Iron Man

Iron Man (Film Review)

Last year was a great year for superhero films, with three big adaptations appearing on screens (I'm not counting Punisher: War Zone) with one of the biggest being Iron Man finally being brought to the big screen. Although not necessarily a household name, he has always been a prominent player in the Marvel Universe. To me, he's always been the Marvel Universe's answer to Bruce Wayne/Batman - a larger-than-life playboy with money, charm and gadgets to spare. This adaptation was years in coming since the 1990's at least, attracting such talents such as Tom Cruise and Nicholas Cage for the lead role, as well as directors like Joss Whedon, Quentin Tarantino and Nick Cassavetes. In the end, they had Robert Downey Jr. to play Tony Stark and Jon Favreau to direct. I'm glad they waited, because, from the results, Iron Man was definitely worth the wait.

Iron Man
Released: May 2, 2008.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard.
Runtime: 162 minutes. (2 Hours and 42 minutes).
Rated: PG-13.
Director: Jon Favreau.

First of all, let me just get this out of the way, Robert Downey Jr. is the best thing about the movie. It's rare when casting fits this perfectly, but Robert Downey Jr. truly inhabits the role of Tony Stark, the industrialist/playboy/genius and the superhero, Iron Man. Perhaps it's because he has a real chance to display some of the classic wit and comic timing that he's been able to show in films like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Perhaps it's because of his excellent acting skills that have sustained his career throughout the years.

Perhaps it's because he's able to bring some of his own personal experiences to the table. For years, Robert Downey Jr. has battled some of his own personal demons to make his career work. In his youth, Robert Downey Jr. was a star on the rise, garnering both fame and critical praise. For years, Robert Downey Jr. continued his career despite his worsening drug habit, relapsing numerous times and over time, it seemed as if he would be claimed by his addictions. Eventually, as evidenced by the film, he overcame these, achieved sobriety and is now one of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood. Robert Downey Jr. was one of the last people who ever expected to be the face of a superhero franchise. Perhaps it's a combination of all of these things and more. Whatever the reasons are, it works. Robert Downey Jr. IS Iron Man.

When the movie starts , Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), a billionaire playboy and inventor, is on a sales pitch in the Middle East when he is struck down by one of his own weapons. Stark is kept alive by an electromagnet right above his heart that keeps the shrapnel from entering his heart. His captors expect him to build them a weapon, but instead, he builds the very first Iron Man suit to escape the confines of the cave. Once he is free, he is left to wonder what role the company that bears his name really plays in the role of peace keeping in the world and the real responsibility he might bear for his excesses and failures. It is this traumatic experience and realization that is the moral impetus for the rest of the film.

Now with his priorities changed and money to burn, Tony Stark becomes Iron Man. Using what is labeled a minaturized Arc Reactor, he uses this technology to keep himself alive and to power his suit. Using the suit, he now sets out to repair his mistakes and to change the world for the better. Of course, kicking off the summer blockbuster season last year, it's still a movie that is lots of fun, with some great humor, dialogue and action scenes. As seen in the box office receipts, Iron Man is a movie that appeals to both comic book fans and those who are rather unitiated wth the character.

Iron Man is broad enough to resonate with those audience members who aren't familiar with comic books, but Jon Favreau does plenty of things that will leave comic book fans very happy. Nods to Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D., War Machine, other small little nods and of course one huge nod (revealed after the credits) should have those familiar with the Marvel Universe smiling, if not cheering in their seats. This was Marvel's first attempt in making their movies part of one big universe and it shows, in a very good way. Not just content for capturing the comic book audience, the movie brings in the casual audience member with some great action set pieces that showcase some really impressive special effects. Seeing the Iron Man suit, it's really no surprise that Iron Man was nominated for an Oscar in the category of special effects.

Continuing excellence across the board, as I mentioned before, is casting. Jon Favreau did a great job assembling all these talents in one film. Terrence Howard plays Tony Stark's best friend, Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes and as always, is underrated but uses it to his advantage here as it's not his time to shine. I have to confess that I was pretty surprised to see Gwyneth Paltrow here playing Tony Stark's executive assistant/love interest,Pepper Potts, as Gwyneth Paltrow has established herself as a pretty serious actress, having won a Best Actress Award for Shakespeare In Love. But, as one would expect, she does a great job of playing the character and the underlying romance between the two, showing some real chemistry that I hope to be carried through into the sequel. Of course, Jeff Bridges does a great job as Obadiah Stane, the villain of the film. Jeff Bridges is a fantastic actor, who plays his menacing demeanor in a restrained and calculating fashion showing the transition from paternal mentor to eventual villain in what I thought was an impressive turn.

Not to say it's a perfect film. There is some sexuality here, both implied and obvious (pole-dancing flight attendants anyone?) that worked with the general excess of the Tony Stark character, but I didn't quite approve of knowing how many kids would be watching the film. As with any Hollywood blockbuster these days, there is a good amount of product placement and the movie is perhaps a little bit longer than might be necessary. The score altogether isn't entirely impressive, no real theme for the Iron Man character, although there are some subtle motifs for the Pepper Potts/Tony Stark Romance and some more heroic instrumental themes showing up towards the end of the film which hopefully we'll hear more from in the upcoming sequel.

But, as more and more films seek to cash in on the growing comic book scene, this one certainly stands out. Iron Man never forgets that it is an action and comic book movie, designed to entertain, but doesn't shy away from the hard questions faced by Tony Stark. The film isn't afraid to deal with some serious moral issues faced by the billonaire inventor as it occasionally veers into some darker territory, addressing issues of real relevance in today's world, but never stops being enjoyable for a second.

That, I believe, is the real achievement of Iron Man. Iron Man is that rare summer blockbuster that has something to say after all of the explosions and action sequences. Not content with being just an action movie, it has a great deal of underlying complexity as it keeps from being just a conventional superhero film. Iron Man is proof that superhero films do have a heart after all.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

(If somehow you missed the big after the credits scene, featuring a cameo by Samuel L. Jackson, then you really missed out. Thankfully, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o2lJ19qML0. In a movie with so many moments to wow you and make you cheer, they saved the biggest one for after the movie being over. This is the first huge step leading towards what will be a real culmination of Marvel's upcoming efforts towards an integrated universe. This is something that I am very, very excited about and so should you.)

Watchmen

Watchmen
(Film Review)

Each year, there is at least one movie that I really get excited about it and this year, it was Watchmen. Watchmen is one of my favorite all time graphic novels and one that I've always dreamed of seeing on the big screen. I've read the original story (told over 12 issues, with a great deal of supplementary material) a number of times and as much as I always dreamed about seeing it adapted for live-action, I was always curious about whether or not it could be done successfully. However, I went to go see it opening weekend to see whether it would be.

Watchmen
Released March 6, 2009
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Malin Ackerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino.
Running Time: 163 Minutes (2 Hours and 43 minutes)
Rating: R
Directed by: Zack Snyder.

Adapting a graphic novel that is as complex and critically acclaimed as Watchmen is a task that I really wasn't convinced could be accomplished, to be honest. Past adaptations of Alan Moore's work haven't always translated to screen very well and that has led to Moore distancing himself from any further movie versions of his graphic novels. In fact, Alan Moore said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that "I shan’t be going to see it. My book is a comic book. Not a movie, not a novel. A comic book. It’s been made in a certain way, and designed to be read a certain way: in an armchair, nice and cozy next to a fire, with a steaming cup of coffee…" In my opinion though, Alan Moore should pour himself a steaming cup of coffee here in a few months, curl up in his armchair and let the flames crackle as the opening credits roll to see a very faithful Watchmen adaptation.

In fact, the opening credits are one of the best scenes in the entire film and sets the bar extremely high for the rest of the movie. An opening series of snapshots are shown to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'", which sets up the alternate history in which the movie takes place. Richard Nixon remains in office as the United States and Russia are on the brink of catastrophic nuclear war as the Doomsday Clock inches ever closer to midnight. It's a world in which superheroes exist, although not in an official capacity anymore. The "Keene Act" has left masked vigilantes outlawed but as the world heads towards almost certain destruction,will they continue to sit on the sidelines or can the world be saved after all?

Despite a great deal of the plot concerning "saving the world", Watchmen does not really play out like a conventinal superhero movie. The story arc of the film addresses a variety of issues that raise a number of moral issues such as murder or rape, set against the equally morally confusing times of the Cold War and the spectre of mutually assured destruction. However, the film really centers around the dynamics and strengths of the character relationships, which is why casting was so important to the film.

In an ensemble piece like this, it's hard to pick a main character but the character at the center of it all is Rorschach, a masked vigilante who has remained active since the Keene Act and whose diary entries narrate throughout the film. Rorschach is a disturbing character, yet he draws you in through his dogged determination and uncompromising nature as he dons his 'face' (a mask composed of a changing inkblot pattern from which he draws his name) and searches for somebody who appears to be systematically targeting superheroes. Played by Jackie Earle Haley, he is at the heart of some of the most powerful scenes in the movie and is always up to the task.

Also drawn into the mystery are other retired heroes, such as Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II. Nite Owl II is played by Patrick Wilson who does a great job playing the everyman of the movie. Wilson captures the uncertainty and strength of Nite Owl II precisely. Working with him would be Silk Spectre II, played by Malin Akerman, who does a very believable job playing the role. From some circles I've heard some criticism concerning her performance, but you'll hear none from me. Ackerman's scenes with Wilson display a great deal of chemistry between the two and together, they form the emotional center of the film.

The Comedian is also a pivotal part in this movie, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who is probably most familar to audiences from Grey's Anatomy but if they come in expecting a similar performance here, they're about to be shocked. The Comedian is certainly about as far from likeable as can be, though displays a certain charisma as a cocky and confident hero who appears to treat life as a joke, if only to keep from crying. It was a surprising turn from Morgan, but in the context of the film, absolutely enjoyable. Perhaps the best performance though (hard to top Rorschach) would be by Billy Crudup, playing the 'god-like' Dr. Manhattan. Speaking in a toneless and monotonous voice throughout most of the film, you only see him briefly as his human self, he has perhaps the hardest job in the movie. Crudup is forced to display humanity here, a core theme of the film, even as his character appears to be distancing himself from it and yet, he pulls it off.

Perhaps the only real casting choice I wasn't entirely pleased with would be Matthew Goode. Certainly nothing personal against him, but cast as Ozymandias, the world's smartest man, he seemed slightly out of place. My opinion is that the character would be larger than life, in charge of the biggest corporation the planet, but Goode just seems to lack that quality and the screen presence to pull it off. I just never quite bought it and while he doesn't hurt the film overall, he doesn't help it either. Carla Gugino and Stephen McHattie, as Silk Spectre I and Nite Owl I respectively, both do a great job with the scenes that they're given and really add a lot of authenticity.

For any movie, music is a big part of it and Watchmen would definitely be another film to showcase it as the original graphic had Alan Moore quoting musical lyrics throughout the comic book from such musical inspiration such as Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello and others. Some of the musical choices such as during the opening credits montage or the funeral of the Comedian were fantastic, while others didn't exactly have me shouting Hallelujah if you know what I mean. Tyler Bates' score was a pleasant surprise as I really didn't have my expectations set too high considering I wasn't a huge fan of his largely techno-rock score to 300, but he took a largely minimalist approach here with some sparse guitar work and synthesizer beats which really enhances the film.

As both a film and a comic book adaptation, Watchmen can be labeled a success. Pulling together most, if not all, of the crucial plot threads from the comic book and translating them to the film in an acceptable running time is an impressive task. It's a long movie, but one that certainly never felt long to me. Not to say I don't have a few complaints as it did change a few plot points from the original graphic novel, most noticeably the ending, but the mood and moral dilemma remains the same. At some points, the movie is more graphic than the graphic novel is, which is more a stylistic choice than anything but one that I don't think ultimately detracts from the film. Most of the choices serve to enhance the film but a few keep the film from being perfect.

In the end, (although nothing ever ends), the book is always better than the movie and Watchmen is no exception. Watchmen is a stellar film, showcasing the power of film to add some interesting dimensions to a beloved classic, in a definitely reverent adaptation of the source material. A question often asked throughout the film is "Who watches the Watchmen?" and, hopefully, in regards to this movie, the answer will be everybody.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5.

(By the way, when I say everybody, I didn't of course mean that. It is rated R for a reason, so the faint of heart and squeamish should stay at home. Children should stay at home too for this film, that should go without saying, although I was shocked to see some parents bring in their kids anyway. For the young ones, they could watch this short, which envisions how the Watchmen would've appeared as a Saturday Morning Cartoon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDDHHrt6l4w - which is filled with plenty of jokes for Watchmen fans and classic old school cartoon lovers alike.)

Spider-Man

Spider-Man

(Film Review)

When I started up this blog at the start of the year, I really wondered how to start things off. I’ve ventured into the world of blogging before, but never with any degree of success. Doing another introductory blog didn’t really appeal to me, so I took some time to contemplate exactly what I wanted to do with my blog and I decided what did appeal to me was pop culture. Comic books and superheroes are high on my list, but the blog will be rather varied. It’ll cover movies, music, television shows, videogames along with the occasional foray into more serious topics, but those will be far and few between. However, without an introductory blog, I figured I might as well jump right in. Then, came the difficulty of selecting the first blog.

Several possible different topics and review ideas were considered, but eventually and obviously rejected. But, looking back through my DVD collection the other day, I was reminded of the character that got me into comic books in the first place and to this day remains my favorite comic book character.

Spider-Man

Released May 3, 2002

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Defoe, James Franco, J.K. Simmons, Rosemary Harris, Cliff Robertson.

Runtime: 121 minutes. (2 hours and 1 minute)

Rating: PG-13.

Directed by: Sam Raimi

“With great power, comes great responsibility” is probably the most recognizable line from the Spider-Man franchise and it was with this in mind that I hoped Sam Raimi would approach adapting the comic book to film. Spider-Man is a global icon, certainly one of the most recognizable names from comics the world over and translating that to the big screen could certainly be a challenging task for anybody. For the most part, it’s a task that Sam Raimi seems more than up for. As comic-to-film adaptations go, this is one of the better ones, in my opinion.

With the majority of the audience well aware of the story of Spider-Man, the film starts off running as we’re given the origin of his character pretty early in the film, along with setting up many of the character dynamics that will carry the rest of the film. On a science class field trip, young Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is bitten by a genetically enhanced spider to receive the powers that will change and define his live forever.

Just as the film didn’t waste too much time fleshing out an elaborate origin story, I won’t go too much into the plot. By this time, just about everybody has seen the film. In fact, I would be hard pressed to find somebody who has not. Peter Parker, having been given the powers, neglects the responsibility part of it and instead decides to try to impress the girl next door (literally), Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). This doesn’t go quite as well as he might have hoped. In fact, it ends about about as badly as it can and by the film’s second act, he’s decided to take his Uncle Ben’s words to heart.

From there, he has to deal with the emergence of his arch-nemesis, the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), who is both one of the film’s strong and weak points. Norman Osborn is a very intriguing character played by an excellent actor in Willem Dafoe, but isn’t given as much to do as I would like. The Green Goblin is the biggest villain in the Spider-Man universe, but compared to the scheming machinations of his comic book counterpart, lacks any kind of real plan other than trying to destroy Spider-Man. His plan starts off as straight forward revenge and then gets stuck in that mode. There are some really well done scenes in which Norman and his alter-ego converse with one another, revealing the depth of his psychotic personality. More scenes like this could’ve really helped the personality of his character. But, not to say I don’t enjoy the antagonist in the film, but since the hero is usually only as good as the villain, I wished they’d done more with the Green Goblin.

I initially had doubts about Tobey Maguire coming into the film, but most of those were erased by the end of the film. If not the first choice, I really believe Tobey Maguire was the right choice for Spiderman, as he showcases both sides of the character well, played with geeky perfection as Peter Parker and with conviction as the superhero Spider-Man. Kirsten Dunst is impressive in her limited time on screen as the object of his affections, who has always been a good character actor, showcasing some strength amidst the uncertainty in her life. James Franco does well in his scenes as Harry Osborn, though seems a little too confident for somebody who is really supposed to be an emotional basketcase after years of rejection by his father, but still a joy to watch him here in this movie.

All of the issues I have with the film are relatively small, although enough to keep it from being the best yet don't change how much I enjoy the film. Rather than focus on some of the things I don't like, such as the Green Goblin's costume, let me instead tell you a few of the things that I absolutely loved.

For example, the casting is perfect. Some of the roles I have yet to mention are just scene stealers, such as Cliff Robertson, whose role as Uncle Ben is small, yet pivotal. Rosemary Harris does an amazing job as Aunt May and I can’t imagine anybody else but J.K. Simmons playing the editor of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. Even smaller roles like Betty Brant (Elizabeth Banks) are really great to watch here. Let me clarify here as well that even though some complained about Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn being over the top and I had a few issues with the character as well, I thought he did a great job and in fact, wish we’d had more time to explore his character. Again, let me state, great job casting.

While not quite as iconic as some other superhero themes, the score for Spider-Man (which I’m listening to right now as I write) really fits the wallcrawler well. I think the music was really well placed throughout the film, highlighting the character and really adding to the overall film experience. Then, of course you have the climax of the film, the third act, which was the stuff from which comic books are made of. Hero versus villain, the fate of the girl of his dreams in the balance and if you’ve ever read the classic Spiderman #122 , you can see exactly where the inspiration came from as this was almost directly lifted from its pages, although with some obvious alterations.

However, the end of that comic book didn’t have audiences cheering, which was actually what occurred at the end of this film. It’s definitely deserved, as this was a pretty faithful adaptation from the comic book to the big screen, especially in comparison to some of the other superhero films put out there and even the later additions to this franchise. Kudos go to Sam Raimi, the cast and crew who were involved in bringing Spider-Man to the big screen.

It’s far from a perfect film, but even with its flaws, it’s about as good as it gets when it comes to Spider-Man. It’s a highly satisfying action film that doesn’t rely on violence to provide its thrill and in my opinion, it’s a movie that gets all the little things right and the big things too. From the nuances of the various relationships in the movie (Peter-Uncle Ben, Harry-Norman, Spiderman-New York, Norman-Peter, Green Goblin-Spiderman, Peter-Mary Jane to name a few) to the big blockbuster action scenes, they do them all well. Best of all, the film makes you smile by the end of it. Walking out of the theatre, who didn’t look up at a tall building and wish you could just shoot a web to carry you around the city? That’s the mark of a great film and an amazing reminder of just why I admire the character so much. When it comes to this movie, Spiderman does whatever a spider can and better than I thought it could be done.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

(As an extra treat, here is the original teaser trailer they first used to get audiences excited about the prospect of Spiderman coming to the big screen. Pulled for obvious reasons, I still remember getting pretty thrilled seeing this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-r7qymfa0Q I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!)