a review of Iron Man

[dickforce1]

I was dissatisfied. I've grown sick of comic-book movie convention. Now that comic book characters are a growing to be a standard repertoir for film subjects, I think it's time that directors and writers follow Christopher Nolan's lead and do something significant

Comments

[who_are_parents]

I don't understand how you could find this movie disappointing. I know that every comic hero has a central tragic story or motivation but this rarely translates into truly moving drama on the screen. Batman Begins walked the tightrope of trying to be an entertaining popcorn flick and also deal with big heavy issues about childhood abandonment and the drive to do good in the world. I think it was a successful movie but it came dangerously close to falling into the trap of self-importance.

Iron Man didn't really have the same depth but I think it was equally successful as entertainment. The plot wasn't complex but the character of Tony Stark and the performance of Downey really sold the whole thing.

If you've grown tired of comic book convention and are looking for real drama and conflict, you should look for it in movies not based on comic books.

[dickforce1]

I'd rather that a film drown itself in pretension and heavy-handedness than take pot shots at issues well within it's grasp and call it good. What made Iron Man so interesting to me initially is that it, and the character of Stark, care less about the misery of the origin than what follows. That was almost exhilerating, but was stunted by genre cliche, which seemed like a cop out.

Comic books do such a good job of honoring the hugeness inherent in some our more simple conflicts, that it seems a shame not to try for more. More to the point, I had no expectations for Iron Man. For a minute I thought it was going to surprise me. I also think that just because the basis for a movie comes from a comic book, doesn't mean that the movie should be that reductionist.

[dickforce1]

I enjoyed being entertained by an entertaining movie. I enjoyed all the parts of it that I enjoy about comic book flicks. I was dissapointed because the movie at some moments seemed to be going to be going for more, but wasn't.