could have really heightened some of the action sequences and punctuated the big moments. The bad music may not be all Favreau’s doing, but he does let you down just a tiny bit with some of his choices during the action sequences. Best example is when Iron Man shoots the Unibeam at War Monger. And I use the word “shoots” because that’s all he did. To me, the Unibeam is a big weapon in Iron Man’s arsenal and Favreau should have shown him UNLEASHING it on War Monger. Instead, Favreau portrays it from a pretty distant vantage point as if it’s almost an afterthought and it causes next to no damage to the War Monger. I suppose it’s a minor criticism, but then again, I am huge fan of this movie and these little things could have put this, a great superhero film, at the top of the conversation of the best superhero film of all time. I actually have no doubt the Favreau will get it absolutely right in the next installment. This was a great movie and I’m going to see it again today.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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