"Iron Man" big budget superhero movie that will thrill, amuse
Frank Wisswell, Brad Canze dish views on first big summer blockbuster
By: Frank Wisswell and Brad Canze
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Lifeline
News Editor Frank Wisswell and Lifeline Reporter Brad Canze give readers an "Ebert and Roeper"-like review on the new summer blockbuster film "Iron Man."
Here's Wisswell's take:
I've been patiently waiting for "Iron Man" ever since I saw a leaked trailer online a year ago.
About 365 days later, this film lives up to the hype. Sort of.
The thing I liked about the trailer was that it showed the movie to be more human, and most importantly witty. While the movie is still funny, some of the best jokes are in the trailer.
Robert Downey Jr. was fantastic as Tony Stark, a morally bankrupt billionaire weapons manufacturer who all of a sudden turns good guy after being held captive by three months by a terrorist cell.
Unfortunately, the audience is left out of most of the character progression. Instead, we go from seeing Stark at his worst to suddenly seeing Stark at his best. We don't see any of the moral ambiguity that some Marvel films ("Spider-Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk") have perfected.
While Downey is good in his role, the rest of the characters come across as flat and undeveloped. Stark's antagonist, Obadiah Stane, is a straight up bad guy while his best friend Rhodes is barely utilized save for when the plot demands him.
Meanwhile, Stark's assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes across as the most empowering "normal" (non-superpowered) female we've seen in any Marvel movie so far. On two different occasions, she saves her boss's life whether he realizes it or not.
At the same time, the character isn't given time to develop and the entire movie focuses on the titular Iron Man.
As in the comic books, Stark is one of the most flawed superheroes we've seen on-screen, a fact he openly acknowledges. While Stark thinks this makes him a worse hero, he realizes by the end that his humanity makes his contributions even more incredible.
At the same time, Stark is constantly portrayed in the comic book as an alcoholic. While indeed Stark can often be spotted with a scotch in his hand during the film, the serious issues of alcoholism are either ignored or so subtle that a viewer without background would just think Stark liked scotch.
Here's Wisswell's take:
I've been patiently waiting for "Iron Man" ever since I saw a leaked trailer online a year ago.
About 365 days later, this film lives up to the hype. Sort of.
The thing I liked about the trailer was that it showed the movie to be more human, and most importantly witty. While the movie is still funny, some of the best jokes are in the trailer.
Robert Downey Jr. was fantastic as Tony Stark, a morally bankrupt billionaire weapons manufacturer who all of a sudden turns good guy after being held captive by three months by a terrorist cell.
Unfortunately, the audience is left out of most of the character progression. Instead, we go from seeing Stark at his worst to suddenly seeing Stark at his best. We don't see any of the moral ambiguity that some Marvel films ("Spider-Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk") have perfected.
While Downey is good in his role, the rest of the characters come across as flat and undeveloped. Stark's antagonist, Obadiah Stane, is a straight up bad guy while his best friend Rhodes is barely utilized save for when the plot demands him.
Meanwhile, Stark's assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes across as the most empowering "normal" (non-superpowered) female we've seen in any Marvel movie so far. On two different occasions, she saves her boss's life whether he realizes it or not.
At the same time, the character isn't given time to develop and the entire movie focuses on the titular Iron Man.
As in the comic books, Stark is one of the most flawed superheroes we've seen on-screen, a fact he openly acknowledges. While Stark thinks this makes him a worse hero, he realizes by the end that his humanity makes his contributions even more incredible.
At the same time, Stark is constantly portrayed in the comic book as an alcoholic. While indeed Stark can often be spotted with a scotch in his hand during the film, the serious issues of alcoholism are either ignored or so subtle that a viewer without background would just think Stark liked scotch.
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