Open Discussion – Apr 30, 2008
Apr 30, 2008 by Vic Holtreman
Hi folks, it’s time once again to open the floor to you for another open discussion.
You can talk about whatever you like regarding movies or TV. Maybe I’m psychic, but I think my picture this week may foreshadow the discussion just a bit. 
And yes, I’ll give you my quick impressions of Iron Man, which I just saw a couple of hours ago…
Around the web:
Loading ...
First: No, I did not wear that helmet to the showing.
Let’s just get it over with – I thought ‘Iron Man’ was great. It starts off the 2008 summer movie season with a HUGE bang. From a long time Iron Man fan that’s been waiting for this movie his whole life I give it 5/5. As Joe Blow movie viewer not familiar with the character, I’d say a solid 4/5. My final rating will be 4.5.
Audience reaction: Included cheers three or four times during the film and applause and cheers at the end.
Humor: There was humor in the film, and what there was of it was VERY funny, but it wasn’t overused. At all.
Actors: RDJ as Stark = awesome. Paltrow (who I’m not a huge fan of) as Pepper Potts, great. Bridges as Stane, subdued but good. Terrence Howard as Rhodes, eh. Not what I pictured. In his defense he didn’t get an awful lot of screen time to convince me.
Action: Freaking AWESOME. The Mark I escape will have Iron Man fans losing their minds in ecstasy.
What kept it from 5/5: While everyone was concerned that it would be too short, it could have used some trimming IMO. It dragged a bit in parts and felt like it was kind of wandering here and there. Also, thank goodness I stopped watching clips last couple of weeks – even so I’d seen too much and that took away from it.
Despite that, the film still managed to surprise me with a few things that happen.
So that’s the short version boys and girls.
I predict you’re gonna love it.
Vic
Awesome news.. now the rest of us can look forward to it…
And here we were worried you might not like it.
Great pic btw!
Thanks.
Believe me, I may be more critical of it than most of the regular readers of SR, who may take me to task for not unabashedly giving it 5/5 with no reservations.
It was great, no doubt about it.
Vic
Everthing is, as I have forseen it…….
Ahh haa haa!
Great news Vic. That’s a funny photo. For a second I thought that was KEL. :_/
I’m betting from what Vic said the islamics are sent off with a real bang and or flame with the M1.
PiTy…..
(From Jimmy the C). Aka 790′s attorney…. Eehhmm. Eemm.
Vic, i’m not reading any screen rant stuff till after i watch iron man. i don’t want even a star rating from Vic or anyone.
Hey Vic, after seeing this movie, remember to consult your physician if the, um, “side effects” last longer than 4 hours.
(These comments in no way reflect the views,opinions or comebacks of 790).
Hey Vic can you comment on the report earlier about the lack of vfx in the film without giving anything away ?
I think the actual statement was “lack of CGI,” which I thought was idiotic, BTW.
If there’s any apparent lack of CGI it’s because it’s so damned seamless you can’t tell it’s there and it looks like practical VFX. Plenty of special effects, bro. Although there was ONE scene that I really disliked as far as the look of the VFX was concerned. But I’ll save that for my review.
Vic
Lack of CGI appeals to me, sounds a good thing. When a movie is overloaded it becomes too much of a problem for me.
I watched the second Matrix movie the other night, well bits of it, and the fight with the Smiths in the playground is great, except when it becomes all CGI. It’s too obvious, looks more like a computer game.
So hearing that Iron Man has less, or, better yet, seamless CGI, is great. Can’t understand why anyone would complain about it.
thank goodness I stopped watching clips last couple of weeks – even so I’d seen too much and that took away from it
that’s exactly what I was talking about a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to stop looking at IM clips because I had seen enough and didn’t want to spoil the movie.
I think the actual statement was “lack of CGI,” which I thought was idiotic
Yeah, that was from one of those critics I posted from rottentomatoes.com. What a tweeb!
Thanks, bro, for the comments. T-minus 34 hours 7 minutes 23 seconds.
HELLS YEAH, VIC!!!!!
Thanks!
If it’s humanly possible, I’m actually even MORE excited about seeing this!!!
WOOT!!!
(and I will be wearing MY Iron Man helmet hee hee)
My NON Iron Man related post
:
An alternate JLA cast-
Superman/Clark Kent: Michael Trucco (Samuel Anders off BSG)
Batman/Bruce Wayne: Wentworth Miller (seriously)
Wonder Woman/Diana Prince: Victoria Hill, possibly Megan Gale
The Flash/Barry Allen: Jensen Ackles
Green Lantern/Hal Jordan: Josh Duhamel (maybe)
Aquaman/Arthur Curry: Josh Holloway
Martian Manhunter/John Jones: still working on him
some villains-
Sinestro: Jason Isaacs
Brainiac: Hugo Weaving
Captain Cold: Robert Patrick
Not finished yet, of course, but any thoughts, guys?
Bad guys are excellent.
Have to admit, I can see where you’re going with Miller as Batman. He does have the soft voice for it already!
Also really like Ackles as the Flash.
Manhunter? If Ron Perlman can do Hellboy, and he can, then paint him green and give him that role too.
Just saw Iron Man 6 hours ago or so.
For a Shellhead fan, I’d give it a 5/5 for all-round character introduction and development.
For those not acquainted with Iron Man, a4 or 4.5 out of 5 would do.
For the action sequences, honestly I would rate it at a 3 out of 5 because there’s just now enough.
This first movie seems to function as the foundation.. to develop the characters and establish their idiosyncracies. RDJ is PERFECT as Stark with a “who give a crap about what others think” attitude.
Terence Howard, however.. I wish Wesley Snipes would play Rhodes.. but since Snipes is in jail now, well.. In my opinion, Howard isn’t good enough as Rhodes. Heck, he doesn’t even have the VOICE for it!! The cartoon War Machine actually sounded more kick-ass than Howard!!!
The interaction between Stark and Potts? GREAT. There’s that constant confusion and tension right there. Great stuff to work upon in subsequent movies.
The Iron Man armor.. DAMN, that ARMOR!!!!!! It’s great in every way but what I didn’t liked was that there’s too few action sequences. I wished Iron Man would be abroad more…
For those conservatives worried that Stark will be presented as a Hollywood liberal, relax.. Stark is not a war hawk, nor is he a bleeding-heart liberal. Rest assured, in this movie Stark is a conservative alright, but not a crazy right-winger.
Heck, I liked this movie A LOT and I’m looking forward to the sequel. Maybe I’m picky, being a Shellhead fan from Tales of Suspense and all. But in the cinema, there were roars of laughter (even my girlfriend laughed out loud throughout the movie) and moments of applause. Looks like those unfamiliar with Iron Man actually liked it. Perhaps I’m a bit more choosy in this aspect, as a big fan of Iron Man..
Overall I’d rate it 4.5 out of 5 for overall story and character development, and 3 out of 5 for action (give us MORE!!!)
Moments of applause?, I didn’t hear any during AvP-R or even Cloverfield. Hmmm
Its clear…. This film will be huge……. :_/
By the way, maybe I’m picky because I’m a fan of Iron Man comics.
Most of the time, I heard the cinema audiences laughing or whooping to some part of the movie.
And there were some noteworthy comments that I overhead after the movie..
(A girl to his boyfriend) “I never really thought that Robert Downey Jr. would be a suitable superhero type, but he’s great in this one.. maybe it’s his goatee..”
(The “Amazing Grace” trailer played right before the movie started) “I hope Iron Man will join forces with the Fantastic Four in the next movie!”
“Fighting in the city?.. He really should visit other planets and fight aliens or something in the next film.. his suit should have more weapons!”
Sorry, that should be “a girl to her boyfriend”..
My hands (and brain) are a bit shaky ’cause I went boozing after Iron Man with my pal.. ranting to them about the armor no end.. Honestly, I’m just not getting enough of it from this movie..
In your FACE!! GTA!!
Lol Jae!
Oh, and another thing.. those guys who made Iron Man must have spent so much time for attention to detail.. there’s so many PRACTICAL EFFECTS. There are so many non-CGI scenes. Yeah, there were a few scenes that you know are CGI (dogfight scene, tank scene) but in the movie, those sequences are necessary, and not just an excuse to show-off CGI capabilities (unlike in Star Wars Episode 2).
For most parts, it’s obvious that they made use of guys in suits for the scenes!!! And that’s what makes it pretty cool!
But still.. the action sequences!!! Can’t we have more?? And what about the other technologies.. Why can’t we have more action alongside the character development?? Heck, “is it to much to ask for both?”
HEYYYYY! Some folks haven’t seen the movie yet and would like to have a surprise or two when we get there!!!!!
But thanks for the insights.
I hear ya Jae Seen, I’m requesting that they get into pre-production asap on Iron Man 2!!!!
^
I think, (maybe I’m wrong), one thing this film has going for it that its origin story is going to be real compelling for the non fans.
(Imo) even more so than Batman Begins was.
Robert Downey Jr will have a lot to do with that.
The way Jon Favreau injected humor into the film was excellent.. instead of some stupid slapstick or physical humor, he had his way in making the humorous elements work across different scenarios.
It was great. Like Vic said, it wasn’t overused at all. The audience were laughing throughout most of the movie.
And that’s when I wished I read less previews and watched less trailers.. By the time I watched the movie, I was already anticipating the scenes that I saw or read about…
For those who haven’t watched Iron Man, LAY OFF THE TRAILERS NOW. Not that the trailers already showed all the good parts (as what the Onion’s parody showed), it just makes you anticipate when those scenes will happen, and you might end up guessing how the sequences would unfold (not that the movie is predictable and formulaic in any way)
Yeah, 790!!! They really should get on with Iron Man 2. I have no doubt in my mind that Iron Man would be a foregone success, so Marvel Studios might as well start with Iron Man 2.
As an origin story, Iron Man is excellent. The characters are established really well. Stark’s motivation.. his bad habits.. all those stuff are fleshed out pretty well.
But I hope that.. they won’t use Howard as War Machine.. he just didn’t seem suitable as Rhodes to me..
Bruce, I don’t see that Jae has given anything away other than talking about the film in very broad terms.
Vic
I have to admit, I’m far more excited about this movie now than before. Hype and clips are one thing, but real response is usually decides it for me.
I can’t wait for the Batman movie as he’s my fav hero, but now I want to see this one.
Will get the DVD too. Bet it will have great special features.
I hope Iron Man gets released on DVD and Blu-Ray with tons of special features to show the making of Iron Man.. from building the suits to setting up the practical effects shots
T-minus 8 hours 8 minutes!
steven the git,
Thanks for the kind thoughts on my JLA cast.
I think if he grows more hair on his head, Miller could be a descent Bruce Wayne too.
And Ackles, IMO, looks just like Barry Allen/Flash. I think he could pull the science/wisecracking aspects of the Flash off (this one in particular) very well.
Trucco, I think, could play a tough Superman who won’t take crap from Luthor, like the JLU/Byrne era Supes. He looks like he could kick your ass eight ways before breakfast, how Superman should look.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh147/GLKEL/250px-BSG_Samuel_Anders.jpg
http://www.watchingbsg.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/michael-trucco-head1.jpg
I could see Perlman as Martian Manhunter too, great choice! (he’s a big Superman fan and even voiced Batman in the JLA game) The only problem is is that they’d have to get someone else for John Jones, I think.
When casting Martian Manhunter you either A, have to get an actor who can play both Jones and MM, or B, get an actor for MM and an actor for Jones.
Agree on him being a tough Superman. Not sure if the wider audience would go for that though. They might be too stuck on the goody goody, clean cut version.
Personally love that idea though. A Supes who will give people a good shake would be cool!
Right about Perlman and JJ. Forgot about the human-looking aspect.
He has a great voice. Heard him in the Justice League episodes. Clancy Brown is the same.
Oh, Nathan Fillion! Has to be someone he can play. Maybe JJ and MM, but if you can give him a role you’ve got me on board.