My Thumb Up: Iron Man

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges
Co-Starring: Clark Gregg, Jon Favreau (also Directed)

Man, you thought Sigourney Weaver in Aliens had the ultimate fighting suit when she stomped into the cargo hold in a loader and declared, "Get away from her you bitch."

After a frightful brush with a band of terrorists in Afghanistan, weapons purveyor Robert Downey Jr. has an epiphany that he must dedicate his life for good not destruction. To that end, he develops the Iron Man suit so that he can foil the bad guys.

What I Liked
• Imagination, imagination, imagination!!!
• Jon Favreau did a great job as Director, taking the complex ideas and translating them on screen.
• It cost $135M to make and every bit of it is up on the screen.
• The special effects team did an awesome job. In particular, the scene where the suit is put on him is very intricate and amazing.
• The story was told very well. There were some standard movie good guy/bad guy elements that are revealed but I didn't see them coming.
• The not-so-subtle swipe at the inherent greediness and skewed morals of defense contractors.
• I liked the "look" of the film. The lighting, colors, set design, special effects all worked together. I saw this in digital projection and it was incredible.

What I Didn't Like
• I still can't get beyond the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow is Gwyneth Paltrow. Her acting was good but I think it may be her unique looks that make it hard for me to see her as any character other than herself.
• Lots of not-so-subtle product placement. Hollywood is starting to go overboard with promotional tie-ins. Lets just say that if I were going to buy an Audi, now I wouldn't.
• I know this is all about suspending reality, but there were still a couple of things that bugged me: Robert Downey Jr is in front of some firestorms but his hair isn't singed; and the evil guy with most of his face burned off tromps around in the desert amid a blowing sandstorm while his uninjured minions are covered head to tow to protect themselves from the elements.

Going in, I was a little apprehensive that I wouldn't enjoy it because I'm not a comic book fan like this guy. I shouldn't have worried. If you like action, comic-book violence (no gore), an interesting story, a few good laughs, and being transported to a world where superheroes exist, this one's for you. Make sure you stay through the (long) credits for the 30 second sequel teaser. I've got my thumb up for Iron Man.

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The movie was showing at the new Regal Cinemas Colonie Center. Prices are steep: a 24 oz. bottled water from a vending machine in the corridor on the way to the theater was priced at $3.75!
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