Iron Man (2008)

Source: http://www.notcot.com/images/2008/05/ironman1.jpg

Iron Man (2008)

This movie is like the ‘muscle car’ of superhero movies as a back to basics, raw and powerful depiction of patriotism and patriarchal sensibilities. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Junior) is a billionaire genius who, like his father, makes sophisticated weapons for the military. He is ironically blown up by his own bombs and is captured by middle-eastern terrorists. It is during his capture that he creates the rudimentary ‘Man in the Iron Mask’ crossed with a ‘Ned Kelly’ like iron man prototype suit. Tony Stark battles the terrorists, the military and his own capitalist money fixated company to standby his new anti-war values.

A notable aspect of this movie is the product placements by Audi and Burger King. As a result of this movie I now have an ongoing fantasy of owning an R8 V10 Audi sports car and using it to order a drive through burger meal. (Greenspan S 2008)

Tony Stark is the quintessential male hero with brains, money, women and adventure. Not unlike an American take on James Bond. He is also a good guy who while having the occasional fling as a batchelor, does have a crush on his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

There are obvious reasons the main villains are middle-eastern based given the events of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the resultant Iraq War. There is also a corporate rival in the form of Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) who worked with his father and is a real sheep in wolf’s clothing. The battles are fought in the desert, in the air, in the boardroom, in the garage and the media. This is more than an action movie and is a thought provoking humorous rollicking ride commenting on US Government sales of weaponry to terrorists, corporate greed, the morale use of technology given the flying drone debate and that scientists with high IQs can get the girl and be uber-cool.

What is interesting with Iron Man is he is someone who fights mano a mano at close quarters but with a technological edge, fitting nicely into the present digital technology environment. His life threatening heart issue is now his greatest asset as a power generator is converted like an alternative energy source to energise his incredible suit.

Robert Downey Jr is laid back, intelligent, playful and in total command of his character. He is arguably the best superhero actor ever. Every scene he is in he enhances with his magnetism and presence. His interactions with the computer and the robotic arm are reminiscent of Three Stooges sketches.

The performances of Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges are what complete the movie. Gwyneth Paltrow is very cute while also smart and sassy as Pepper Potts. Jeff Bridges depiction of the backstabbing villain is a ruthless, strong and worthy adversary for Tony Stark. The supporting cast is also excellent with Christine Everhart (who also appears in Iron Man 2) and Raza Faran Tahir putting in solid performances as the respective sexy journalist and chief terrorist.

The effects are cleverly imagined. The transition from the rudimentary iron man suit with pull cord missiles, what looked like an 1980s Apple computer driven suit of armour that falls apart on impact, to the streamlined artificial intelligence and state of the art Ark technology powered suit is extremely clever and engaging.

The scene where Mr Stark flies to the edges of the earth’s atmosphere covering him in ice are used twice in the same movie and in Hulk (2003). I am not sure why there is a fascination with this scenario other than it potentially saves money to use the same special effects. 

Director Jon Favreau has made a self-assured smoothly paced movie with the same sense of laid-back style as a Richard Donner Superman (1978) and George Lucas Star Wars (1977) capturing the excitement and creativity of the 1970s stylisation. There is wonderment, there is adventure and above all there is entertainment.

What a soundtrack. ACDC blasts out of the speakers making a perfect companion to the sports cars, exploding missiles and supercharged suits. The general music, especially when accompanying Tony Stark’s first test flight around the coastline is very well matched adding to the excitement and drama with a driving rhythm.

The cinematography zooms in on Miss Potts putting her hand into Stark’s chest cavity to connect wires, shows what it is like to be Tony Stark in his suit and takes a wide shot of an exploding mountain destroyed by one of the Stark missiles. The scene where Iron Man takes out the terrorists in the village is an iconic action sequence with equal amounts cool, vulnerability as he is shot down by a tank and humanity as he saves a family. 

The sound is thrilling with the incredible noise of Iron Man’s rocket thrusters as he accelerates across the sky crackling, through the speakers. There is also the scene featuring the Hummer carrying Mr Stark being shot by the terrorists and losing his hearing which muffles the sound of the explosions and gun fire around him.
 

Dealing with issues of war and terror, gender equity of Pepper Potts and the formidable female journalist together with scientific blending of technology and the human body make this a pleasure for the mind as well. 

Iron clad entertainment. (3.5 out of 4 stars)

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