There are many critics that say superhero movies are clich’eacute; and worn out. There are some comic book fanatics that say that it is impossible to properly adapt a good comic to the silver screen. Both groups would be happy to know that “Iron Man” proves them wrong on all accounts.
Directed by Jon Favreau, who is known for his work as a writer and director for such films as “Swingers” and “Made,” and Starring Academy Award Nominee Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrance Howard, “Iron Man” is movie that is a actively taking a step forward for the genre of comic book adaptation and film making.
The film stars Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the billionaire playboy CEO of Stark Industries, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of military weapons and technology. While on a routine sale of a new weapon in Afghanistan, Stark is ambushed and captured by a group of local insurgents.
When asked to make a decision between building a weapon or certain death, Stark chooses to make the insurgents think that he decided to make the weapon in return for his freedom, when in actuality he is developing a weapon that allows him to escape. Eventually the audience discovers that what Stark was building was in fact the first generation of the body armor that was to allow him to become “Iron Man.”
This film is impeccably acted by Downey Jr. It’s very hard to find the proper actor that would properly complement both the comic book hero and the action that will define the film. The acting by Downey Jr. allows for just the right amount of both comedy and action that the comic book itself represents. Paltrow brings the terse but believable love interest to the life of Tony Stark. The chemistry between Downy Jr. and Paltrow is obvious and is utilized very well by Favreau.
The attention to detail is important for film from another medium. This is particularly important for this comic book for the mere fact that the actually mythology of “Iron Man” is supposed to allow a steady amount of both humor and seriousness. The comic book genre has failed in terms of finding the right actor and director to bring the respective comic to the screen. “Iron Man” is a blessing to the genre for the mere fact that this is a film that does absolute justice to the comic and to film making.
Visually speaking this movie is almost flawless. Thanks to Industrial Light ‘ Magic, “Iron Man” was able to perform all the visually stimulating action and fast paced maneuvering that he performs in the comic book. From the soaring to unthinkable heights to traveling faster than the speed of sound, “Iron Man” is a movie that continually makes the audience ask for more.
The film itself revolves around getting to know “Iron Man” and not necessarily all about action. One might think that there would be more action, but the little action that is performed is perfectly situated in the film and allows the audience and “Iron Man” to get used to the idea of an iron clad super hero flying at the speed of sound and saving the world one mission at a time.
It has been rumored that “Iron Man” is going to be produced into a trilogy and rightly so – this is one of the only comic franchises that deserves that much attention. There have been attempts at such thematic ambition and adaptation, comics such as “Blade” and “Spider-Man” that were made into trilogies that worked in principal but as a final product there didn’t seem to pan out. “Iron Man” is a dense and well developed comic with many layers of theme and possibility, and therefore a perfect candidate for a trilogy.
Pound-for-pound, “Iron Man” is a movie that lives up to all the hype and expectation. From the direction to the acting to being able to see an accurate portrayal of one of the greatest super heroes to ever grace the pages of marvel comic books, “Iron Man” is more than worth the price of an admission ticket. “Iron Man” is a movie with an iron constitution, a perfect adaptation that will have the audience simply begging for more.
