Iron Man
The silly season begins with Iron Man, an amiable slice of mindless nonsense that evaporates from memory almost as the closing credits roll. Based on the Marvel comic from the 1960’s, the plot concerns Howard Hughes-esque weapons manufacturing billionaire Tony Stark, who has a crisis of conscience when discovering his products have fallen into the wrong hands. He then transforms himself – via a nifty robotic metal flying suit – into a superhero. Incidentally, the comic book was originally set during Vietnam, but has been cannily updated to the present, so the initial action, and the catalyst for Stark’s transformation, occurs in Afghanistan.
Performances are all reasonable, especially from Robert Downey Jr, who seems to be enjoying himself immensely. He correctly interprets his eccentric character as someone who really enjoys the thrill of being a superhero, rather than an angst ridden figure like Batman, and as such elevates the film above its predictable “origin story” plot. Gwyneth Paltrow is fine as a sort-of love interest/assistant, particularly in her evident disdain for Stark’s womanising. When one of Stark’s conquests asks about her job whilst being escorted out of his mansion, she replies acidly “Sometimes I take out the trash”. Elsewhere, Terrence Howard makes a good fist of put upon military bigwig Jim Rhodes, and finally Jeff Bridges has an enjoyable if throwaway role as the villain.
Director Jon Favreau keeps things fast-paced and slick, and it goes without saying that the special effects and action scenes are spectacular. The screenplay is consistently engaging and amusing, if obvious and predictable. It even briefly threatens to have serious undertones about the morality of arms dealing, before letting the audience off the hook and unleashing the requisite mayhem.
In short, this isn’t a film that will win awards, but its fun, brain-in-neutral summer fodder, and a worthy opener to the blockbuster season.
Simon Dillon, May 2008.
I have a comment.
Comment by Joel — 6 May, 2008 @ 9:31 am
Dear Simon,
Please review this statement by yourself…
‘Incidentally, the comic book was originally set during Vietnam, but has been cannily updated to the present, so the initial action, and the catalyst for Stark’s transformation, occurs in Afghanistan.’
In this sentence you refer to Vietnam, but not as the country that it is, but by the horrific Vietnamese war. The vietnamese have achieved much more than you imply and are not just blood thirsty killers.
You fail to mention that in 1986 Vietnam launched a political and economic renewal campaign (Doi Moi). Since this more than 30,000 private businesses had been created, and the economy was growing at an annual rate of more than 7 percent, and poverty was nearly halved.
THEY ARE REAL PEOPLE NOT JUST MURDERERS SIMON !!!
RACIST !!!
Regards
Joel
Comment by Joel — 6 May, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Joel,-whether you are doing these Politically correct ramblings for your own amusement or merely to seem intellectual they are getting old.Therefore have compiled a list of other hobbies you could take up-
Bird Watching
Knitting
Pineapple Sculpting
Staple Art
and writing essays on how war is the best thing that ever happened to mankind.
Enjoy=)
Christian
Comment by Christian — 23 May, 2008 @ 10:36 am
I laughed out loud when I read the “pineapple sculpting” bit. Sounds like something from Alan “Monkey Tennis” Partridge.
Comment by Simon — 23 May, 2008 @ 10:57 am
i likted the movie alot!
Comment by SMÄM — 7 June, 2008 @ 8:33 pm