Iron Man + RDJ = Pure Joy!

Day Thirty Three.

***This post has been written yesterday***

Just by looking at the title, you could easily tell that this post is mostly about the latest blockbuster Superhero movie: Iron Man. Yes, I watched it this afternoon and all I can say is that I haven’t been this happy while watching a movie in a very long time!

Let’s start at the beginning shall we? I’ve been waiting for this movie for ages! I’ve first heard about it, I think, last year or last last year at Superherohype.com and I’ve been dying to watch it since then. Truth is, I didn’t know much about Iron Man back then. I knew that he’s a Superhero wearing a robotic iron suit of some kind and that’s it. So when I heard they’re making a movie adaptation of it, I wasn’t so thrilled…until I saw the name “Robert Downey Jr.” on the cast list. Robert Downey Jr. (RDJ) for me, is one of the most versatile and extremely talented actors in the industry. He’s also my second most favorite Hollywood actor. (Next to Johnny Depp, of course) Every role he plays is memorable and he doesn’t just portray a role, he actually becomes the character. When he played Charlie Chaplin, I didn’t see Robert Downey Jr. on the screen, I saw Charlie Chaplin and he did the same thing with his other roles. But I have to say, never in a million years did I imagine him playing the role of a Superhero. So when I found out that he’s going to be Iron Man, I immediately did a little background check on the famous Marvel character. I even watched the animated Iron Man film while waiting for this movie.

So this afternoon, I was so excited to go to the movie theater and finally see this long-awaited flick. But I forgot one very important detail: it’s Labor Day today in the country where I’m staying. So, since it’s a holiday, the malls would certainly be jam packed with people….lots and lots of people! And since Iron Man, is a very popular and highly-anticipated movie, the theaters would be jam packed as well!

And so when I got to the mall, I was genuinely shocked at how crowded it was. I could barely move around because there were people everywhere! And don’t even get me started at how long the line at the movie theater was! I actually just wanted to go back home, the instant I got there! But I couldn’t possibly turn back. Iron Man was already within my reach! And so, I swallowed hard and dived into the crowd! I didn’t have time to eat and go to the comfort room so I just grabbed a huge cup of Chocolate Macadamia Nut Frappuccino and headed to the theater.

When I got to my seat, I was finally able to relax. But I was already so tired and dizzy that I thought my whole movie-watching experience would be completely ruined. But I was wrong! The moment Iron Man started, all of my worries disappeared. Iron Man was totally worth it all!

I mentioned before that I love watching Superhero movies but only a few of them got it right. Well, Iron Man is definitely on top of that list now! Spiderman, X-men and Batman Begins all managed to create very entertaining adaptions of the famous Marvel comics while still staying true to their comicbook roots. They all have great casts, well-written scripts and kick-ass special effects. But Iron Man, in my opinion, topped all of them because of these factors: a unique and extremely entertaining main character, perfect casting, superb script, and a more realistic story and setting.

Let’s start with Tony Stark. I haven’t read the comic-book but because of what I saw in the movie and the animated version, Tony Stark has become my favorite Superhero alter-ego! He’s just different from everyone else and has a really eccentric, strong and even lovable personality! He’s no do-gooder like Clark Kent nor a nerdy underdog like Peter Parker. Those two are great when they’re in their Superhero mode but boring when they’re pretending to be average joes. Imagine if Clark Kent is not an alien and has no powers, would you still find him interesting? Would you watch a movie that’s based on his life? Same thing goes for Parker. I don’t think the life of a simple farm boy and a shy science geek would make a good movie. But with Tony Stark, he’s already a really interesting guy even before he became Iron Man! Just like what one film critic said, Tony Stark is like a combination of Howard Hughes and Hugh Hefner (Who made a cameo in this movie…Okay, so that was Stan Lee impersonating Heff). An eccentric genius but a rich notorious playboy at the same time! Who wouldn’t find a guy like that interesting? And while other superheroes have good hearts and genuinely like helping others, Tony Stark is the exact opposite. Well, he’s not a bad guy and all but “Good” is definitely not the word to describe him. He’s spoiled, irresponsible, careless, and a bit self-absorbed. He never listens to other people, he does everything he pleases and he’d definitely give James Bond a run for his money when it comes to being a womanizer. He’s also quite a handful to his friends and employees. Plus he creates weapons for mass destruction, for crying out loud! And even says stuff like: “Peace means carrying a bigger stick than the other guys”. So in short, he’s definitely telling the truth, when he said, he’s not the hero-type.

But what’s great about his character is that even with his bad behavior and weird habits, you just can’t help but like him! He’s just one of those people that you would immediately feel comfortable with. He’s over-confident and clearly loves getting all that attention. But he’s still very approachable and warm! I immediately loved his character when I saw the first scene. There he was smugly sitting in a hummvee in a designer suit with a glass of whisky (just guessing) in his hand. One would instantly think that he’s one of those snobbish and arrogant rich guys who thinks everyone else in the world is beneath him. But once he opens his mouth, you’d start liking him right away! He’s so chatty and friendly and treats everyone as an equal! And he’s also freakin’ hilarious! How can you not like a guy like that?! He’s like a wittier, funnier yet more mature version of Johnny Storm of the Fantastic 4. Also with him, there are no pretenses! What you see is what you get. He says and does whatever he wants without thinking about what other people would say and think. He doesn’t bother pretending to be a responsible and caring guy just to get the approval of others. So what if he’s the head of a very prestigious company? So what if reporters watch his every move? He’s not going to change who he is just to please them! I actually wish I could be more like him. With a guy like him as the center of the story, how can there be a dull moment in this movie?

Moving on… The second factor I mentioned was “perfect casting”. And “perfect” is definitely the only word to describe the casting of this movie! It was a casting made in heaven! And the fact that this movie has four oscar nominees in its cast-list is also a huge plus! Let’s break that list down shall we?

There are lots of talented actors out there but no one else could do the role of Tony Stark as much justice as Robert Downey Jr. did. I doubt even Johnny Depp whom I worship would fit in the shoes of Tony Stark as perfectly. Some say that there are actors who are born to play a certain role. Well, I think Robert Downey Jr. was definitely born to be Tony Stark! His performance was simply flawless in this movie! From his perfect delivery of the witty and hilarious lines, to the confident and carefree way that he talked and moved, he was just amazing! I really could not imagine anyone else playing this role! Oh and might I just add, Robert Downey Jr. never looked so good! I’ve always known that he’s a great actor but today I realized that he is smokin’ hot!

Of course this movie wouldn’t be as great as it is without the two very important supporting characters: Pepper Potts and James Rhodes played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard. Pepper Potts and Rhodey are the most important people in Tony Stark’s life. They’re the only ones he completely trusts and since he’s quite a handful, they’re the ones who always have to steer him at the right direction. In the animated version, Stark and Potts’ relationship was purely platonic but here, they added a bit of romance. But it’s very subtle because too much romance would make their relationship a bit lame. Stark and Potts’ relationship somehow reminds me of Rukia and Ichigo’s relationship in Bleach. They’re not lovers but they’re certainly more than friends. They understand and care for each other in a whole different level. Potts is Stark’s support system. She’s the only person he listens to and they obviously can’t live without the other. It’s a very unique and complicated relationship and I think it’s one of the things that set Iron Man apart from other comic-book adaptations. So in order for this movie to work, you need someone really talented and has great chemistry with Robert Downey Jr. to portray Pepper Potts. Well, they surely found the right person for the job! Gwyneth Paltrow simply nailed the part. She is everything I imagined Pepper Potts to be. From the way, she looked to the way she carried herself, she’s without a doubt the Pepper Potts I saw on the animated version.

As for Rhodey, well I don’t think they could find anyone else more suitable than Terrence Howards. Rhodey is not a very difficult character to portray. You just have to be the exact opposite of Tony Stark. You have to be responsible, disciplined and an all around do-gooder! Rhodey is, after all, like Tony Stark’s conscience or baby-sitter as he puts it. Plus, they’re like the Yin and Yang of this movie. They give balance to the story. You can’t have a character as colorful and eccentric as Tony Stark and not have a character that’s good and righteous like Rhodey. They’re kinda like Lois Lane and Clark Kent, Human Torch and Mr. Fantastic, Mr. Hyde and Dr. Jekyll…Well, you get the picture. But I think Rhodey’s character would be a lot more interesting in the sequel. He did give a hint at the end part of the movie in that scene where he looked at the other Iron Man suit and said “Next time, baby!”

Now the third and I think most important factor is the superb script. This movie is filled with some of the wittiest and most humorous lines that I’ve ever heard. In fact, I was grinning from start to finish! Most of the lines are of course, Tony Stark’s lines which were delivered perfectly by RDJ! I couldn’t help but giggle when Tony told the soldier not to put their picture on his MySpace page and also when he told the female soldier: “You’ve got great bone structure! Now I’m having trouble not to look at you!” Oh and when that reporter asked him “Mr. Stark, you’ve been called the Da Vinci of our time; what do you say to that?” and he replied “Absolutely ridiculous, I don’t paint.” That was priceless! And the reporter even added “What do you say to your other nickname, the ‘Merchant of Death’?” and he replied, “That’s not bad.” And of course who could forget the line “Let’s face it, this is not the worst thing you’ve ever caught me doing.” I also love it when he talks to his robotic assistants! He talks to them like they’re his pets or something. Like when he told one of them, “If you douse me again with that thing when I’m not on fire I’ll donate you to a State College!” and also when he said “Don’t point that thing (fire extinguisher) on me! I feel like I’m gonna caught fire spontaneously here!” But of course none of those lines could top the very last line Tony Stark said in this movie. That line made my day! I was smiling like an idiot from the moment I heard it until the time I got back at my apartment. Well, it’s not just the line that’s hilarious, it’s the scene itself! Just watch it to know what I’m talking about.

The last factor is the realistic story and setting. You see, unlike other Superhero movies, the story of Iron Man is the one that’s most likely to happen in real life. In fact, it’s even set in the present time where there’s a war between America and Afghanistan and weapons of mass destruction are quite vital. The war depicted in this movie is really happening now, innocent people on both sides are getting hurt in real life and the weapons shown in this movie really do exist. Plus the fact, that there’s nothing magical, paranormal or outlandish in the story makes it seem more plausible.

Stark is also just a normal guy. He’s not an alien or a mutant. He doesn’t transform into a green monster or suddenly go ablaze. He’s just a guy wearing a mechanical suit that he made. It was a product of Science, not magic and it is certainly more believable than radio-active spiders. Besides with our technology and current situation, it’s not impossible for some genius to create a weapon like Tony Stark’s suit. We also see Stark building and testing his invention in this movie. Watching those scenes felt a lot like watching a Science/Technology-related feature in the Discovery Channel. And a very funny one at that!

As for the other aspects of this movie, I really couldn’t find much to complain about. The special effects are quite impressive, the music’s not bad, and fight-scenes are really good most of the time. Although I did find the final showdown between Iron Man and the main villain a little disappointing. I guess, it’s just not as intense as it should be. Plus it’s a bit Transformer-ish. And of course, there are some not-so-original stuff like for example: The way Iron Man flies kinda resembles the Human Torch, only better; the old guy who saved Tony (Yinsen) said some Uncle Ben-like lines before he died and he’s actually one of the reasons why Tony started to realize that with great power comes great responsibility; and the main villain is also someone close to Tony in a very Batman Begins-like way. But who cares about those little details? The important thing is that the movie was one hell of a ride! I’ve never had this much fun in a movie theater in a long time! I haven’t even smiled this much for quite some time now! And I kept thinking about this movie even when I got home. In fact, I’m still thinking about it now! It is definitely worth the wait! Oh and I had a slight fever when I got back home but I still don’t feel a thing until now because my mind is still focused on the movie! It’s that good! And a lot of film critics seem to think so too! Some of my favorite quotes from the critic’s reviews are: “Save for Christian Bale’s turn as Bruce Wayne, Downey’s portrayal of Stark is maybe the best hero performance the cinematic comic world has seen to date.”, “There’s no rust on this baby”, ” It’s been years since a movie superhero was this fierce and this funny. All praise to acting dynamo Robert Downey Jr., who brings so much creative juice to the party that Iron Man achieves instant liftoff.”, “Downey does something even more resonant for this flying hunk of metal: He gives Iron Man a soul.”, “Like Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, Favreau’s casting of the sardonic Downey as Tony Stark is a risk that pays off.” “The film delights in the mechanics of invention, which is infectious. It’s a machine dream, and a happy relief from the typical blockbuster’s reliance on digital effects.”, “Until a final conflict that more resembles a monster-truck jam than a superhero showdown, Iron Man is solid gold.”

I know, I’ve already babbled way too much. But I’m just like that when I get overly excited about something. Well, I guess, I’ll just talk about the anime, drama and book-related stuff tomorrow since this post is already way too long.

End of Day Thirty Three.