Iron Man
Posted on May 6th, 2008 by James Slone, filed in Contemporary Films
Reviewed by James Slone
“Iron Man” is the first wholly satisfying comic book adaptation I’ve seen since the original “Superman.” It perfectly captures the appeal of the character and the little corner of the Marvel universe he occupies, while adding ample satire and a twinkle of knowing humor to make it relevant to adults. It also addresses the tricky role capitalism plays in the depressing landscape of global warfare, and that takes some guts for an action-adventure spectacle.
Robert Downey Jr. plays the title character and the man inhabiting the suit, Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist and super scientist extraordinaire. Stark is an unusual superhero, a narcissistic brainiac, douche bag womanizer, binge drinker—alcoholism was Iron Man’s kryptonite for much of the comic’s history—and war profiteer.
When the story opens, Stark is in Afghanistan showing off his latest toy, a guided missile system that he uses to obliterate a mountain. After the demonstration all hell breaks loose, and Stark is taken prisoner by an unusual multinational terrorist/mercenary group with unknown aims, the Ten Rings. In this humbling moment he meets another scientist taken prisoner, an Afghan, Dr. Yinsen (Shaun Toub), a pacifist who informs Stark that his captors want him to build a missile.
Stark has other plans, and begins using the “missile parts” to construct a suit of mechanical armor, blasting his way out of the cave in a scene of extraordinary carnage. As expected, Yinsen doesn’t make it and has a few parting words for Stark that shatters his other suit of armor: his outward narcissism. “Iron Man” is really about Stark’s growing empathy—even as he transforms himself into an augmented super soldier, he grows wiser and humbler. Read the rest of this entry »



WE-751176.jpg)














