Ironman Review
I'm not one to do movie reviews regularly, whether on forums, or IMDB or even on this blog, but I have no choice but to say this now: Ironman staring Roberty Downy Jr. is one of the best action films I have ever seen, and this may very well be the best comic-book adaptation that I've ever seen in a movie format.
Now I was impressed with the first Spider-man (though I think Toby Maguire was a bit TOO geeky at points, even for Peter Parker) and the X-Men series was fairly good. But I've also found myself shaking my head at some films that weren't atrocious, but worse *cough* *cough* Hulk *cough* *cough*.
So I went into this movie very hopeful, because Robert Downey Jr. is a very good actor, and from what I was seeing about the premise and organization of the movie, it looked like they were going to try to keep in line with concept of the comic, and be faithful though updating just enough of the backstory to allow contemporary audiences to relate.
Robert portrays Tony Stark, a hot-shot prodigy weapons designer who is the CEO of his father's business, Stark Industries. Robert portrays the party-guy attitude of Stark so excellently, giving us the impression of a man who is arrogant about what he knows, but shows the cracks in his character as being heavily into vice and being afraid of not being in control or getting what he wants.
While on a trip to demonstrate the latest innovation from his company, Tony is captured by a group of hard-line militant terrorists who have been obtaining his weaponry for use against American forces in Afghanistan. After being injured, Tony is saved from death by another captive who works with Tony on building a missile for their captors, under the arrangement that once it is done, they will be let go. Of course, Tony is no fool, nor is the other captive, and the two instead build the first suit of armor for Ironman.
After returning home, Tony realizes that the creation of weaponry doesn't promote the safety for people he always wanted to believe, and so he vows to leave off of the concept both personally and with his company. However, after discovering that the terrorist group (whom he dealt a serious assault against while escaping) is still about and still obtaining and using his weapons, he designs a newer, better version of his Ironman armor and proceeds to start taking those weapons out of his hands.
While there are a few places one could say that the obvious and expected happens in the script, Robert Downey Jr. put forth such a great performance (as did his co-actors) that anyone can enjoy the film and not think of anything as being cliched (the defeat of the main, final antagonist does NOT happen due to Start / Ironman alone, but with help from his assistant, Virginia 'Pepper' Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltro).
I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was so absolutely thrilled with the performance, that I would be open to the type of thing I normally am displeased to see: a sequel.
About the only thing surprising is that an appearance by Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually made by Samuel L. Jackson. Something about Jackson as Fury seems a bit off (not his color, his demeanor), but given that this was really only done as an opening for extending the story a bit more, I'm willing to give that a serious chance as well.
Ironman was a great adaptation, with excellent graphics, and a solid plot that I'd support. It was so good, I saw it twice within 24 hours. 5 out of 5 stars on this one.
Now I was impressed with the first Spider-man (though I think Toby Maguire was a bit TOO geeky at points, even for Peter Parker) and the X-Men series was fairly good. But I've also found myself shaking my head at some films that weren't atrocious, but worse *cough* *cough* Hulk *cough* *cough*.
So I went into this movie very hopeful, because Robert Downey Jr. is a very good actor, and from what I was seeing about the premise and organization of the movie, it looked like they were going to try to keep in line with concept of the comic, and be faithful though updating just enough of the backstory to allow contemporary audiences to relate.
Robert portrays Tony Stark, a hot-shot prodigy weapons designer who is the CEO of his father's business, Stark Industries. Robert portrays the party-guy attitude of Stark so excellently, giving us the impression of a man who is arrogant about what he knows, but shows the cracks in his character as being heavily into vice and being afraid of not being in control or getting what he wants.
While on a trip to demonstrate the latest innovation from his company, Tony is captured by a group of hard-line militant terrorists who have been obtaining his weaponry for use against American forces in Afghanistan. After being injured, Tony is saved from death by another captive who works with Tony on building a missile for their captors, under the arrangement that once it is done, they will be let go. Of course, Tony is no fool, nor is the other captive, and the two instead build the first suit of armor for Ironman.
After returning home, Tony realizes that the creation of weaponry doesn't promote the safety for people he always wanted to believe, and so he vows to leave off of the concept both personally and with his company. However, after discovering that the terrorist group (whom he dealt a serious assault against while escaping) is still about and still obtaining and using his weapons, he designs a newer, better version of his Ironman armor and proceeds to start taking those weapons out of his hands.
While there are a few places one could say that the obvious and expected happens in the script, Robert Downey Jr. put forth such a great performance (as did his co-actors) that anyone can enjoy the film and not think of anything as being cliched (the defeat of the main, final antagonist does NOT happen due to Start / Ironman alone, but with help from his assistant, Virginia 'Pepper' Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltro).
I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was so absolutely thrilled with the performance, that I would be open to the type of thing I normally am displeased to see: a sequel.
About the only thing surprising is that an appearance by Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually made by Samuel L. Jackson. Something about Jackson as Fury seems a bit off (not his color, his demeanor), but given that this was really only done as an opening for extending the story a bit more, I'm willing to give that a serious chance as well.
Ironman was a great adaptation, with excellent graphics, and a solid plot that I'd support. It was so good, I saw it twice within 24 hours. 5 out of 5 stars on this one.
