May 13, 2008 11:16 PM
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No wonder this latest blockbuster comic book film has been number one at the cinema the last 2 weeks. I wonder if these filmmakers knew what a great concept and mix of outstanding visual effects, actors, music and cool gadgets they had ensembled or if there was some shear luck at an exciting and thrilling from beginning to end movie.
Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark(or should I say “Tony Stark is Robert Downey Jr.?), a genius who makes weapons for the military. Not just any weapons, his weapons are so deadly that it will take only one demonstration to prove a how powerful they are. I believe Tony, and you will too, as he demonstrates of his latest missile with all the arrogance and our own appreciation for Downey's cheeky attitude while the missile detonates, spitting smaller missiles into the background of the barren Middle Eastern desert.
Upon leaving his overwhelmingly successful launch, he is caravanned by military cover and ambushed, taken hostage by a group of militants who want him to duplicate his latest weapon. Of course, he is almost fatally injured and with the assistance of another captive he feigns compliance to his captors. But instead, he builds himself an iron suit with weapons and a self-generating power source, which also keep him alive. The surprises come at his great escape from the cave. When he returns home, he is convinced that what he and his company, Stark Enterprises, has been building are killing their own people and that his own weapons are the cause for a lot of destruction.
In the basement of his really modern house set atop a cliff of the swanky Malibu Beach, Stark rebuilds his destroyed Iron Man Suit. This one is even better than the one he made in the cave with used parts. As he works on his new Iron Man suit, his assistant played by Gwyneth Paltrow, offers another side of Stark and an appreciation for what she deals with having a quick witted, brilliant and stylish boss as she does. Pepper Potts is the assistant that we would all love to have and the two have great chemistry even though we all know that their love will never be.
Pulling the strings to all the chaos is Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger(Jeff Bridges), in a role that suits him, but I had a hard time at first seeing him for a nemesis that he pretended to be. Yes, he was brilliantly bald and had the right amount of goatee for a backstabbing villain. I have to admit, he did get more evil as time went on.
Stark's friend, James "Roadie" Rhodes(Terrance Howard), played a formidable ally and sidekick. The interaction between him and Downey was really fun and exciting as they should be. My favorite part with the two was in the scene: Iron Man vs. the Air Force. Iron Man is not recognized, since he is not yet “out” and two Migs are on the attack with Iron Man outmaneuvering them in restricted air space. One Mig clips Iron Man and destroys a wing and an engine causing the pilot to abandon the plane. His parachute does not open and Iron Man is, of course, there to save the day. The best part was not that Iron Man saved the pilot from a horrible death, but the great effects and stunts that each performed in the scene were exceptional.
The Superhero, Iron Man was MADE for Robert Downey Jr. He was clever, interesting and a thrill to watch in every scene. Even scenes that were perhaps predictable and cliché were worth the effort. Some could argue that Downey played another version of himself and that may be true, but with the added superhero dimension and the great direction of John Favreau, the argument is lost. Without a doubt this movie launched the desire for a sequel and I can’t wait. Even though the run time was over 2 hours, I still could have enjoyed a longer movie.
