Movie Review: Iron Man
Rated by 31 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, thanks to lots of hype and
non-stop marketing, kids will be clamoring to see this
fast-paced, action-packed comic book-based adventure. But it's
definitely more age-appropriate for teens than younger
children. Although much of the violence is clearly meant to be
based in the realm of sci-fi and fantasy -- and/or is shown at
a distance -- there's plenty of it, from massive explosions to
children held at gunpoint to super-powered fistfights. Some of
the violence is war themed, and some characters get hurt and/or
die. While much is made of lead character Tony Stark's
devil-may-care lifestyle of fun and frolic, viewers also see
him turn away from the more irresponsible aspects of
playboyhood. Language is minimal, and sexual content is more
suggested than shown overall -- though there are a few
eyebrow-raising moments.
Families can talk about the popularity of comic book movies. Do
they speak to escapism or darker fantasies about power? Also,
how does the fact that much of their violence is based in
fantasy affect their impact? How is it different watching human
characters get hurt than robots and other beings? Families can
also discuss the fact that Iron Man may be a do-gooder, but
he's no Boy Scout. Can a heroic character still be flawed? Does
that make them more heroic or less?
Bringing another Marvel Comics hero to the big screen, IRON MAN begins as brilliant billionaire industrialist/inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is abducted during a weapons demonstration tour in Afghanistan. Grievously wounded by the very weapons his company manufactures, Stark is forced by his terrorist captors to build a missile; instead, he designs a high-tech suit of armor to make his escape. Returning to America, he wonders how the bad guys got hold of his company's products and vows to set things right with the help of a rebuilt, stylish new iteration of the powered exoskeleton that made his escape possible.
Iron Manknows that it's a comic book movie; not only does it have all the plot points and moral messages that we're used to from Spider-Man, Batman Begins, and others in the genre, but it also subtly mocks and twists them. Director Jon Favreau keeps the film light and bright; the special effects are impressively crafted, and the setup for another film is handled gently and well. The plot touches all the bases of the traditional "origin story" (how our hero becomes a superhero, his first outing with his new powers, etc.), and it shows plenty of hustle and style as it does so.
But if there's any one thing that makes Iron Man more than just a run-of-the-mill superhero film, it's Downey Jr. His work here is funny, human, heroic, and completely engaging, capturing the brisk breezy laugh lines, the adrenaline-fueled action, and the moments of bold purpose that every superhero has to have as they start out. He gives both Stark and Iron Man a little swagger and coolness -- in a field normally filled with nerds ( Spider-Man's Peter Parker) or stiffs ( Superman's Clark Kent), it's a refreshing change.
Spider-Man 2Batman Begins
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