Avengers Assemble Countdown: Iron Man (2008)
EDIT: I fail at countdowns in general...so yeah. Just enjoy the review and forget everything else :)
[grins and waves banners]
So If you are following along with me in my movie marathon (hmm...technically not a marathon since it's one movie per weekend)...well whatever you want to call it...you should know that this week's feature is Iron Man (2008)!
So, in order to give this celebration a little more substance, I have decided to do a somewhat review/observation/geekery reaction post...or re-reaction in this case and just have fun with it. Nothing too serious or anything like that, and feel free to comment or add your two cents. Heck maybe you've seen something I've missed. Anyways, on to the party post!
Well...I am assuming most if not all of you who do read my journal have seen this movie...and if you haven't, then you should probably watch it sometime before you tackle the Avengers this May. Why you may ask? Aside from the fact you may not know what's going on unless you saw the previous movies...it is the movie that was the catalyst for the production of Thor and Cap. Sure IM2 is the movie that layed the groundwork for a bigger universe...but if this movie would have flopped, then there wouldn't have been an IM2 let along the other Avenger movies to go along with it. I know I've said this on the Cap/Ironman comm before, but there is a heck of a lot of difference from IM1 vs. IM2 as far as character growth and development. But that's really discussion for when we get to IM2 week, so let's focus back on this one.
[peers at movie] Okay, so you may be asking, why the heck did I start with this movie when the Hulk came out before this movie. Well, if I got my chronology right, technically, the events of Iron Man are supposed to come before the Incredible Hulk...which starts/intersects towards the end of Iron Man 2. To add to your overall confusion, or maybe clarification...Nick Fury's Big Week, a prelude comic to the Avengers movie is actually set in-between/during/around all five movies. So, if you want an even broader story, I highly suggest picking up the comic. It's actually pretty good!
Anyways, while watching the movie, I decided to take some notes on the film. [re-reads notes] The question, I suppose would be...what did I notice this time around that I didn't see/remember from the last 3-4 times I viewed this flick. Well, right away, taking it from a noob perspective...I don't like Tony Stark. Ironic as that statement is...when we first get introduced to movie!Tony...he's the type of person I would want to chuck off a cliff. He's charming I suppose, but he's so self-absorbed in his own little universe that yes...you think this guy is a complete ass. Just take the time to look at how he treats Rhodey, wow...poor guy. Bottom line...Tony was not a good man...not really.
But we know all that changes, doesn't it? Ah, amazing what being trapped in cave hooked up to a car battery does to you. If I am remembering right, Tony was captured for 3 months in movie!verse...and thus we meet Yinsen. [pauses] I want to give a slight pause at this moment because honestly, Yinsen is really underestimated...especially when you realize he's not even mentioned in passing in IM2. This guy was the reason for Tony's turning point. No really...listen to the exact words. After Tony gets the shock of his life...his weapons in the wrong hands...killing people...he pretty much wants to give up.
Yinsen gives him a reason to live. He directly points out that those weapons are his legacy and basically pushes Tony into thinking is he really okay with that. He goes on when tony pretty much says he'll die in a week by saying "then it's an important week." What is really admirable about Yinsen is that he doesn't allow Tony to give up. Even more so, Yinsen does all of this unconditionally. At the last minute of their break out from the Ten Rings, he sacrifices himself so that Tony can get away, stating that it has always been the plan and parting with "Don't waste your life."
We then see a change happen. Tony is taking responsibility for his actions in arms dealing. He realizes that what he does effects people, and that he can't just be about him. His attitude towards Rhodey and Pepper change where he doesn't seem so...assholish. Certainly not BFF of the year award, but baby steps. It took pretty much someone dying for him to take a second look around and assess what he's doing with his life. But before you hang me, yes...I'm pretty sure there is a whole deep psychological reason why Tony was the way he was yada yada...dude I read the comics. I probably have a WAY deeper understanding of Tony's issues then the random movie watcher.
The point is, Tony starts to build a suit...which is interesting. This is something I missed before, but technically...he's building the suit just because. Sure I get that he was laying low and probably building the suit to take his mind off of pretty much shocking S.I. into the deep end....but it does beg the question...what was he going to do with it? Think about it. If you recall, it wasn't until Stane betrayed him openly and he found out about Gomera (Yinsen's home village) that he decided to suit up. Remember he was shocked to see his weapons being used to blow people up - again. So it makes you wonder....was Tony building Ironman with the idea he'd somehow hunt down the 10 Ring again...or was it just for kicks? Later on he tells Pepper that there is nothing but the next mission...so maybe he was? I dunno, I just found it funny that the movie was a bit vague on that.
So we move on...Tony almost dying...saving the day and so forth. I still think the romance-spin between Pepper and Tony was average...I'm glad they waited a little more till they downright made it happen in IM2. However, I would like to comment that Pepper is a pretty brave person. I mean heck...dealing with Tony by itself is a lot, but sneaking into S.I. to get files, getting SHIELD agents to arrest Stane, facing Iron Monger and then blowing up a reactor core XD lol poor Pepps. On a side note...Jarvis' snark is first class.
The movie finally wraps with something that as far as I know never happened in a comic book movie before. Instead of keeping a secret identity...Tony says !@#$ it..."I am Ironman." Lawl...take that stereotype....but mostly borrowing from 1610.
So yeah...Ironman ladies and gentlemen. Good work of showcasing an origin story, especially for Marvel who had been dropping the ball with lack luster films. Graphics were spectacular...and characters overall likable. Alright next comes IM2!
[grins and waves banners]
So If you are following along with me in my movie marathon (hmm...technically not a marathon since it's one movie per weekend)...well whatever you want to call it...you should know that this week's feature is Iron Man (2008)!
So, in order to give this celebration a little more substance, I have decided to do a somewhat review/observation/geekery reaction post...or re-reaction in this case and just have fun with it. Nothing too serious or anything like that, and feel free to comment or add your two cents. Heck maybe you've seen something I've missed. Anyways, on to the party post!
Well...I am assuming most if not all of you who do read my journal have seen this movie...and if you haven't, then you should probably watch it sometime before you tackle the Avengers this May. Why you may ask? Aside from the fact you may not know what's going on unless you saw the previous movies...it is the movie that was the catalyst for the production of Thor and Cap. Sure IM2 is the movie that layed the groundwork for a bigger universe...but if this movie would have flopped, then there wouldn't have been an IM2 let along the other Avenger movies to go along with it. I know I've said this on the Cap/Ironman comm before, but there is a heck of a lot of difference from IM1 vs. IM2 as far as character growth and development. But that's really discussion for when we get to IM2 week, so let's focus back on this one.
[peers at movie] Okay, so you may be asking, why the heck did I start with this movie when the Hulk came out before this movie. Well, if I got my chronology right, technically, the events of Iron Man are supposed to come before the Incredible Hulk...which starts/intersects towards the end of Iron Man 2. To add to your overall confusion, or maybe clarification...Nick Fury's Big Week, a prelude comic to the Avengers movie is actually set in-between/during/around all five movies. So, if you want an even broader story, I highly suggest picking up the comic. It's actually pretty good!
Anyways, while watching the movie, I decided to take some notes on the film. [re-reads notes] The question, I suppose would be...what did I notice this time around that I didn't see/remember from the last 3-4 times I viewed this flick. Well, right away, taking it from a noob perspective...I don't like Tony Stark. Ironic as that statement is...when we first get introduced to movie!Tony...he's the type of person I would want to chuck off a cliff. He's charming I suppose, but he's so self-absorbed in his own little universe that yes...you think this guy is a complete ass. Just take the time to look at how he treats Rhodey, wow...poor guy. Bottom line...Tony was not a good man...not really.
But we know all that changes, doesn't it? Ah, amazing what being trapped in cave hooked up to a car battery does to you. If I am remembering right, Tony was captured for 3 months in movie!verse...and thus we meet Yinsen. [pauses] I want to give a slight pause at this moment because honestly, Yinsen is really underestimated...especially when you realize he's not even mentioned in passing in IM2. This guy was the reason for Tony's turning point. No really...listen to the exact words. After Tony gets the shock of his life...his weapons in the wrong hands...killing people...he pretty much wants to give up.
Yinsen gives him a reason to live. He directly points out that those weapons are his legacy and basically pushes Tony into thinking is he really okay with that. He goes on when tony pretty much says he'll die in a week by saying "then it's an important week." What is really admirable about Yinsen is that he doesn't allow Tony to give up. Even more so, Yinsen does all of this unconditionally. At the last minute of their break out from the Ten Rings, he sacrifices himself so that Tony can get away, stating that it has always been the plan and parting with "Don't waste your life."
We then see a change happen. Tony is taking responsibility for his actions in arms dealing. He realizes that what he does effects people, and that he can't just be about him. His attitude towards Rhodey and Pepper change where he doesn't seem so...assholish. Certainly not BFF of the year award, but baby steps. It took pretty much someone dying for him to take a second look around and assess what he's doing with his life. But before you hang me, yes...I'm pretty sure there is a whole deep psychological reason why Tony was the way he was yada yada...dude I read the comics. I probably have a WAY deeper understanding of Tony's issues then the random movie watcher.
The point is, Tony starts to build a suit...which is interesting. This is something I missed before, but technically...he's building the suit just because. Sure I get that he was laying low and probably building the suit to take his mind off of pretty much shocking S.I. into the deep end....but it does beg the question...what was he going to do with it? Think about it. If you recall, it wasn't until Stane betrayed him openly and he found out about Gomera (Yinsen's home village) that he decided to suit up. Remember he was shocked to see his weapons being used to blow people up - again. So it makes you wonder....was Tony building Ironman with the idea he'd somehow hunt down the 10 Ring again...or was it just for kicks? Later on he tells Pepper that there is nothing but the next mission...so maybe he was? I dunno, I just found it funny that the movie was a bit vague on that.
So we move on...Tony almost dying...saving the day and so forth. I still think the romance-spin between Pepper and Tony was average...I'm glad they waited a little more till they downright made it happen in IM2. However, I would like to comment that Pepper is a pretty brave person. I mean heck...dealing with Tony by itself is a lot, but sneaking into S.I. to get files, getting SHIELD agents to arrest Stane, facing Iron Monger and then blowing up a reactor core XD lol poor Pepps. On a side note...Jarvis' snark is first class.
The movie finally wraps with something that as far as I know never happened in a comic book movie before. Instead of keeping a secret identity...Tony says !@#$ it..."I am Ironman." Lawl...take that stereotype....but mostly borrowing from 1610.
So yeah...Ironman ladies and gentlemen. Good work of showcasing an origin story, especially for Marvel who had been dropping the ball with lack luster films. Graphics were spectacular...and characters overall likable. Alright next comes IM2!