Let's take inventory here. I don't care much for Robert Downey Jr. I am not a big fan of Gwyneth Paltrow. I have not seen Terrence Howard in anything that I liked. I do, however, like Jeff Bridges.
So what did I think of the new movie starring Downey, Paltrow, Howard and Bridges? I thought it was great.
"Iron Man" is a really well made and well performed version of the Marvel Comics comic book of the same name. The storyline is seamless and although it has been updated to today's modern warfare scenario (Afghanistan, as opposed to the original southeast Asia location of the 1963 comic "Tales of Suspense #39").
It has already been praised everywhere for its special effects restraint, and for using just the right amount of CGI graphics in the effects. Unlike the Batman and Superman movies (as well as the Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four) the movie is not done so much in a comic book style, and stands well on its own, for any moviegoer who has no knowledge of the Marvel Comics superhero.
It is the complete picture of millionaire Tony Stark and his metamorphosis from weapons magnate to socially conscious hero who uses extreme violence to solve an extremely violent threat. Kind of ironic, ain't it?
Also being praised is the performance of Iron Man's star player, Robert Downey Jr. as the self-confident/arrogant Stark plays the part in a "laughing at myself" kind of way that makes the already likeable film twice as enjoyable.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the love Interest, his intern and Gal Friday who although she struts with enough confidence to possibly tell the Devil himself that she thinks his place is too hot, still can't manage to tell her boss she's in love with him.
She follows him around like Alfreda the Butler, cleaning up his messes and fixing his disasters, all the while mooning over him.
Terrence Howard is his best bud, and is also his liaison with the military, who carries way too much power for a mere colonel, but that is one of only very few glitches that this movie puts forth.
The other good performance is by Jeff Bridges, who plays Stark's business partner, who started the weapons making conglomerate with Stark's dear old dad back in the day.
The movie is quite long, and has to be, because it is not just about the classic good superhero vs. bad supervillain, and the first half is devoted to Stark's being captured and being forced to make a ultra-complicated secret weapon in a cave that even Bin Laden would refuse to spend the night in (okay, another glitch).
But, for a guy like Stark, who replaces the car battery that keeps him alive in the cave with a sophisticated electronic devise the size of a Petri dish that he self-implants into his own chest, a secret weapon in a dark cave should be a walk in the park.
The end does resolve itself in the classic super battle, and leaves itself open to more "Iron Man" sequels to come. But for now, with the possible exception of this summer's "The Dark Knight" (Batman) movie, this is the superhero movie to see.
It's now playing on three screens at the Teays Valley Cinemas.
Billy Summers is a freelance photographer and may be reached at summers855@verizon.net. For more information, Teays Valley Cinemas, 170 Erskine Lane, Scott Depot, WV 25560, 304-201-7469 or www.franktheaters.com.
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