Iron Man (2008)

Director: Jon Favreau

Casts: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges

Running Time: 128 minutes

Rating: 7.5/10

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Was it good? I think so. Perhaps better, but not great.

After several Marvel comics-turned-movies films had been shown in the theatres for the past several years, it would be hard to make a review without making a point of comparison of not only Iron Man versus Spiderman or Fantastic 4, but of Iron Man versus Transformers as well. I liked Ironman. For a highly commercialized film, its cinematography wasn’t bad after all. Its theatricality was good but the acting was lame. Well, what do I really know about how should an actor shape his face to mimic happiness or portray sadness? None. So, that portion was just an attempt to make an academically sounding review based on my basic layman’s exposure to and love of films. What do you think? Can I now pass the scholastic?

Next on the list: The value it promotes. There’s a thought I won’t forget with Spiderman. This is — and I’m paraphrasing it — “we are the ones who make our own choice. Whatever we’ll become in the future, it lies on the kind of choice we make today.” With Ironman, what I’ve learned was (drum rolls)… can I watch it again?

Okay, let’s dig a little bit deeper, beginning with irony. Funny they sound nearly the same — Iron Man, irony. It was Alfred Nobel who invented dynamite, the cause of millions of death, the beginning of destruction, the root of war. But he was also the same person who established an award giving body to recognize personalities with great contributions in promoting peace. So, that means, Nobel advanced war only to promote peace after. Again — let’s quote my favorite line — how ironic. That was Iron Man.

Stark (Downey) was a genius inventor of various intelligent missiles for the US government. Of course, as a businessman, which was a profession he inherited from his father, he created the weapons in an attempt “to be respected or to be feared or both.” Arguably noble. Soon, he realized that the very same explosives he created endangers his life, kills a lot of people, induces greed for power and wealth, and promotes destruction of the human race. Upon such awakening, he decided to shut down his missile factory and become Iron Man. Stark, thus, is pretty much the same as Nobel. He elevated war into a higher level of destruction, then raise awareness about peace by recognizing heroes. The difference however is, Nobel is a reality, Ironman is an ironic fiction. Still ironic though. And since truth is stranger than fiction, no matter how many people today may be recognized by Nobel Peace Prize as heroes of peace, the dynamite-upgraded war would remain unstoppable. Ironman, certainly, wasn’t like that. He prevailed. He forwarded peace, subdued devil, won over what was bad. And in the end, he proved that our dreams can be realized only when we’re asleep. Nice and interesting value to learn and to live with, aren’t they?

Last, but not the least, the costume. It was very very cool. Can I give a perfect ten for that? Minus the way he flies, which was a bit strange and funny. On my way out of the cinema house, a man said to his friends: “It’s an exaggeration to say that the way he [Ironman] flies was so gay.” I give no emphasis. Neither do I agree nor disagree.

A postscript: Don’t immediately go out of the theatre after the film. Read the credits. Wait for the last part, and you’ll discover something I did not clearly understand at first, but I think it sounded like Avenger.

Wait! I’ve learned another thing: If you’re a film maker and you want your credits to be read, put a 5-second teaser after the long list. That’ll make the viewers endure all the unrecognizable fonts on the screen.#