Ahira's Hangar

I was heavily swayed by DD-as my fave comic-I willed it to be good, despite Ben AFLAC.

WOW! Just WOW! As a major DD freak I would rather die than say that that movie was a piece of crap-but compared to Iron Man it was!! Frickin' awesome. I could have done without Paltrow's line, but I kind of liked her, kinda "Moneypennyish" gave it a Bond feel.

Went and saw Iron Man. It was enjoyable. It didn't topple my favorite comic book-to-movie adaptations, but Iron Man did give me my money's worth, which is all I can ask of a movie. I would say Iron Man is better than Tim Burton's Batman films and better than Superman Returns - which maybe isn't saying much, since I thought Burton's Batman films were incompetent and Superman Returns was just lame. But I also think IM is better than the first Spiderman and the first X-Men, which says a bit more. However, I don't think IM quite equals the achievement of, say, Batman Begins, or X2.

Robert Downey Jr clearly carried the movie, though Jeff Bridges acquitted himself well enough - but then I've always liked Bridges. His bald look was very striking. I also liked Gwyneth Paltrow: I thought she brought a nice charm to the role, while managing to avoid being a complete subservient bimbo to Downey's Tony Stark. I guess that fits danlo's "Moneypennyish" description. Paltrow certainly didn't come off looking any worse than any Bond girl (and better than many).

I've seen a number of negative opinions about Paltrow at other forums. I guess some actors just have a tendency to annoy more people than others. We all have our individual biases towards/against certain actors. For instance, I have a strong dislike of Julia Roberts. If she had been in Iron Man instead of Paltrow, I likely would not have enjoyed the movie as much. Come to think of it, Roberts's mere presence on the billing would likely have turned me off the movie altogether.

All the Iron Man suits in the film were visually stunning, though to me the initial "clunky" model remained the most impressive - mainly because it was such a monstrosity. It would make a Terminator run for cover. The CGI worked beautifully in the movie: it more or less blended seamlessly with the live action, as far as I could tell. There was a nice sense of mass to Iron Man as he flew around. Kudos to the special effects team.

Oh, and yeah, I did see the much-talked about add-on scene after the end credits. Not that it meant much to me. Obviously, the scene is more meaningful to fans who understand what goes on in the Marvel universe. I just can't be bothered to read up on it.

In some of Platrow's roles she is cast as a haughty swan (usually a young upper class Brit). I did not like her very much as an actress until I saw her in Shallow Hal and some other films were she was in much more pleasant roles. Perhaps you have seen Julia Roberts in too many films where she has been cast into unpleasant, bitchy parts. (Heaven knows she has had enough roles where she is mouthy or bitchy or both like her character in My Best Friend's Wedding.)

The one movie featuring Julia Roberts I really liked was Steel Magnolias.

The thing about Paltrow's character in Iron Man is that it's basically a window-dressing role. She did as well as she could with what she was given. If viewers have problems with her, maybe they should look to the film's writers. Female characters tend not to be written well in comic book movies -- a recent exception being Evie Hammond in V For Vendetta, though I see that one as a bird of a different feather.

Thanks, Moonwatcher! I am hoping to see this film in the next week or two, and it is good to see such a positive review!

Thanks Moonie! I was really impressed by LaBouef's acting talents in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (which also features pre-Iron Man Downey Jr.) so the thought of him being in this film has intrigued me. It'll be damm hard staying away from any film that has him, Ford, Allen and Blanchette in it-no matter what the premise. Great review!

Am going to see it probably Friday. Excellent review has reallt whetted my appetite!

The movie has had an awful review in the Sydney Morning Herald, but I think the reviewer set out expecting some kind of serious masterpiece instead of some good old fashioned hokum, with a modern edge. The review complains about Ray Winstone being wrong in the movie because he is 'bulky'; I don't understand that at all! I'll still be there on Friday clutching my supersized popcorn...

I think that when you like a movie, you will tend not to be too upset over the movie's flaws. But when you dislike a movie, you're more motivated to single out any perceived flaw. I've done it myself. Difference is that movie critics get paid for ranting and raving; but they're entitled to their opinions...and I'm entitled to mine.