2008 Woodie Awards
Iron Man manages to excicte newcomers and fans
By: Chris Dunne
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Entertainment
After much Internet hype and fan-boy controversy Paramount and Marvel Studio's "Iron Man" was met with waves of approval from fans and critics alike as it swept the box-office with one of the most successful openings in movie history.
The film follows billionaire playboy and engineering genius Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) after he has been captured by fringe soldiers and ordered to build doomsday weapons for their cause. Stark instead builds a high tech battle suit (powered by his magnetic pacemaker) escapes from his captors and vows to only use technology for the good of the human race.
This decision does not bode well with his peers at Stark Industries. Now Stark must face not only his own moral demons, but opposition from Obadiah Stone (Jeff Bridges) and the stock holders, approval from his best friend and military contact Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and woo the heart of his assistant Ms. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).
I have to admit, I had low expectations for this film. The director's (Jon Favreou's) resume' ("Elf, "Zathura") did not impress me and I expected a disaster much like "The Fantastic Four" franchise and Ang Lee's "Hulk."
I am glad to say I was proven very wrong.
Downey is impressive as Tony Stark. This no doubt comes from the background the actor and character share. Downey and Stark both have a reputation as party boys and as fans of both entities know they share a history of addiction.
This is what made the decision to cast Downey as Stark so intriguing; they were practically one in the same person. Downey effectively illustrates this by giving Stark a zingy personality with great one-liners, infinite amounts of charm, and a weathered look of experience and understanding that can only be portrayed by someone who has seen some serious true life horror.
The film never actually mentions Stark's addiction problems, but they are alluded to in a scene where Pepper Potts catches Stark removing his Iron Man suit. Stark simply exclaims, "Let's face it; this is not the worst thing you've ever caught me doing."
The film follows billionaire playboy and engineering genius Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) after he has been captured by fringe soldiers and ordered to build doomsday weapons for their cause. Stark instead builds a high tech battle suit (powered by his magnetic pacemaker) escapes from his captors and vows to only use technology for the good of the human race.
This decision does not bode well with his peers at Stark Industries. Now Stark must face not only his own moral demons, but opposition from Obadiah Stone (Jeff Bridges) and the stock holders, approval from his best friend and military contact Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and woo the heart of his assistant Ms. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).
I have to admit, I had low expectations for this film. The director's (Jon Favreou's) resume' ("Elf, "Zathura") did not impress me and I expected a disaster much like "The Fantastic Four" franchise and Ang Lee's "Hulk."
I am glad to say I was proven very wrong.
Downey is impressive as Tony Stark. This no doubt comes from the background the actor and character share. Downey and Stark both have a reputation as party boys and as fans of both entities know they share a history of addiction.
This is what made the decision to cast Downey as Stark so intriguing; they were practically one in the same person. Downey effectively illustrates this by giving Stark a zingy personality with great one-liners, infinite amounts of charm, and a weathered look of experience and understanding that can only be portrayed by someone who has seen some serious true life horror.
The film never actually mentions Stark's addiction problems, but they are alluded to in a scene where Pepper Potts catches Stark removing his Iron Man suit. Stark simply exclaims, "Let's face it; this is not the worst thing you've ever caught me doing."
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