Tony Stark makes you feel he's a cool exec with a heart of steel

[khaosworks]

Watched Iron Man last night. Possibly the most enjoyable super-hero movie Marvel has ever put out, and right up there in my top three super-hero movies, period, next to Superman II and Spider-Man 2. It does pretty much what I've always said about adapting comic books and icons to the screen — you don't have to be word-perfect faithful (and, in fact, you probably don't want to be... case in point, Daredevil), you just have to be able to get the character enough to show us what he's all about.

And Favreau did good. He hewed as close to the origin as he could and still make it up to date, and kept the action and big explosions going along at a good enough clip so that the two hours just flew by. Of course, the biggest credit has to go to Robert Downey, Jr., who played Stark with the right combination of arrogance, self-righteousness and vulnerability that is the essence of the comic book character. What helps of course is the good humour that permeates the script, allowing the audience much more empathy with Stark than, say, we had with Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, which wins points on awesome but loses to Iron Man in terms of heart (no pun intended, given Tony's condition). But then, that's always been one of the dividing lines between DC and Marvel.

Marvel Studios acquitted itself very nicely with this first foray. Here's hoping The Incredible Hulk will similarly measure up. Now, I want the toys.

Comments

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Did you stay for the after the credits scene?

I liked the subtle references to a number of Iron Man villains in very different contexts. The one problem I had with the movie was in the final fight scene, I thought the opponent was acting out of character, making it more of a Iron Man - Hulk style battle in terms of the personality shown.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was spoiled for that already, but it was still cool seeing Ultimate Nick Fury as he was intended. I'll need to watch it again to see what other references they dropped, but I noticed the cartoon theme playing a few times - once as Pepper's ring tone. I also half thought calling the Afghan bad guys "The 10 Rings" was setting up their leader to be the new Mandarin.

The idea that Stane was acting out of character crossed my mind, but I can write it off as him completely losing it - drunk with power, all the decades of frustration of being in the shadow of one Stark then another, and then given this "perfect weapon". As Tony was saying, Obadiah had gone insane, and he wasn't really thinking straight, just wanted to get off on it all.

When I was walking out of the cinema, I had to be a punk and say loudly to my friends, "This was based on the comic book? Oh man, I was wondering why they didn't have like time travel and more Ozzy."

[ionlylurkhere.livejournal.com]

Is it going to make me like Tony?

(I had the misfortune to not really notice Iron Man until Civil War, so I didn't get the best possible introduction to the character. I did pick up the Doomquest hc the other day because everyone on the Internet says it's awesome, and enjoyed it but I still found him slightly annoying at times.)

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Yes, it will. In the first bit of the movie he's rich jerk billionaire playboy Tony, but even then Downey manages to make you like him.

[susanscookietin.livejournal.com]

Batman is coming this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StWZDqqBfJo