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ManimalX -> RE: Iron Man (5/4/2008 1:50:49 AM)
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*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*
Alright! I saw Iron Man on opening night and had an immensely enjoyable movie-going experience! This movie is definitely worth a few bucks to go see, and will be added to my DVD collection as soon as it is released.
First of all, this movie really is given its personality by Robert Downey Jr. He really carries this film out of the "pretty good" realm and into the "excellent!" realm. I was reminded of how Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow made Pirates of the Caribbean what it was. Downey was hilarious and moving, and pulled off both the spoiled rich boy role and the redeemed selfless role equally well. All of the other actors were really performing on Downey's stage. I enjoyed the Pepper Potts character, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, whom I don't necessarily care for as an actress. Jeff Bridges was an excellent villain as Obadiah. Rhody was done well, too.
I loved the "easter eggs" thrown in throughout the movie; nods to almost all of the Iron Man comic story arcs and alternate storylines. Many of the different major armor types used by Stark over the history of Iron Man were represented well. From the Mark I to the Mark II and III, to the modular armor and even a nod to the silver suit donned by Rhody in one of the comic story arcs (Rhody looks longingly at the suit and mutters, "Next time, baby!"). Obadiah's use of the term "iron monger" as well as the hulkbuster style armor he develops was pretty cool. Of course the best easter egg was the revelation of S.H.I.E.L.D. at the end and SPOILER: the revelation of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury after the credits!!!!!!!!!!! Most of the theater had stayed and there was huge cheering at this point! The scene was Tony coming home, but something is wrong with his home security system as he walks into the darkened living room. The voice of Mace Windu then begins speaking from a silhouette , "You don't realize the world you have just entered, Mr. Stark." Then Samuel L. Jackson steps from the shadows and says, "My name is Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. I would like to speak with you about the Avenger Initiative." (not verbatim, mind you, but pretty close) Yay!
There were few questionable elements in the film. At the very beginning as the film is setting up Tony as the spoiled rich brat egomaniac, the camera cuts from Tony making a pass at a female reporter to them making out and rolling around in bed (no nudity) for 2 or 3 seconds. The next scene is the morning after, Tony is gone, and she wanders around his mansion for 10 or 20 seconds of film time, until Pepper meets her with freshly pressed clothes and instructions that a car is waiting to take her wherever she needs to go. The reporter makes fun of Pepper as being a gopher, but Pepper fires right back that she is just "taking out the trash".
Later, while flying on his private jet with Rhody and drinking Saki, the stewardesses also double as dancing entertainment for a few seconds of screen time in very skimpy stewardess outfits.
Alcohol is consumed by many people throughout the whole movie, mostly at social events and business meetings, and reference is made to what a drunk Tony was before his transformation into Iron Man. I don't have a particular beef with alcohol as a Christian, but some more sensitive brothers and sisters may think there is too much.
There is one D word that I caught, and maybe an H word.
The story of redemption and self-sacrifice really takes center stage, and Tony's transformation into a hero is well done and worthy of praise. Though the theme may not be as well done as, say, Spider Man, it is nonetheless the whole point of Iron Man: helping those who are oppressed and in need at the risk of self-harm.
I am out of time, but I highly recommend this movie!
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