Saturday, May 17, 2008
Iron Man
Certification: PG
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub
Director: Jon Favreau
Genre: Action, Adventure
OF ALL the famous and popular Marvel superheroes, Iron Man is perhaps the least famous and popular. Maybe because he isn't "super" in an interesting way — he doesn't have mutated genes, isn't radiated in any way, doesn't have super serum injected into his bloodstream, nor is he a Norse god.
Not only is he less interesting, he's even less relatable — filthy rich, a womanising alcoholic and a weapons merchant. All he has going for him to win votes is his ingenuity in machinery; and a heart that's killing him. But without these inhuman abilities and super strengths, these reasons alone should have made him the most original superhero of all.
With a main cast who are all Oscar material, here's a movie that's going to see to it that Iron Man shines among the very best in the superhero business.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), a genius and a multi-billionaire, is introduced to the audience while he is in Afghanistan presenting his latest creation — the Jericho missile — to the US military who is his biggest and only customer, or so he thought. But after wrapping things up, his convoy is ambushed and Stark is taken hostage by a local group of terrorist, "Ten Rings", who threatens him to build another Jericho missile for them.
Rather than complying, Stark with the assistance from his fellow prisoner cum translator, Yinsen (Shaun Taoub), secretly builds himself an armour suit of weaponry. Blasting his way to freedom, Stark returns home a changed man.
Calling for a press conference immediately after touchdown, and much to the surprise of his business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), his best friend and military advisor, Colonel Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and his personal assistant, Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow); he announces that he and his company will no longer be the "merchant of death".
He then works on a new machine on his own, one that will uphold justice and peace, and save the world from the ugliness of terrorism. But as he alienates himself from everyone else, someone close to him is hiding a lot more than just disappointment and contempt towards Stark.
Many were sceptical when Downey was first announced as Tony Stark. But Downey becomes the perfect fit for Stark, a drunk-playboy with enough charm to light up a city block. With the gelled black hair and that hip goatee, the resemblance hit a homerun during the first opening action sequence when Stark is ambushed and running for his life. Suddenly Downey is unrecognisable and Stark has come to life.
Never has an actor praised as much as Downey for portraying a comic book character to such uncanny resemblance. While nailing down Tony Stark's vibrant lifestyle as if it's second nature, Downey perfected the role, inserting his own charisma and flair while letting the script flow out of him as if he's living and breathing in the comic book world. Downey made everything work.
The rest of the cast works well with Downey as the epicentre. The script is brilliantly entertaining and filled with humour. Visual effects and action sequences are excellent — bring on the sequel, please!
Reviewer's Rating: 9 / 10
The Brunei Times
Certification: PG
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub
Director: Jon Favreau
Genre: Action, Adventure
OF ALL the famous and popular Marvel superheroes, Iron Man is perhaps the least famous and popular. Maybe because he isn't "super" in an interesting way — he doesn't have mutated genes, isn't radiated in any way, doesn't have super serum injected into his bloodstream, nor is he a Norse god.
Not only is he less interesting, he's even less relatable — filthy rich, a womanising alcoholic and a weapons merchant. All he has going for him to win votes is his ingenuity in machinery; and a heart that's killing him. But without these inhuman abilities and super strengths, these reasons alone should have made him the most original superhero of all.
With a main cast who are all Oscar material, here's a movie that's going to see to it that Iron Man shines among the very best in the superhero business.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), a genius and a multi-billionaire, is introduced to the audience while he is in Afghanistan presenting his latest creation — the Jericho missile — to the US military who is his biggest and only customer, or so he thought. But after wrapping things up, his convoy is ambushed and Stark is taken hostage by a local group of terrorist, "Ten Rings", who threatens him to build another Jericho missile for them.
Rather than complying, Stark with the assistance from his fellow prisoner cum translator, Yinsen (Shaun Taoub), secretly builds himself an armour suit of weaponry. Blasting his way to freedom, Stark returns home a changed man.
Calling for a press conference immediately after touchdown, and much to the surprise of his business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), his best friend and military advisor, Colonel Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and his personal assistant, Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow); he announces that he and his company will no longer be the "merchant of death".
He then works on a new machine on his own, one that will uphold justice and peace, and save the world from the ugliness of terrorism. But as he alienates himself from everyone else, someone close to him is hiding a lot more than just disappointment and contempt towards Stark.
Many were sceptical when Downey was first announced as Tony Stark. But Downey becomes the perfect fit for Stark, a drunk-playboy with enough charm to light up a city block. With the gelled black hair and that hip goatee, the resemblance hit a homerun during the first opening action sequence when Stark is ambushed and running for his life. Suddenly Downey is unrecognisable and Stark has come to life.
Never has an actor praised as much as Downey for portraying a comic book character to such uncanny resemblance. While nailing down Tony Stark's vibrant lifestyle as if it's second nature, Downey perfected the role, inserting his own charisma and flair while letting the script flow out of him as if he's living and breathing in the comic book world. Downey made everything work.
The rest of the cast works well with Downey as the epicentre. The script is brilliantly entertaining and filled with humour. Visual effects and action sequences are excellent — bring on the sequel, please!
Reviewer's Rating: 9 / 10
The Brunei Times