Apr
28
A couple of years ago (almost exactly, actually), I optimistically headed to the cinema to see Iron Man. It was sold to me as a superhero film with a bite – an origin story with a less tragically flawed hero than Batman, steeped in humour and starring what seemed like an interesting cast.
Two stars. I didn’t like it. Now, I should point out that SciFiNow awarded the film four stars, and fair enough, that was the magazine’s opinion. It was bland – Downey Jr. made for an offbeat superhero but the action was generic, Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Staine was like a hammy version of Rutger Hauer’s character in Batman Begins and Gwyneth Paltrow played nothing but a bog-standard love interest.
It probably didn’t help that The Dark Knight came along a few months later and demolished the movie by comparison. I think Iron Man was a film that claimed to be going against the curve of superhero movies, but really, I don’t think it could have been following it any closer.
Apparently, the sequel isn’t very good. Oh well.
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In a way I agree, but if I start getting critical of (science-fiction) movies I think there won’t be much left for me to enjoy. I mean, Iron Man is just as good or bad as Back To The Future, Raiders or Ghostbusters. The difference is though, that those movies have built up a reputation and fanbase over the last twenty-five years. Iron Man might befall the same fate, it needs to grow. The last GREAT science-fiction movie might have been eXisTenZ, but that’s if I’m being (overly?)critical. However, I have enjoyed many films since then, so what’s more important? Having a good time or enduring a piece of deep art? If it is about having fun then ‘even’ something like Iron Man might get a place between all those science-fiction movies from the past we so deeply love and enjoy, and are maybe not as deep and profound as we are willing to admit. But they are fun, just like Iron Man.
I see what you’re saying, but if more people were discerning about the movies they saw, perhaps it would ensure greater quality control. These movies cost a lot to make, after all – would it really hurt to make them better than they are?
I absolutely agree, however, we are part of a small percentage of people who are actually concerned about such progress. So I’m afraid it will take a lot of fun Iron Man movies before enough people are dragged into the genre to ensure better quality all around. if that makes any sense. But yeah, you’re right, movies should be good or better(and fun).
I really enjoyed the first Iron Man, as it tried to do something different with the formula and give us a great lead character to care about. I’m still going to go and see Iron Man 2 just to see what it’s like… it can’t be THAT bad surely?
Samuel and Captain,
Enjoyed reading your comments very much. I know this is a bit cheeky but if you click on this link, you can read MY comments on Iron Man 2. I think you’ll have a good chuckle…
http://www.myspace.com/iainh64
Iron Man 1 was bad but Iron Man 2 was so slick and “efficient” in its blandness that it’s easy for normal cinemagoers and fanboys to be overawed by and even blinded to its multiple flaws. Several times during the film, I cringed as scenes that had no purpose other than to deliberately and blatantly scream “You fanboys are really lapping this sh*t up so here’s another brain bogglingly stupid set piece for you to goggle over” appeared over and over. Bad scripting and bad direction.
Thor might be okay i.e. not as compromised by the typical patronising approach studios take to super hero movies (i.e. slapstick) but the Captain America movie is really going to suck some balls on this evidence, I’m afraid!
Iron man was a great film.