 KSL Movie Show Review:...
IRON MAN **** By Steve Salles Standard Examiner movie critic GO: if you thought “Transformers” was good, wait ‘til you get a load of this. DON’T GO: if action or having fun in movies is not your idea of a good time - begging the question - who are you? I’m not given to gushing very often and was never a comicbook geek but “Iron Man” is one of the best superhero movie I’ve ever seen with solid performances from everyone - especially Robert Downey Jr. My initial reaction on hearing that Downey Jr. was picked to play this character was mixed at best. Then, the more I read about this worldly billionaire inventor Tony Stark full of wit and sarcasm, who at first made sophisticated military weaponry but eventually had a change of heart - who better to play him than the comeback kid - Robert Downey Jr. Not that many years ago, Downey was down for the count. He struggled with drugs and was the poster boy for self-indulgent Hollywood types that couldn’t come to grips with their own success. But he’s turned it all around in no small part to the oldest cliché in the book - the love of a good woman. Good for him and his young family. Tony Stark is the son of genius industrialist Hugh Stark who helped develop the first atomic weapons (according to the story) and eventually when Tony matured, he took over as head of Stark Enterprises. Iron Man creator Stan Lee says he patterned Tony after the colorful and eccentric Howard Hughes. Tony’s a loner who has developed a new weapons system called Jericho. A recent test firing in the Middle East has gone well, but his convoy is ambushed on the way back and Stark is abducted by the enemy. His only value to them is for him to re-create the Jericho weapon, but instead he’s developing an escape plan that includes the rudimentary idea of an armor plated soldier with defense capabilities - more like a heavy metal man. He’ll perfect his idea if and when he escapes with the help of his long time assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). I thought it would bug me not see Iron Man in all his glory until a good hour-plus into the movie, but the techno-geek in me was enjoying the intricate design and testing of this new weapons suit. Plus, Stark’s snarky rants throughout kept me fully entertained. The big showdown was engaging, but also not overwhelming like I thought “Transformers” became. It was a thrill without losing its human element. This is one of the few superhero movies that I would immediately want to see again. Robert Downer Jr. is such an accomplished actor that he made it look and sound effortless and believable. Some suggested that they thought it was a little slow, but I never felt that way and was completely comfortable to wait and enjoy each purposeful moment. Never saw this coming, but “Iron Man” may not only be one of the best summer blockbusters of the year but one of the best movies period of 2008. THE FILM: “Iron Man” OUR RATING: **** STARRING: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and Faran Tahir BEHIND THE SCENES: Directed by Jon Favreau (“Elf” “Zathura”) - filmed in Southern California - Iron Man creator Stan Lee has a humorous cameo as he does in all the Marvel based films. PLAYING: Running time: 126 minutes MPAA RATING: PG-13 movies at a glance: IRON MAN **** (PG-13) some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content. Robert Downey Jr. brings his extraordinary acting skills to the role of Iron Man with an ease and confidence rarely seen in these kinds of films. The script is lively and humorous when need be, but has many moments of strong, unforced drama to compliment. This is one of the best superhero movies I’ve ever seen and simply one of the best just plain movies of 2008.
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