|
Iron Man May 5, 2008 |
||
|
A sterling cast and gobs of seamless special effects highlight this instant blockbuster, a long gestating live action adaptation of Stan Lee’s classic superhero comic, that officially serves as the kickoff what we can only hope is a better summer movie season than last year. Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, a genius weapons manufacturer who, on demonstration in Afghanistan, is kidnapped by insurgents and tasked to build a super missile, but instead builds a prototype body suit that will become the Iron Man. Directed with glee by actor/director Jon Favreau, by far the best film of his short directing career, as something of a mix between James Bond and Robocop, the film picks up a remarkable pace once Downey begins to perfect his masterful body suit, using it to fight the bad guys (including former mentor Jeff Bridges, sporting a chrome dome and full beard) who have used his weapons for terrorism, rather than their intended purpose. Though the climax is an underachiever, both in effect and plausibility, the charm of Downey, especially opposite the adorable Gwyneth Paltrow as his devoted assistant, the sleek design of the Iron Man suit, and highly impressive special-effects, from suit work by Stan Winston and computer work by Industrial Light & Magic, makes this easily the best superhero film since “Spider-Man 2”.
by Adam Suraf
|