Sidewalks On The Corner

Robert Downey Jr. stars as Iron Man. How will this film hold up against other superhero franchises?

Follow up:

“IRON MAN”
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Present
A Marvel Studios Production
In Association with Fairview Entertainment

Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Peter Billingsley, Jon Favreau, Ari Arad, Stan Lee, David Maisel
Produced by Avi Arad and Kevin Feige
Screenplay by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway
Directed by Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow

STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment’s big screen adaptation of Marvel’s legendary Super Hero Iron Man. Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

J.P.'s TAKE
For years Marvel Comics has sparked the imagination of millions of comic book fans around the globe. Comic books characters, such as The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man and superhero groups like X-Men and Fantastic 4, have now been brought to life on the big screen, with more films on the way. So for Marvel Studios’ newest installment from their superhero franchise, they bring us "IRON MAN."

It's your typical superhero/action flick with plenty of adrenaline pumping action scenes, high octane fights sequences between Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) and Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. Iron Monger). There were scenes in the film that reminded me of the famous battle between Robocop and E.D. 209 in the movie “Robocop”; I felt like I was watching “Transformers” all over again, which is a good thing.

Even with all the fight scenes, there were some nice touching moments throughout the movie. And like many of Marvel films, “IM” boasts some pretty hilarious comical moments as well. The interesting thing about the movie is that, although it displayed some of the most advanced EFX, they didn’t take over the film. In fact, the hero flick was more character driven and provided a great introduction of Tony Stark, as viewers surfed through his high-powered, flashy and even tragic life along side him. Therefore, you understood his motivation for the actions he’s taken; there weren’t just random acts of violence and other unexplained subject matter.

They've chosen the right person to play Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is the epitome of Tony Stark: he’s an egotistical, billionaire playboy, tech head with a taste for the finer things in life. You can’t help but to like him as the dashing ladies man.

I would love to see Terrence Howard (playing Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a pilot who befriends Stark when Iron Man saves his life after a plane crash left him stranded behind enemy lines), play a superhero as well. There’s a little hint in the film that suggests that maybe, just maybe, there will be a sequel, where he may get the chance to do so as War Machine. Howard is such a natural actor that his role felt effortless.

In other casting choices, I almost didn’t recognize Gwyneth Paltrow, as she blended into her character with ease as Pepper Potts. Paltrow was actually very likeable and even attractive as the stiff but loving character. Jeff Bridges was excellent as Obadiah Stane; he never got out of character. The supporting cast did a great job as well.

Forgive me for using a non-sense word, but it’s the “funniest” superhero movie since “Spider-Man 1” and both “Fantastic 4” movies. Over all, “Iron Man” is Iron Clad. “IRON MAN” ROCKED!