Reel Reviews: Iron Man (2008)

 

Magneto's Movies

 

Reel Reviews

Please bear with this review, I have watched the film ten times (yes I'm counting) and thus my review will reflect very differently. 5 years have passed so I'll try being lenient on the VFX and also there will be things I don't notice or do notice from the film, or things I will forget to put in this review. Enjoy this and the Iron Man week(s). 

Movie: Iron Man

Release Date: May 2, 2008

Runtime: 126 Minutes

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger, Shaun Tob as Yinsen, Paul Bettany as JARVIS, Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Genre: Comic Book

Score: 8.5/10 (w/out vfx 8.9)

Pros: -Brilliant performances from the two male leads and the female lead

         -Marvel Studios handles the source material faithfully but manages to do away with outdated stuff

         -A lot of good references added in to allude to future films without hindering the main plot.

         -Energetic, humorous, emotional, bold and stylish scenes

         -Very plausible and ultra realistic comic book science

         -There is no damsel in distress sequence, in fact Pepper is as much responsible as Tony for saving the day

         

Cons: -Five years later, heck a year later the CGI seemed jarring and cartoonish. Overall the film at points felt like a CGI fest.

          -The final fight scene was underwhelming

          -While great in the dramatic and romantic moments, Gwyneth Paltrow isn't good at comedy

          - Terrence Howard was just acting in auto-pilot, in front of Robert he felt bland and didn't bring out the real military discipline of James Rhodes 

          -Obadiah Stane was not fully fleshed out as a character, plus his death shouldn't have occurred. Iron Man kind of loses one of his biggest comic book rivals that's interesting, after all Iron Man doesn't have a very good Rogues gallery.

Best Scene: The Iron Man making scene as we witness Yinsen and Tony building the suit under tense situations. A heroic sacrifice by Yinsen makes him an important core to the Iron Man mythos, while in the end Iron Man is born as Tony goes all bad-ass on the Ten Rings.

Best Performance: No Doubt; Robert Downey Jr.

Best Dialogue: "The thing is...I Am Iron Man!"-Tony Stark

Coolest Comic Book Reference: Keep your eyes peeled when Stark is being tended to in his Mark II armor while Pepper enters. Behind him on the table is an unfinished model of Captain America's Shield.

Story

Tony Stark is a billionare playboy genius, he's just built and promoted the latest 'Jericho' missile in Afghanistan before he is captured. Kept alive through a car battery, Stark is to work alongside fellow captive Yinsen to build the same missile for terrorist organization 'The Ten Rings'. In a bid to prevent tainting his legacy, Stark builds a suit that will protect him and be his means of escape. Tony Stark becomes Iron Man. His return back home is marred with controversy as he decides to stop building weapons for the government. 

Stark fights against everything to find the double dealer in his company and gets closer to his secretary Pepper than ever before. With the help of Pepper and friend James Rhodes, Stark faces off against his most heartbreaking betrayal and menacing enemy; Obadiah Stane AKA Iron Monger. 

The story is quite simple and straightforward, it's a layer used to just analyze what makes Tony Stark the man he is. With the name on the posters, the focus is a lot on Iron Man as the suit and Tony Stark as its operator.

The writing blends the hero as both the man in and out of the suit. Stark early on is visualized as egoistic with spades of textbook narcissism, but like with James Bond (who Iron Man is a bit based on) you can't help like him. This however cannot be credited to the writing, rather to Robert Downey. The actor is known to ad-lib (improvise) on set with his work, so practically the writing doesn't have those adverse effects of oozing charm. 

 

Enter my world says Tony Stark, full show of power and ego but also charm with the body language.

One part that it can be credited for is the stellar comedy, generally it has been hard to blend comedy into a comic book that explores serious drama and pathos. Back then (2008), if comedy had been added to a CBM then it would come of as cheesy (Spider-Man Trilogy) and veered into camp (Batman and Robin). Here it's tuned deftly, there's a barrage of quips and pop cultural references.  

Dialogue is a vital aspect to this, and it's quick and sharp. Apart from the comedy there is the aspect of understanding each character and grasping their voice. Credit can go to writers but the script wasn't fully completed by shooting as improv was the key.

Pepper Potts isn't your typical superhero gal, she is presented in a strong light and her dialogue reflects that. Pepper can constantly call out and stick it to Stark for his choices made and how he can't work without her. The narrative is never bogged down by their romantic moments, their not on the face or as dramatic. In fact Pepper and Tony have a bubbling chemistry that is done justice thanks to the witty dialogue and their respective actors performances (detailed below).

Another aspect is the main villain Obadiah Stane, his dialogue is cryptic and full of double meanings. Their isn't much scope given to the past of the character however, we just no tidbits of back-story to him. Obadiah just seems like the megalomaniac villain who believes that he built Stark Industries and is hell bent on taking it from Tony. You can't help think he may be right, taking Tony's earlier ego and also that one award giving scene. The scene depicts Obadiah as having taken the company in shambles from Howard Stark's death and building it into something modern until Tony arrived and took it from there and overshadowed him. The lack of story hinders the villain, but in some ways it highlights the aspect of Tony Stark's perceived 'heroism'. 'Heroism' that would get called out as self-service by the Captain later in The Avengers, thus building block of an arc. Still each character shouldn't be used as a step ladder for Tony Stark to be built on.

Writing for other characters is plain, there isn't much necessary to delve into. James Rhodes gets an amount of character building that is supposed to friction with Tony. His army discipline is highlighted to clash with Tony's spoiled rich brat. Apart from that Rhodes isn't given enough to prove his toughness and with the acting this just falls to flat.

JARVIS is turned into an Artificial Intelligence and I must say it's fun to here his and Tony's jabs at each other that are full of snark and heart. Yinsen really shined, he is written splendidly. The character rather than just a sacrificial hero, is made into the moral compass for Tony through the film and it adds deeper meaning to Stark's journey as a hero. 

Obviously Stark is given bulk of the focus in character. There's subtle hints to his back-story established, writers focus on his ego and everything but their is an amplification of the loneliness that haunts him. The constant backdrop hints of his negligence of his father and father's legacy are an interesting aspect. The slow build focus is the use of the Iron Man suit for Tony to try figure out his place in the universe, an arc that has been building ever since for the past 3 movies. 

Overall the writing is a fresh aspect, as the first movie it brought a much needed dose of humor never before explored in CBM's. The lead characters and surprisingly Yinsen are given some really good material to work with, while for RDJ to build from. Writing does miss points due to it not being completed for Dialogue, yet the improvisation at points seemed to work well. I understand this is an Iron Man and de facto Tony Stark film but there should have been a hint of more focus on Obadiah Stane just to contrast their similarities and differences. 

A fresh viewing since a year or two ago makes me see the film in a new light, while still thin script wise, an improvised script is still a script. It makes for free flowing writing and the influence and impact of this film is huge and it all falls on the shoulders of the comedy that the writing embellishes the film with 

Score: 8.9/10

Direction 

 

Jon Favreau sits on the directors chair for the first installment of the franchise. He brings a touch of realism to the proceedings, the film begins as a political thriller in style and tone. The caves, air force bases and even the suit seem like normal army things. The building of the suit is presented briskly but with added dynamism and knowledge, it is performed in three phases. 

There isn't anything comic book styled at the star and it really gives the film the dramatic edge. Credit to Favreau for utilizing this method, but also for then building a pillar of witty comedy that doesn't even bog down the film. One thing however, the handling of shots during action scenes seems neither focused or rapid. In fact it sits there at points while at other points the framework is erratic, this then comes out sloppy. 

Lighting is used effectively and precise. The caves are dank and the light has a way of making the shadows close in on the characters, it heightens the tension of the film. Back at Tony's place there's a sense of vibrancy yet also class with the color of settings and certain lighting.

 

"Much better than settling in New York, like every other superhero. Oh and better parties than in Gotham, so suck it Bruce (Wayne not Banner)"-Tony Stark

Malibu, California was chosen as the setting for Tony's house and places. This was a fresher aspect than where most hero films are in New York. It gave the chance for another place to blow up (humor), and really fit in with the aesthetic style of the character.

A major problem though was the decision to make the film too much of a CGI fest, it really affects the viewing especially on a repeat basis. I understand the necessity but eventually a year after the films release it seemed overblown. 

Overall for a first time big movie job, Favreau handles the directing job well. There is the sense of his techno style but also his amateur feel to a blockbuster film. You cannot help notice after ten viewings, the signs that his directing would crack under a worse script (which it did in Iron Man 2).  Nonetheless his easy going style and change up to the genre's generic formula must be commended. 

More than the writing though, I sense that I was mistaken about Favreau involvement. The vision he constructed is brilliant and its a daunting task to come into an indie production house and make a blockbuster that sets up a larger world than the film itself. 

Score: 8.1/10

Performances

With an incomplete script (no matter how much) it can be hard for true professional actors to work at their best, but this collection of performers do improvisation impressively.

Lets start with the negative, Terrence Howard is completely bland. He seems to be just there to collect a paycheck, his acting is raw and the constant dialogue delivery a bore. James Rhodes is a character you like in the comics, he is disciplined and in someways more heroic than Tony. He has a certain roguish charm but also knows to be a true army man. Now you could say the writing does this injustice, but Howard is given a character who can conflict with Tony's personality. Yes the screen time valued is less, but with the actor Howard is he could have done better. His scenes really drag down the film and I'm happy he was replaced with the much cooler Don Cheadle in the second installment.

Leslie Bibb plays Christine Everhart with some spunk, but it's hard not to notice that her use as a sexual encounter outweighs what could have been a much better tough reporter schtick. Farhan Tahir as Raza is deadly but comes of as stupid due to the writing (not much to care about), the character is aptly performed by Tahir. Paul Bettany as the voice for JARVIS is fun to hear and very calm, robotic and cool. Shaun Toub plays of the writing to give Yinsen some perspective and dimension. His expressiveness sells the death scene and makes him a real effecting force on Tony's life. Clark Gregg isn't much developed and simply kept to the sides, there's a hint of the likeability that would make Phil Coulson a fan favorite. 

 

Evil personified, Obadiah Stane as played by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges

Now we head over to 'The Dude'. Jeff Bridges seems to relish the role, he plays Obadiah with the embittered and embodied disdain. Carrying what he is given of the character, Bridges gives meaning to the double entente's he spews, once the film picks up towards its climax he becomes more dangerous. His expressions and body language really sell the fear to viewers for Peppers during that one confrontation scene, before the finale. The full blown craziness was also depicted brilliantly, he hammed it up to the umpteenth level in those scenes. While I did chastise him not getting much character development, what was done brilliantly was to not allow Obadiah a lot of interaction with Tony. Not only did it keep the mystery of the betrayal intact for fans who hadn't already figured it out but also kept Bridges from stealing the show from Robert. That however was also one of the problems, the less time together didn't sell their friendship and instead Bridges alone was a bit too sinister seeming thus his acting itself revealed the suspense. Though that was obvious from the outset before watching the film not just for comic fans but also casual fans, that he was the villain.

 

Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Tony Stark (RDJ) on set for Iron Man.

Gwyneth Paltrow is superb, credit to everyone especially her for bringing a non-stereotypical female love interest in CBM's to life. Pepper has far been an understated effect to the portrayal of female characters in this sub-genre of movies, she isn't blatantly sexy yet also comes of as elegantly beautiful. She definitely isn't a damsel in distress rather a heroic component as much as Iron Man. Nobody could have portrayed her better than Paltrow, say whatever you want about her Oscar win (for Shakespeare in Love) but Paltrow handles the dramatic, romantic and some what action aspects of the scene. She really is the creator of the crisp dynamic between her and RDJ, and her expressions sell brilliantly during their scenes of a bubbling romantic relationship. That's also the best thing, she doesn't come of as desperate for him or as an unattainable object (since lets face it nothing is unattainable for Tony Stark). Even during tense sequences her body language and facial expressions really adapt to the atmosphere of the situation. Most fans I've seen complain that Paltrow isn't as beautiful or looks to old or doesn't embody sexiness, to them I say suck it, Paltrow is above all those things (but she is also those things apart from old looking) and her character and portrayal of it is much better than just some bimbo in the need of saving.

 

Robert Downey Jr. promoting Iron Man in 2008. The film revitalized his career and catapulted him back to the A-List.

All this finally comes down to one man; Robert Downey Jr. I don't need to go into the history of the actor. This was the performance that made him a star, and in this film (since it's the first) the RDJ schtick feels fresh. Downey has never been better as Tony Stark than in Iron Man. Even today I am enchanted by the portrayal. We have established the embellishment Downey did to the dialogue, it has become a really cool part of his talents and adds a phenomenal edge to any film he works on. Alongside the writing, Downey can be credited for making the chracter of Tony Stark much better than the comic book counterpart. Tony has an ego and is narcissistic but RDJ adds his own flavor of charm to make him the most likeable hero in celluloid since Spider-Man. 

This is an ecclectic and wonderful main cast that handles the project brilliantly and side by side along the writing transcends the film from it's genre tropes. But not all actors do a great job. Plus there's a fun cameo by Samuel L. Jackson.

I gave a 9.9 to X-Men: DOFP because it featured one of the best leading man performances in the sub genre. So why be mean to Iron Man, it had performances but RDJ's turn far outweighs them. For 2008, this is one of the most amazing protagonists performances such that no villain has stolen his thunder in the series, in a sub genre where villains rule

Score: 9.7/10 

Score

The score is composed by Ramin Djawadi, an avid comic book and Iron Man fan. He uses a lot of guitar motifs and heavy metal tunes, another aspect that builds as a part of Tony's character. He noted that inspiration for different tunes came from the different moods reflected in the film by Tony. 

'Merchant of Death' amplifies Tony's working methods prior to capture and suits in the swift motion alongside when he is driving. 'Mark I' is a dramatically poignant tune that hits intense crescendo's as Tony and Yinsen work to building the first suit. 'Iron Man' is a tense tune that underscores Tony's rage over the double dealing issues and his conflicted thoughts on going out as Iron Man to save others unlike the first time when he did it to save himself. It's also fun to see the original Iron Man cartoon theme song '...Render Unto Caesar' play, but it would have been more fun if it was the original version. However that's unnoticeable until Wikipedia notifies you and you go hear each version (like I did). 

 

The original cover for British Rock Band Black Sabbath's Iron Man album

There are a plethora of rock songs included in the film. Most notable of which is 'Back in Black' by AC/DC which booms loudly in the opening scene and introduces the rock star like charisma of RDJ and Tony Stark. Also the end credits instrumentals for 'Iron Man' by Black Sabbath are great. 

The only minus I would give is the fact that the score isn't as memorable and that's especially amplified since the same year we got Hans Zimmer's epic score from The Dark Knight.

Score: 8.9/10

VFX

You have to understand I am reviewing this movie five years later, thus as much as I don't want to I have to be bias against the special effects. Five year later, even one year later they never held up. Now its even worse, the special effects look cartoony and jarring.

Back then if I try to remember they were good. The suit at points still holds today, but I believe that's cause portions of it were worn on set while enhancements were done digitally. It's especially a problem when the color is added, the suit then seems more animated than real. 

On a stand point that has nothing to do with being outdated, the CGI fight scene looked and still looks pathetic. I understand that each solo Avenger movie was to have an underwhelming fight scene which made the Avengers movie fight scene that much better. I still feel shortchanged since as the first film, Marvel Studios should have gone all out in their risk.   

Overall I wont rank the outdated issue harshly but the fight scene really was a bummer.

Score: 7.1/10

Source

 

The movie takes it's source from various bits but most notably the revamped origin in Iron Man Extremis by Warren Ellis and the comic arc Iron Man vs. Iron Monger (both I've listed for you to read). 

In terms of suit design it was fun to see the first clunky version being adapted perfectly. The second in the comics was a weird golden suit with what looked like a metal skirt, Tony in the movie creates a much more realistic armor that when painted gold makes him relalise how attention grabbing it would be before he decides on classic red and gold. The armor takes a lot from the designs of Extremis artist Adi Granov (who was consultant on the film) and classic designs. 

Adi Granov's Iron Man artwork for the Extremis suit

As established Tony Stark had no discernible character in the comics (or had a very bland one). Extremis tried changing that but after the arc Marvel's Civil War event came by and turned Tony into a total jackass. Thus using the template for Extremis, RDJ and the writing staff built a much better character. Giving Tony a taste in music, more visible egoistic traits and some spicy charm makes this a better way of going against the source.

Pepper is actually just like in the comics, more in the background but also very strong and a character who can stand and stand up to Tony Stark. James Rhodes also got the military discipline bit correct, and it was fun to see a mention to his own version of the suit. 

Another bit going against the source was the enhancement of Yinsen's death and moral values on Tony's life. This was an epic addition that really transcended the film.

But too much can be a bad thing. Obadiah Stane is ruthless, conniving and very intelligent, Jeff Bridges gains credit for showing this but it was not enough. Stane is a more threatening villain in the comics even if he comes in only one arc. He also isn't as close to Tony or the Stark s but owns his own corporation. Plus using him this way meant that the filmmakers wanted Obadiah to be a villain for the sequels, it would have made the build up to his betrayal much better had it been depicted in two films. Even killing off was unnecessary, Iron Man doesn't have enough good or plausible villains to suit the tone of the franchise so Iron Monger would have been great in that way and also would provide some emotional difficulties for Tony.

I would like to thank Marvel Studios for the multiple Easter Eggs within the film, that didn't bog down the narrative. Of the top of my head there was;

Cap's Shield, the name SHIELD itself, Whiplash 1 and 2 for the jets chasing Tony as an allusion to the Iron Man villain and foreshadowing his coming in the second film. There was also The Ten Rings, Ten Rings are a mention of the ten alien rings owned by Iron Man's arch-nemesis Mandarin. The final battle shows Roxxon Corporation, a company in the comics. Damage Control is on the news, showing them fixing the destruction from the Iron Man and Iron Monger battle. In the comics they are a company that specializes in clearing after superhero battles. These were some fun things to watch out for but then they went and tore the roof with this;

Minus points only because of the way Iron Monger/Obadiah Stane was handled.

 

Removed source, because their scoring is based on a subjective view.


Avengers Assemble!

Aneesh Raikundalia