Iron Man (Warning: Spoilers)

[tripwire45]

Ok, I won't write about *all* the spoilers, but if you want a virgin experience seeing the film for the first time, DON'T READ THIS!!! You have been warned.

Generally, it is a really enjoyable film and more-or-less true to the original mythos (adjusting for passage of time...the original Iron Man story was published in 1963).

I liked Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Tony Stark...a self-absorbed, womanizing, boozing, genius who gets the biggest "comeupance" of his life early on in the film and spends the rest of the film trying to deal with it by developing and using the Iron Man armor.

Oh...don't take really small children to see this film. Early on, there are some graphic scenes when Tony is wounded and has surgery to, at least temporarily, repair his heart. I was sitting just in front of a family of 4 with two small boys and they had a tough time with those scenes.

I thought the development of the Iron Man armor was pretty cool. The first version (built in a cave from spare parts) was realistic enough (given that this is a comic book), although I don't know how he ever developed the power source from what he had to work with.

A fair part of the film goes into how Tony refines the armor up to modern specs and the special effects alone (he has a basement lab to die for) are worth the price of admisssion. There are also some pretty cute moments when Tony is testing out the flight mode of the armor and the interactions with his IA robots are funny. His house computer "Jarvis" adds a nice touch, though you have to assume that Tony is genius enough to create the programming necessary for Jarvis to have a "personality" (and "Jarvis" is a nod to the human butler at Tony's mansion in Manhattan in the comics, used as Avengers HQ).

The whole Tony/Pepper relationship was amplified somewhat while the whole Tony/Happy Hogan (they only call him "Hogan" in the film and he hardly gets any screen time) relationship is very minimized. In fact, Pepper becomes the "trusted keeper of the secret" rather than Happy (but then, look who's playing Pepper).

Other interesting stuff is the first mention of SHIELD in any Marvel Comics movie and a wink at Tony's friend "Roadie" (James Roades) possibly wearing a version of the armor in the sequel (the whole thing's set up for one).

I personally, don't think there was enough "build up" between the development of the armor and the initial battles before he gets to the climax of the film...but the movie is already a touch over 2 hours long, so they had to cut something. Since they did away with the need to recharge the power source, they handled Tony's classic "I'm running out of power and am going to die soon" problem in the climax in a unique way.

There are two "endings"...the one before the ending credits and the one after the credits are over. I disagree with the way the first ending was handled and wonder how/if they'll resolve the mess they created. On the other hand, it's used to set up the second ending (though, they could have pulled off the second ending without creating the mess in the first) and I highly recommend sitting through all the credits to see just who shows up and what is said. *That* is the total staging for a sequel.

My son bought a large popcorn (for us to share), we had two sodas, and he had some milkduds and *that* cost more than the price of two tickets (go figure). I bought the tickets online since I didn't want to risk being late (6 p.m. showing) by standing in line, but there wasn't any. I'm certainly going to see *all* my movies on Wednesday night from now on (Indiana Jones...The Dark Knight). I can see them when they're less than a week old and no crowds to deal with.

Go see the movie. It's a winner.

[newkoba]

i'm with trip iron man was awesome. clever, humorous, and a good amount of action in the same flick.

oh and i'm not a fan of previews, but if they show the same previews at all the showings as they did with us this summer movie schedule is shaping up to have some very cool movies.

[wagnerk]

Dom, I and 2 other mates went to see this movie and enjoyed it. There was action and humour rolled into one, 2 thumbs up from me

-Ken

[Phoenix]

I loved the movie too, being a tech junky it was like watching porn!

The movie itself was set up as part of a trilogy, with the cast all signed up for at least the second part (due out in 2010 i heard) so it might explain some of the short comings of the first

the second ending was way to slow to come about, although well worth it the first time, the voice gives it away straight away as true awesomeness to come!


All I can say is brinnnngggg on part 2!

[BosonMichael]

Might just have to take the crew here to see it!

[tripwire45]

The agent that kept approaching Pepper and Tony for the "debriefing" *should* have had blond, crewcut hair, wore horn-rimmed glasses and been named "Jasper Sitwell", but I doubt any of you out there would understand why (old Iron Man trivia buff from waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back).

[noelg24]

Here is my response to what I thought of the movie. say what you want but I wasnt as enthusiastic about it as you lot...not enough action.

[noelg24]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

I loved the movie too, being a tech junky it was like watching porn!

The movie itself was set up as part of a trilogy, with the cast all signed up for at least the second part (due out in 2010 i heard) so it might explain some of the short comings of the first

the second ending was way to slow to come about, although well worth it the first time, the voice gives it away straight away as true awesomeness to come!


All I can say is brinnnngggg on part 2!

Regarding the sequel although he has not officially confirmed but Mr Favreau should be back at the helm to direct it...and I am in no doubt that this time they will have lots more action than the first one...kinda like Superman Returns only I loved that one more purely for the fact I am a Superman fan