I am Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiron Maaaaaaaaan!

[silversolitaire]

In other news, I've finally gotten around watching Iron Man on Monday. I loved it. It was most excellent. There's really nothing to complain about it. Except perhaps the changes they made in Stark's personality that bothered me a slight bit. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but in the comics Stark is pretty much unapologetic about his weaponmaking business. He does have some moral concerns occasionally, but most of the time Iron Man just beats the shit out of baddies, takes out competitors and then uses the research for himself. But I can see why they made that change. I'm also not too hot on Stark outing himself as Iron Man in front of the press. How the hell is that going to work out?

In general the film was ailing a bit from the lack of a definite villain, but that's a problem the comic books have, too. Jeff Bridges did an excellent job, I thought, and I just adored those magazine covers at the beginning. 21-year old Stark was simply darling. Took me right back to my great Robert Downey Jr. love in the 90s when I was all over him with Air America, Hearts and Souls, Soapdish and Chances Are... Paul Bettany as Jarvis' voice was awesome, too. It just gave the whole thing such an elegant quality, I thought.

There was a bit of a stretch in the last quarter I thought where the movie was teetering at the edge of becoming boring. Well, not so much boring but it was like, "Okay, now he's done testing his suit, he blew the shit out of the ebil terrorists... what's going to happen now for the remaining half an hour?" There just wasn't a conflict. But that only lasted a couple of minutes until they established Stane as the villain. Of course that was a bit of a "duh" thing, but from a purely narrative POV there was no villain there and IMO they could have set up a long-term complication a tad bit sooner to keep up the suspense. But that was just a minor draw-back.

The humor was excellent, Robert Downey Jr. clearly was born for this role and I just can't wait for more of that! I'm still chuckling when I think of those suit testing scenes. They're always my favorite. I love that in Spider-Man best, too, when he tests out his powers and tries to get comfortable with them. Dummy, the fire safety, was just so funny. Yay for anthropomorphized robot arms. And as I said before, I just loved Jarvis' dry humor.

So, overall it it was a very enjoyable experience. Now we just have to wait for the sequels to fuck it all up.

Comments

[tbranch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Iron Man's a hard character to match villians too, without digging in too much on them. They did lay the groundwork for a possible Mandarin appearance with the terrorist cell, the Ten Rings.

For the most part in the comics, he was fighting a lot of people who wanted his tech or was using 'suited' villians to do corporate terrorism. But was I very happy they at least used the Stane character as the villian.

I had heard that one of the possible 'showdown' was between father and son, with the father in the Iron Monger suit. Bleh.

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Yes I noticed the possible Mandarin opening, but I wonder how they'll be able to update the character.

Okay, that showdown really would have been horrible. Good thing they went for Stane instead! Daddy issues are so tedious.

[johanirae.livejournal.com]

Paul Bettany was so damn HOT even as I voice I was thinking of the slash possibilities. ... Between a computerized voice and a man.

*headdesk* My mind is probably never going to leave the gutter XD

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh God, now you're giving me ideas... x.x;

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

My Iron Man reading is spotty at best, but I think his attitude toward making weapons depends on who's writing.

I actually really, really liked that there wasn't an arch-nemesis like in all the other comic book movies. They're building up toward one - a realistic one (with the Ten Rings). I thought Stane was also a realistic one until he donned the Iron Monger suit. That was irritating, but canonically correct. He did the same thing in the comic, though I understand it ended a little differently?

I've always liked Tony because I have a huge thing for mad scientists and inventors that get gobbled up by their work. There were scenes in this movie (of Tony turning screws, marking out plans, etc.) that were pure porn for me. That it was Robert Downey Jr. (whom I've had a crush on since I first saw him in his all-too-brief Saturday Night Live stint ages ago) really didn't hurt. :D

I'm a little surprised that the movie's proved so popular, even amongst people outside this country. Glad, but surprised. Also amused by the clash of fanboy/fangirl culture over it. >XD

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Re: missing nemesis. Yes, it was refreshingly different and I didn't mind for the most part, but there was this tiny slump that was noticeable and could have been avoided, that's all. JMHO of course.

I'm not entirely sure about the fate of the Iron Monger either. Didn't he blow his brains out with the repulsor beam or something to deny Stark the triumph?

Yes, mad scientists and scatter-brained geniuses are just so damn sexy. I also found myself a little turned on by the scene where Stane stole Tony's heart (haha that sounds so weird! Stark: "You stole my heart." Stane: "Oh Tony..." Stark: "No seriously, give it back!"). Somehow it was really sexy, him all paralyzed, mouth agape, eyes wide, Stane straddling him, extracting the heart, a jerk going through him... >.> Yeah, I'm sick.

Well, Iron Man isn't really such an all-American phenomenon. Not like Captain America for example. I've watched the Iron Man cartoon when I was a kiddo. It's just Captain America that really weirds me out... LOL. And I hear they're making that into a movie, too! Now that's going to be interesting, how that one performs internationally.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

LOL Obadiah/Tony porn. It's just a matter of time.

That is Obadiah's end from what I read in summaries. I sure wasn't reading the comic then.

Captain America could be done right. He probably won't be, though. Sigh.

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I actually resent the movie that some! There aren't any decent slash pairings! :( Poo-ey. Although, some Tony/Jarvis, or Tony/Dummy... nyahahaha.

Actually, I've read that Captain America is next on Marvel's list. Ever since they've become their own production company, they're powering through all their works now *g*. Reportedly, Iron Man has a cameo in The Incredible Hulk. Yet another up-side of Marvel having all the strings in their hands now.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

I've known and loved Jon Favreau for a while. I don't know who this guy is who's doing the Captain America movie.

Awww, c'mon, no Tony/Rhodie for you? Iron Man/War Machine? *cackle*

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh damn, I'd totally repressed Rhodie! LOL Now I feel all racist... >.>; Somehow that pairing doesn't do it for me. They had so little screen time together and the little they had was overshadowed by heterosexual fun.

Hmmm War Machine... who was that again? *scratches head*

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

Rhodie takes up a suit at a point in the continuity when Tony is sick/dead/some-such-marvel-shit and becomes War Machine. (Hence that little nod when he looks at the Mark I and says, "Next time..." YAY fanservice.)

I adored Terrence Howard is Rhodes in this movie! :D

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh yeeeeeeah, now I remember! Didn't have that name handy! Hehe, yes I noticed that reference! XD

Terrence Howard was pretty good, yes! It cracked me up that Tony's name on his cell's caller ID read as "The Starkster" XD;.

[eaeelil.livejournal.com]

did you stay to watch the scene after the credits?

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Of course! I always do! :D

[eaeelil.livejournal.com]

well i think i know why Stark outed himself to the public like that.

In the Civil War series (where the shit hit the fan for hero's keeping there secret identiy, now they must register with the gov't or else) IronMan outed himself to the world to show that he was the head figure in support for the registration act.

So they of sorts tied into the Civil War events (just barely though, he's outed himself before but from what i understand he found a way to hid it again by some big cover up). Oh i loved the last scene! The casting for Nick Fury was dead on! Though to be honest i think they did an absoutley wonderful casting job in this movie IMO.

Okay >.> geek out over >.>;;

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oooooh geek all you want! Finally somebody who knows what he's talking about! :D

From what I understand, Nick Fury actually was modelled after SLJ in some series of The Avengers, so it's not a far shot to cast him there! But yes, it was pretty awesome. I always feel so foolish when I wait at the theater until the end credits roll by and then nothing happens! *g*

[eaeelil.livejournal.com]

Though i have to admit, Rhodie and Stark, mmm that pair does sound yummy ^^

[silversolitaire.livejournal.com]

Hehehe... I'm sure people are taking care of it already as we speak! ^_~