An Addicts Insight into the World of Comics
An Editorial by Robert Tacopina
May 5, 2008

“Iron Man the Movie”

Well comic fans, summer is officially here with the release of the Iron Man movie from Paramount and Marvel Entertainment. This flick has blockbuster written all over it and after seeing last night with the family I can say in all honesty that this was the best comic book movie that I have seen in some time. This film did everything right and I believe that it has raised the bar for future comic book movies in terms of what they should hope to accomplish with their respective films.

The story was crafted with precision and paid homage to the little things that Iron Man fans would appreciate as they watch this. From little quips regarding aspects of the history of Iron Man in the comics to hints at possible sequels, the screenwriters did a fabulous job at not only making this accessible to everyone but also giving comic fans some morsels of geekery to enjoy along the way. They balanced the action and drama perfectly with bits of humor that all flowed evenly over the course of the film. Of course there were some slight tweaking to the Iron Man origin to make it more modernized but it was all done in a respectful manner to what came before and isn’t something entirely new to comic fans as this is something that happens quite frequently in the comic book world.

You could not have asked for a better cast either. Many doubts were given as to whether or not Robert Downey Jr. had what it takes to become Tony Stark the Iron Man but rest assured he was absolutely phenomenal in his role as the Iron Avenger. Downey has all the tools necessary to personify Stark, or any character for that matter. This was his film no doubt about it and he lived up to the task. Jeff Bridges shined as Obadiah Stane, his business partner with ulterior motives. It was a bit odd seeing his look for this film but he certainly looked the part for his take on the Stane character and what he represented as a contrast to Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard were also impressive in their portrayals of Pepper Potts and James “Rhodey” Rhodes.  Downey and Paltrow have a wonderful chemistry together onscreen.

There were tons and tons of special effects and they were brilliantly achieved. It could have been a disaster with the sheer amount of CGI that this film required and anything other than top notch special effects could have made Iron Man look ridiculous to the viewer. Indeed, Iron Man himself would be a difficult task to undergo and relay into something believable and organic looking onto the big screen but the artists exceeded expectations and delivered an incredibly realistic experience. It was an awesome sight to witness Iron Man in action and one that you would have to see for yourself to truly appreciate. It was also a pleasure to witness the various Iron Man armors that were shown during the film from the original Mark 1 to a more modern armor.

Jon Favreau not only directed this movie but also acted in it as Tony Stark’s long time associate Happy Hogan. Favreau did a remarkable job at making this feature run smoothly as well an ensuring that the performances were spot on. He also played a great Hogan who added the right touch of comedic ability to the role. It is evident that Favreau knows what makes Iron Man and the players in his world tick and the way he transferred that to the big screen worked on two fronts; it was respectful to comic fans and it was accessible to anyone just looking for a fun action movie.

All in all this was an amazingly fun movie that anyone can easily enjoy. As I mentioned earlier it paid homage to the comics and as an Iron Man fan I found myself laughing aloud at certain revelations through out the film. Everything about the Iron Man movie was above any expectations I had prior to going into the theater. The film set up future installments perfectly as well as the possibility of branching out further into the Marvel Universe. Be sure to stay for the ending of the credits as you will be treated to a great scene that lays further evidence to the future of Iron Man. Great, great fun!