IRON MAN

Robert Downey Jr. has his stark break into the mainstream

DETAILS:
Released - 2 May 2008
Certificate - 12A
Running Time - 125min
Director - Jon Favreau
Screenwriters - Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Producers -Avi Arad, Kevin Feige
Cinematography - Matthew Libatique
Editing - Dan Lebental
Music - Ramin Djawadi
Theatrical distributor - Paramount
Country - USA



SYNOPSIS:
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the CEO of the worlds leading weapons manufacturer; Stark Industries. Relishing in his rich playboy lifestyle his world is turned upside down on a trip to Afghanistan. There to demonstrate the capabilities of his company’s new Jericho missile he is captured by terrorists and forced to build them his new weapon. Instead he hones in on his engineering skills to build a suit of iron and escapes. On his return to America he is a changed man. Having experienced the suffering his weapons bring to the world he wants to develop his Iron suit to bring peace and prosperity. On his mission to change Stark Industries intentions for the greater good his PA and potential love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is more than willing to help but his second in command Obadiah Stone (Jeff Bridges) has better ideas.

REVIEW:
Marvel’s influence on Hollywood these recent years has been phenomenal. Stan Lee and his associates have given birth to a whole new genre: the superhero movie. Iron Man itself also marks the next chapter in Marvel’s legacy as it is the first film to be fully financed by their studios. This may seem a somewhat risky decision as Iron man is by no means the most popular comic book and the franchise itself not as bankable as Spiderman or X-men, but Marvel seem to have pulled it off. By releasing Iron Man a couple of months in the shadow of The Dark Knight when there are little blockbusters and no comic book releases to compete with more people will be inclined to see it. With a whole host of films under their belt there is no time like the present to increase their business empire.

Although in the traditional Marvel fashion Iron Man is first and foremost an origin film. This would not be the birth of a Marvel superhero franchise unless we typically had the entirety of the film depicting an average guy undertaking a heroic transformation. Usually a superhero film can suffer from this plot convention like the Fantastic 4 which spent too much time establishing too many different characters changes rather than the development of a collective plot. But despite this minor limitation Iron Man’s dramatic opening appears to offer something different with a vaguely political feel. As Stark’s jeep is immediately seized in Afghanistan and he has to escape from a terrorist’s lair this is extremely attention grabbing cinema. As the Jericho Missile flies behind Tony Stark towards the distant mountains as he stands upright to demonstrate its capabilities to potential buyers is certainly visually striking.

But it is Robert Downey Jr., taking this role effortlessly in his stride, who carries the weight of the film on his shoulders. A cookie, loveable and humorous rogue but at the same time a geek with a tough side is a fairly layered character to portray. Downey Jr. has managed to make the drastic transformation in character from rebel to freedom fighter with a limited time space far more believable than say Tobey Maguire could have done. Downey Jr. has certainly brought a lot of his own personality to this role. His changing of the written dialogue to his own improvisations and humorous quips has given Iron Man a lot more charismatic and human qualities than various other wooden marvel heroes. In the best casting since Indiana Jones Tony Stark is a witty, fresh and charming bloke. As for his supporting cast; Jeff Bridges as a villain carries a little more bite and intensity whereas Gwen plays herself. As a love interest thrown in to add sex appeal she does give a bit more for Downey Jr. to play off than most would. Iron Man is definitely the first marvel film since X-men 2 to come of age and take on board the ambitious characterisation of Batman Begins, at least to a degree.

Iron Man is in many ways different to most Marvel superheroes. Not genetically changed he has to look deep inside his intelligence during times of desperation and has to turn to his conscience when confronted with the evils of his company. As a superhero he is always himself, he just puts on his hi-tech suit to channel his heroic qualities. The majority of the films running time is devoted to Tony Stark enhancing and modifying his suit but due to Downey Jr. this is very entertaining and in no way as boring as it sounds. His presence adds to the films charm as there is not an overly frantic a pace. With amazing visuals providing glimpses of dazzling effects such as flying through near space, there is not too much of an overindulgence in action.

Although in the last twenty minutes Iron Man seems to run out of steam. Suddenly there is a showdown between Obadiah and Stark both in Iron Suits. It seems just as the film is going somewhere different and original like Batman Begins it ends up copying modern trends in the same vein as Transformers and the fantastic 4 in a severe anti-climax. It may not be a superhero film which changes or subverts the genre but it still does more than most within its laid out conventions.

TO SUM UP:
Not the best superhero film but not exactly far off, an enjoyable flick to wet our appetites for The Dark Knight. Now we have established his character bring on Iron Man 2!