movie review by efrain gomez - May 2, 2008
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
The first of a few highly-anticipated blockbuster movies this year, “Iron Man” delivers us from the evil of recent months’ movie slump. Yes it’s another superhero movie based on an old Marvel comic character of the same name, but it’s an action-adventure worth seeing.
I was never interested in the “Iron Man” comics, but by the end of this movie I became a fan right alongside all the grown men suspended in adolescence decked out in “Iron Man” masks and tees surrounding me in the movie theatre.
The talented Robert Downey Jr. (”Zodiac”) plays the brilliant, wealthy, and witty Tony Stark, a poster-boy for the future of technology by day, Hollywood playboy by night (like a modern-day Howard Hughes, minus the extreme OCD).
I’ve always thought of Downey Jr. as a stellar actor, even physically delving into characters like Tony Stark down to the mannerisms, glances and posture. It’s so fun to watch him that I almost wanted to see more scenes with him as Stark than as Iron Man.
But I’m getting ahead of myself…
Stark’s billion-dollar weapons manufacturing company, Stark Industries, is rolling in the dough from U.S. government contracts, but one day while on a new weapon demonstration in the deserts of Afghanistan, Stark is kidnapped. While in captivity he is forced to build a new weapon in exchange for freedom.
“Iron Man” follows Stark through a mini moral conflict where he turns from being a frivolous indifferent genius to a pacifistic and remorseful guy who feels bad for creating such massive weapons of destruction. Rather than simply sitting back and questioning, Stark takes action and builds an armored super-suit to escape and begin his mission to give back to the world his products have so damaged. But don’t worry, the filmmakers don’t get too politically or morally heavy in such a breezy action film.
Director Jon Favreau, whose previous works include the wonderfully funny “Elf” and family-fun adventure “Zathura”, carefully paces the story and shows off more of his talent this time around with a fun blend of action, drama and wit.
“Iron Man” has everything you need for a pre-summer flick – thrills, laughs, great cast, good story, and stuff that goes ‘boom’. Towards the end it gets a little Hollywood-cheesy, but overall the movie is an awesome ride. Go see it, and I think you’ll agree: “Iron Man” is solid gold.
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Have you seen Iron Man? What’d you think?
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