Iron Man...

[fajrdrako]

I went to see Iron Man today.

Loved it: they seem to have finally got the right touch for transforming a comic to a movie without making it silly. And who'd have guessed it would be Iron Man they'd succeed with?

Loved Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane. Other points:

1. Robert Downey, Jr., seemed like perfect casting. Not too young, just the right combination of clever and seedy.
   
   
2. The war in Afghanistan fit neatly into the war story I remember from the 1960s.
   
   
3. Gwyneth Paltrow was wonderful as Pepper Pots: I even thought she looked like the old Don Heck drawings. Including the fashion.
   
   
4. Loved the moment when Pepper was getting the information about Obadiah Stane from the computer and he came in. Wonderful suspense.
   
   
5. I missed Happy Hogan - realized only in retrospect that he was there. And Jarvis as an AI - that was inspired. (I see the acronym stands for Just A Rather Very Intelligent System. I'm not sure about the grammar there, but it's cute.
   
   
6. Gorgeous armour.
   
   
7. S.H.I.E.L.D.! I didn't catch on that that's what it was until they said - and then I quietly hooted. Loved it. Totally loved it. And Samuel R. Jackson as Nick Fury at the end - ! I knew he was playing Nick Fury in something because I saw a picture of him as Fury in Entertainment Weekly. I had no idea it was this movie. Wonderful.
   
   
8. There's a moment in the movie in which Obadiah Stane is berating his tame scientist for not being able to replicate Stark's work. He says, "Tony Stark was able to do this in a cave!" maaseru murmured, "In a comic book," cracking me up.
   
   
9. Loved Stan Lee's moment. Especially since he originally was thinking of Hugh Hefner when he designed the 'rich playboy' Tony Stark.
   
   
10. I love the way the point of the story is really "with great power comes great responsibility" though they never spell it out. The old Stan Lee message!
    
    
11. Will there be a sequel?

Comments

Point Ten...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

...is confirmed as a "yes".

Re: Point Ten...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good! I am not surprised, because it has clearly been successful. The reward of quality.

And I see I need to amend the title...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

...to "Point Eleven". :-D

[puritybrown.livejournal.com]

Especially since he originally was thinking of Hugh Hefner when he designed the 'rich playboy' Tony Stark.

Actually it was another H.H. he had in mind -- Howard Hughes. Minus the OCD, of course.

There is a sequel planned to come out in a couple of years, and then there are going to be films about Captain America, Thor, probably Ant-Man although that one's been delayed a couple of times, and the Avengers. I am a very happy Marvel fan. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Howard Hughes. Minus the OCD, of course.

Egad, can you picture Tony Stark with OCD? He has enough problems!

then there are going to be films about Captain America

Good.

Thor

I wonder how they'll handle it?

probably Ant-Man although that one's been delayed a couple of times

There have been so many variations on Ant-Man over the years that I don't know who or what to expect. This might be good: give the movie-makers more freedom. Or not.

and the Avengers

I wonder which version of the team they will use?

Characters/comics I would love to see:

1. Cable and Sixpack
   
2. Gambit
   
3. the original X-Force, with Cannonball
   
4. Nick Fury, and/or S.H.I.E.L.D. (of which we got a taste already)
   
5. Wicca and Hulkling - okay, I can dream, right?
   
6. Runaways (I heard a rumour...?)
   
7. New Avengers
   
8. Northstar
   
9. A really good version of Daredevil (or Elektra)
   
10. Shangi-Chi, Master of Kung Fu (with the Fu Manchu and British espionage connections, especially the sexy Clive Reston and Leiko Wu)
    
11. Magneto - but it looks as if I'm getting that!
    

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Can't have Northstar without Alpha Flight, though, can we?

(I'm surprised to not have seen you chiming in yet on the AF casting debate over at my LJ...)

[puritybrown.livejournal.com]

There is, indeed, going to be a Runaways movie! And Brian K. Vaughan is writing it! That news made me very happy indeed.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the rights to movie versions of the mutant characters are tied up -- I don't think Marvel Studios can make movies about any of them without involving Fox in some way. Cable's tricky because his backstory is insanely complicated, such that it would take a very clever writer to come up with a version that was simple enough to be comprehensible to a newbie audience but still close enough to the comics that it he's recognisable as the same character.

Personally, I'd like to see a Ms Marvel movie, and I have some ideas as to how it could work...

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I'm not even a Marvel fan, and I loved it. But then I was simply thrilled to see Robert Downey, Jr., back in his best form. The rest was just very enjoyable gravy. I hope he stays that was for a good long time.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm not even a Marvel fan, and I loved it.

Good.

I think with some of the movies, it's better when you're not a Marvel fan. But that's not the case with this one: I think it could appeal to fans and non-fans alike.

I was simply thrilled to see Robert Downey, Jr., back in his best form.

Yes, wasn't he good?

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

I'll have to second that one, especially as I am not exactly a fan of (North American) comics. I'm much more likely to respond to "Open up, by Belenos, if you value your door!" or "Mille millions de mille sabords!" or the like. :-)

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I am honored that I managed to catch you on the phone right after you came home from seeing this, and -- clearly -- right before you wrote the post! I am exceeding coincident (accent on the third syllable), no?

I did so love how Tony Stark interacted with his lab so much more smoothly than he did with people. Well, at least he seemed more engaged, when he was interacting with his lab! With people, he always seemed trying to keep at arm's length, or else just be flippant to the point that they'd stay unsure.

I guess, considering how exhausting this probably was for you (the movie trip, not the post!), I am glad that I stressed that you MUST stay for the end of the credits. Even though you would have known that anyway, you might have given up and left. And how could I have hinted at why, without giving away Nick Fury?

Agreed: the scene with Pepper at the computer, being walked in on, was terrifying. I thought she was brilliant, there. Also when she ad-libbed grabbing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in order to make her escape.

I missed Happy Hogan, too. Or else I don't recall now, weeks later. Help me out...?

Remembering weeks ago, when I was speculating about a list of "first" things you'd be doing, as you were able... first movie seen, post-accident: Iron Man. I am so glad you loved it as much as I did. Yeah, wasn't it great to see a comic book movie done absolutely right? Ahh!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

clearly -- right before you wrote the post!

Timing is everything!

I did so love how Tony Stark interacted with his lab so much more smoothly than he did with people.

I liked the way Jarvis had such personality. And I almost cried when Jarvis helped him reach his old heart-thing.

ith people, he always seemed trying to keep at arm's length, or else just be flippant to the point that they'd stay unsure.

Rather like Bruce Wayne, that way, though for different reasons.

considering how exhausting this probably was for you

Yes. Cinemas are so big. Then afterwards I had to go to the washroom. Miles and miles and miles of crutching.

how could I have hinted at why, without giving away Nick Fury?

I loved that so much. But don't worry: I always stay till the very end of the credits. Unless my friends make me leave. This time, I told them to stay - and they did.

I missed Happy Hogan, too. Or else I don't recall now, weeks later. Help me out...?

No lines, I think and hardly seen - just a vague presence as his driver in one or two scenes.

wasn't it great to see a comic book movie done absolutely right?

A first, I think. You know I was unhappy with the Spider-Man movies and somewhat dissatisfied with the X-Men movies, mostly because of the way the women were written.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Timing is everything!

And mine is never not good! hee

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<i>Timing is everything!</i>

And mine is never not good! hee

<i> <I did so love how Tony Stark interacted with his lab so much more smoothly than he did with people. >

I liked the way Jarvis had such personality. And I almost cried when Jarvis helped him reach his old heart-thing.</i>

Yes. That was a moment that shook me. I'd already been keenly watching how Tony was interacting with the elements of the lab as if they were aware and responsive; and, suddenly, they were. I may have gasped out loud. I certainly felt like it. It was such a wonderful moment.

And, with the original heart-power device: he off-handly told Pepper to "incinerate" it, because he had no use for reminders of past events? And she made it into a monument to his humanity? And, so, his humanity saved him -- that one human being close enough to interact with him recognized and acknowledged his humanity, that saved him. It was such an incredibly lovely and complex and deeply-written (internal structure-wise) turn.

<i> <With people, he always seemed trying to keep at arm's length, or else just be flippant to the point that they'd stay unsure.>

Rather like Bruce Wayne, that way, though for different reasons.</i>

Heh! A comic-book archetype! One could say that Howard the Duck was like that, too.

(Did you know that Steve Gerber passed away in April or March...?)

<i> <considering how exhausting this probably was for you>

Yes. Cinemas are so big. Then afterwards I had to go to the washroom. Miles and miles and miles of crutching.</i>

Ai. So much space to cover! I feel for you. When you stand at the doorway knowing that you are going to be fully aware of every step you are about to take, that looks like an awful lot of steps.

I bet you found that the extra size, not to mention the handrails, in the Handicap stall were nice features, eh? All the cubicles should have so much space and so many features!

<i> <how could I have hinted at why, without giving away Nick Fury?>

I loved that so much. But don't worry: I always stay till the very end of the credits. Unless my friends make me leave. This time, I told them to stay - and they did.</i>

I wasn't sure! I had to make sure you'd see it. So, I actually almost said something like "you won't believe who shows up at the very end." Almost.

<i> <I missed Happy Hogan, too. Or else I don't recall now, weeks later. Help me out...?>

No lines, I think and hardly seen - just a vague presence as his driver in one or two scenes.</i>

Ah, wait. Was he the driver...? When Tony takes off in his nifty fast car to get to the plane for his flight to Afghanistan, and he jumps out of the car when they arrive and joshes to the driver, "Hey, thought I lost you!" to which the driver replied calmly, "You did, sir, I had to cut across Mulholland." Hm? Okay, I remember!

<i> <wasn't it great to see a comic book movie done absolutely right?>

A first, I think. You know I was unhappy with the Spider-Man movies and somewhat dissatisfied with the X-Men movies, mostly because of the way the women were written.</i>

Yes. I'd agree: a first. Although I did love some bits of the Christopher Reeve <i>Superman</i> movies. And there was another one... can't think of it... oh, I should add that I utterly loved some aspects of <i>Daredevil</i> while cringing at or loathing many others (the sensory-deprivation tank he slept in was wonderful and logical; the way he showed off his hypersenses while on the street in his Matt Murdock clothes was utterly laughable). Hm... what was I htiking of? This is going to bug me, now.

Oh. Maybe I was thinking of <i>Witchblade,</i> which wasn't a movie so much as a television series. And I just got incredible deja vu on that, including on teh typo I did in theword "just." Hm!

I would have written this reply last night, but my computer almost ran out of battery as it was. When I got home I realized why: to save on my electric bill, I unplug the power-strip except when I'm using the computer at the desk, and I plug this one into that strip to recharge. Well, yes, I did leave the strip plugged in overnight, Friday night, but I'd forgotten to plug this computer's charger back into the strip! So... oops. Hee.

[catslash.livejournal.com]

Not only is there going to be a sequel, but apparently RDJ has a cameo as Tony in the upcoming Hulk movie. I am excited about this. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

apparently RDJ has a cameo as Tony in the upcoming Hulk movie

Really? Oh my goodness - that is wonderful. Among other things, it implies a lot of care about continuity (and therefore quality) on the part of the movie makers.

[catslash.livejournal.com]

I KNOW. That's what excites me about it more than anything else, even the prospect of a few more minutes of Tony Stark before, like, 2011 or whenever the sequel comes out: seeing that much care and attention to detail put into this movieverse they're creating. God, it's like PORN.

Point Seven...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I've heard that Jackson will be continuing the role through the next few Marvel-produced movies leading up to Avengers. Next up: Hulk. And I have to admit to being curious as to how they'll reinterpret the rest of the Directorate.

Re: Point Seven...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Jackson will be continuing the role through the next few Marvel-produced movies leading up to Avengers

I am not a big fan of Jackson, actually, but I love Nick Fury so much I don't even really care who's playing him. So much is in the concept and the writing. And the glimpse we got was good.

Hulk: because Iron Man was so good, I'm looking forward to it more than I was.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Iron Man was lovely, but I'll have to watch the Fury scene on DVD, as I didn't stay for the credits. *Facepalm*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll have to watch the Fury scene on DVD, as I didn't stay for the credits. *Facepalm*

So sad!

But don't worry about it. It'll just give you something new to look forward to when the DVD comes out, besides the extras and outtakes and so on.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I saw this today as well, and having no knowledge of Iron Man going in, I absolutely loved it and enjoyed myself incredibly.

:D I want to see it again already!

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

Me too. I'd heard good things about it so went with daughter and family, and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. We will be buying the DVD - it will go on my shelf of "things to watch when I have flu/need cheering up"

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I saw this today as well, and having no knowledge of Iron Man going in, I absolutely loved it and enjoyed myself incredibly.

How wonderful!

He's one of those Stan Lee creations for Marvel from the early sixties - I love most of them. I've never been a big reader of the Iron Man comic, except occasionally, mostly because I didn't like the Don Heck art back in the beginning. But I do like the premise, and I've always liked Tony Stark. They are in fact, doing terrific things with Stark in the comics right now. Tony Stark as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. It delights my fannish heart.

I want to see it again already!

Funny: so do I.

Superheroes aside, and my Marvel addiction aside, it's not often you see an action movie with that much heart and that much thoughtfulness in the story.

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

YES for the Iron Man love. As someone who's worked in comics since I was leagally able to drink, I can say with authority that this one captures why comics are fun.

It's character. Anybody can draw a person flying or zapping, and now that we have CGI even the best talents in that way are redundant. What makes comics cool is the characters: it's a soap opera for boys, only shiny. Iron Man the movie started with character, and ended with character, it would've been pretty mediocre if Marvel hadn't hired Downey. For whom there is a culteral meta contex. :D And who is just a great freaking actor.

There's a thing I'd like to write about RDJ's body language in this movie, how he carried the change-of-heart metaphor into his spins and twists as he found his conscience, his awareness, his new center. I used to do ballet so I'm really into shit like that, but I don't have time. Meta someday, with pics. :D That's acting, RDJ. Also, DAMN.

(Also? Tony Stark's nips are perpetually erect. Watch the film and tell me if I'm wrong. And is that bad? You tell me. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

As someone who's worked in comics since I was leagally able to drink

Reallly? Oooh, envy is me. What work did you do? I have loves comics with a passion since I was a kid - not more than books, but more than any other medium.

What makes comics cool is the characters: it's a soap opera for boys, only shiny.

So very true. We all have our favourite characters. I follow favourite writers and, to a lesser extent, favourite artists; and characters; not titles.

Iron Man the movie started with character, and ended with character, it would've been pretty mediocre if Marvel hadn't hired Downey.

I'm not sure... other actors could have done an equally good job, I think, though it would have been different. Which is not to diminish the power he gave the role. You're quite right about his physical use of motion and space. It was certainly character-based, and that was what made it so delightful.

I liked Tony Stark's nipples. I liked a lot of things about him. Under the heading of: Not Bad At All.