May 07 2008
Iron Man
posted by Steven Shaw at 9:40 am
Iron Man, Directed by Jon Favreau, Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Rating M – Medium Level Violence
If you haven’t already seen it, you would have at least heard: Iron Man rocks. Released worldwide last week, it become one of only 10 films ever to gross $US100 million in its opening weekend. The first fully funded Marvel Studios release (The Incredible Hulk will be their second release), it’s such a success that Marvel is planning to skip feature releases in 2009 in order to concentrate on an Iron Man sequel for release in 2010. Thor is also slated for 2010 and Marvel is planning a 2011 release of The First Avenger: Captain America, followed by The Avengers. So how’d they get it so right this time?
The story really is driven by the Tony Stark character, played by Robert Downey Jr. A millionaire industrialist whose family fortune was made through weapons manufacturing, Stark has a change of heart when he is captured by terrorists and sees his weapons being used by all sides. He makes the first of several armoured suits, escapes and decides to apply his knowledge and resources to saving people from peril. After an initial prototype, he comes up with the well-known gold and red flying suit of armour.
An armoured suit and helmet doesn’t really display much variety emotionally, so it was important for the lead to have a whole lot of personality and charm. Robert Downey Jr. is certainly not lacking in that department, bringing charisma to the role. In the comics, Tony Stark went through a long period of alcoholism. That’s another part of the character that Downey Jr. can readily identify with and it’s bound to be retold in an upcoming sequel.
Comedy elements are here too — a combination of Jon Favreau’s direction and Downey Jr.’s ability to improvise dialogue.The supporting cast is great, with Jeff Bridges as a business partner who turns villain, Terrence Howard as Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes (pretty much an apprentice/sidekick in the comics) and Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark’s assistant, Pepper Potts.
When we’re shown the suit in various stages of development, it’s like watching the ultimate gadget-filled workshop project. And when Iron Man takes to the skies, it’s exciting — unlike that Superman guy who always goes for sappy, aerial ballet.
Another Marvel tradition seems to be an ace card for Marvel Studios — crossover between characters. Samuel L. Jackson makes a post-credits appearance, introducing himself as Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony Stark is said to be appearing briefly in The Incredible Hulk, which stars Ed Norton as Bruce Banner. And with the talk of an Avengers series of films to come, it seems that Marvel has reclaimed its heroes, and is showcasing them in a way that is respectful to the source material. As Marvel creator Stan Lee would say, “Nuff Said!”