Iron Man and general stuff...
Went to the doctor's for a ct scan (ugh.$$$!) and was able to catch the first matiness showing for "Iron Man", which I'd heard a lot of buzz on, from critics and fans.
I grew up enjoying Iron Man as a supporting character, but never was that much into his own series. I always felt that there was...well...just kind of a dullness to his story and he was cool as a supporting character in a group rather than being a character I found extremely interesting on its own. I know there were/are a ton of websites of fans that really 'got into' the whole character, and all the gear that came with the comic- but the mass appeal of it really eluded me for the longest time.
With this movie, though, it made me 'get' why anyone would think that the fantasy of being a rich playboy billionaire who also dug having a secret identity in getting into a metal powerful suit (though the secret identity thing is one of the few things that I think the movie missed as a fun opportunity, though...maybe they felt it's overplayed in other superhero films).... I couldn't understand why the fantasy would 'feel' cool--- but there's a great level of intricate detail in the character getting into this all-powerful suit that made you understand.... 'yeah.... that would feel cool to put on this suit- it's the ultimate sportscar and powersuit all rolled into one'.
But it's not just that-
For the first 75-85% of the film, there's a giant delight on all levels:
#1- It's great to see a mostly-well-written story, with action beats in the right spots (for the most part)
#2- It's great to see Robert Downey Jr. in a role that fits him like a GLOVE and elevates him in a positive role that's also flawed enough to feel truthful--- and embraces his history of substance abuse (Tony Stark in the comic books was a majorly flawed superhero character who also fought his alcoholism as well)-
#3- Similiarly--- it's great to see Gwneth Paltrow in a role that not only doesn't annoy the crap out of you, but she actually shines in it! Her "Pepper Potts" as the supercompetent secretary mommy-figure who isn't afraid to get in Downey's Tony Stark's face is a great character--- usually the girlfriend role in an action movie is a thankless one where the character is always needed to be rescued and screaming, it's such a relief to see a character who can be the girlfriend and be the main character's equal on many levels.
#4- It's smart-funny. Very smart-funny... and when it's serious (for most of it), it's not melodramatic, but actually is unsentimental and at times, moving, without going overboard. When the great Terence Howard (who plays Tony Stark's best friend who's also a military man) embraces his friend long-thought dead, or another character tells Tony not to waste a new life he's been given, there are a lot of small but moving moments, and a lot of the relationships are communicated with enough smarts and truthfulness to have impact.
While there was a great 'pre-show' (A new Indiana Jones trailer and Incredible Hulk trailer), the film was EXTREMELY well-done. If it fails, I think it's in the 'revelation' of Iron Man to the masses that disappoints as well as what exactly Tony Stark's relationship is with a military organization at the end of the movie, now that he is a 'man of peace', so to speak, that feels a bit confusing and flawed, considering all the buildup to show Stark trying to change into a different type of person when he gets back from Afghanistan in the movie.
But....considering that it's only a smart part of the final act, the ride up to then is magnetic.
Here's hoping the rest of the summer films is as good or better.