Reviews
Iron Man (12A)
MARVEL Comics have taken
matters into their own hands for
the movie incarnation of Iron
Man, financing it themselves.
No doubt
they're mindful of some of the less-thansatisfactory
previous transfers of other
superheroes from page to screen.
Iron Man is certainly a cut above the
usual comic book adaptation, taking
time to make us care about the
characters as well as the all-important
action. Robert Downey Jr lends
billionaire industrialist and genius
inventor Tony Stark an offhand sense of
humour and layer of charm as the
character comes to realise that arms
dealing isn't the most moral of
occupations after being blown up on an
arms-selling mission to Afghanistan. His
life is saved by having a machine
implanted in his chest to stop shrapnel
reaching his already-weak heart.
Back home, he protects himself by
building a suit of armour - being a
genius inventor helps a lot - that
enables him to fly about the world doing
good. The difference between Iron Man
and others of his superhero ilk is that he
doesn't possess special powers like X-ray
vision or a web-spinning ability. His
powers come from the suit he wears,
underneath he's just an ordinary guy.
Long-time assistant Pepper Potts
(Gwyneth Paltrow, running about in her
much-publicised high heels) keeps his
busy schedule free for his superhero
antics, while military man Rhodey
(Terrence Howard) keeps him up to
speed with what's happening in the
world's troubled hot spots.
Director Jon Favreau, the Swingers actor
who helmed Elf and Zathura, ensures
that action lovers aren't short-changed
with explosive set pieces culminating in
Stark pitted against an even more
fearsome iron man clone.
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Terrence
Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub,
Gwyneth Paltrow
Running time: 126 mins
Rating: Four stars
8:50pm Thursday 1st May 2008
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