Iron Man

[billybreen]

I turned into one of those GTA statistics. Iron Man isn't happening for us this weekend, probably, but we'll contribute to a strong second weekend, hopefully.

Glad I voted for IM in the top gross poll!

[Matches]

If I recall, that is true to the comic origin of Iron Man. The buzz I heard was that it was good for fan boys and friendly to casual fans. As a reformed fan boy, I am trying to get my wife to go see it next weekend.

Exiled

Oh yeah, I'm a comic nerd too, and it's very true to the comics. Thing is, the comics were written in the 1960's, and the "state of the art" Iron Man armor wasn't quite as advanced as it is today.

I thought it was pretty casual-fan friendly. They start the action VERY quickly and the Geek Easter Eggs are presented in a subtle way. The audience applauded several times during the movie - really good stuff.

[JasonEvans]

Oh, forgot to mention: apparently, you should stay past the credits to see an extra scene that hints at a separate Marvel project. (I didn't.)

To echo some comments I made here...

If you are a comic book nerd, you must must must stay past the credits. It takes a while (they wait until the very end of the credits -- like 5 minutes worth of scrolling names of key grips, cgi animators, and "Special Assistant to Mr. Downey" stuff), but I felt it was worth it. When you realize what they are planning and what the bonus scene sets up, you will be so excited!!!

Side note-- does anyone worry a bit that some classic comic book characters could seem kinda silly on the big screen in live action. Thor, for example, using his ancient Norse expressions just would not work, I bet.

--Jason "Then again, I would think that Hulk would be a bust but the brand new trailer for the Ed Norton film this summer looked very promising" Evans

[wilko]

To echo some comments I made here...

Side note-- does anyone worry a bit that some classic comic book characters could seem kinda silly on the big screen in live action. Thor, for example, using his ancient Norse expressions just would not work, I bet.

Just got back from the show.. Loved it. Some nice nuggets.
Pepper, Rhoady, Hap... nice blend of old and new. Forget Bruce Wayne, Stark has the flavor of playboy life I like...

Thor would do well, I bet. The FF; I never bothered to see either. The FF hasnt been written well in 30yrs so why should the movie be better. Side's Alba is overexposed to fanboys. They a need new token comickbook hot chick.

Ghost rider was lame. (I thought). I liked Daredevil... but that was really more for fanboys than the public at large.

Looking very very forward to the Hulk. After a painstaking labor of love to assemble all but 1 of the Tales to Astonish run where he appears as a costar.. as well as a long box of sequential issues... I feel somewhat connected and invested. I think it should open with Stan lee doing a monologue. "Excelsior! Sorry about the 1st the one.. we blew it. The gay cowboy director (not that theres anything wrong with that) swung and missed... mutant gamma dogs... this is the movie you should have gotten the 1st time..." or something to that effect.

[brevity]

Side note-- does anyone worry a bit that some classic comic book characters could seem kinda silly on the big screen in live action. Thor, for example, using his ancient Norse expressions just would not work, I bet.

Vincent D'Onofrio made a stellar Thor (or close approximation) in Adventures in Babysitting.

Meanwhile, Kevin McKidd (Rome, Journeyman) is rumored to play the live-action Thor. After seeing him all burly and muscular in The Last Legion, I'd have to say that it's not a bad idea.

[DevilAlumna]

Meanwhile, Kevin McKidd (Rome, Journeyman) is rumored to play the live-action Thor. After seeing him all burly and muscular in The Last Legion, I'd have to say that it's not a bad idea.

Speaking of Lucius Vorenus, he's currently on the big screen in "Made of Honor." Lucius is definitely luscious, and Dempsey's somewhat McDreamy, but not neither is enough to make me shell out $9 to suffer through what looks to be a very formulaic chick flick.

[billybreen]

Speaking of Lucius Vorenus, he's currently on the big screen in "Made of Honor." Lucius is definitely luscious, and Dempsey's somewhat McDreamy, but not neither is enough to make me shell out $9 to suffer through what looks to be a very formulaic chick flick.

It's at 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, so staying away looks to be the right move.

[Matches]

To echo Side note-- does anyone worry a bit that some classic comic book characters could seem kinda silly on the big screen in live action. Thor, for example, using his ancient Norse expressions just would not work, I bet.

Thor is a hard sell in the comics, much less on the big screen. You're right, the dialogue will be a trick to get past.

In the Ultimate line of comics, which spawned SPOILER Samuel L. as Nick Fury they recast Thor as a hippie who claims divinity, but no one's really sure if he's legit. That might work on the big screen a little better than the Norse mythology.

[Lord Ash]

Ironman was pretty kickass, made all the better by the Han Solo running after the stormtroopers homage (among others.)

I'll be curious where they go next... Downey is in the cast of The Hulk as Tony Stark, so the Marvelization of the movie universe goes on! Too bad we couldn't get the XMen and Spidey in there...

[watzone]

Make mine Marvel! Add a dose of the Dark Knight. Ledger's performance will make this top 5. I don't think Speed Racer makes it. It'll be interesting to see how the Hulk does behind Ironman.

[JasonEvans]

Sequels!!!

After the success of Iron Man, Marvel is going ahead with several other superhero films. In case you did not know, Iron Man was the first time Marvel financed its own film and it looks like they are going to make a pretty tidy profit on it.

Anyway, here is the sked for their upcoming films.

• Hulk comes out on June 13th, in just a few weeks.
  
• Iron Man 2 is skedded for April 30, 2010.
  
• Thor will hit theaters on June 4th, 2010.
  
• On May 6, 2011, we will get The First Avenger: Captain America
  
• And then, in July of 2011 we will get The Avengers with Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk.

Friggin sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--Jason "above info courtesy of Variety" Evans

[Clipsfan]

I wonder where in that process the audience will get really sick of superhero movies? Marvel isn't the only one coming out with them after all.

[wumhenry]

I wonder where in that process the audience will get really sick of superhero movies? Marvel isn't the only one coming out with them after all.

I'm really sick of Hulk from seeing the trailer. Watching a comic-book character torch humvees and helicopters full of American GIs is not my idea of a fun evening.

[CathyCA]

I saw Iron Man with my 16 year old son on Saturday night. I didn't want to go because I'm not into superheroes. However. . .

I loved it!!! I'm not even familiar with the Iron Man comic book character, so I worried that I wouldn't understand the movie. No worries. No prior knowledge necessary.

Robert Downey, Jr. is fabulous in this flick. Gwyneth Paltrow is lovely. Terrence Howard is funny and yummy. Jeff Bridges is scary in a good way.

No one has mentioned in this thread yet that Marvel Studios' Chairman is David Maisel, a Duke graduate and fellow classmate from the class of 1984.

Go see this movie.

[Lord Ash]

I'm really sick of Hulk from seeing the trailer. Watching a comic-book character torch humvees and helicopters full of American GIs is not my idea of a fun evening.

Glad to see I am not the only one made just slightly uneasy by the wholesale slaughter of American soldiers. Wussy, I know, but...

[JasonEvans]

Glad to see I am not the only one made just slightly uneasy by the wholesale slaughter of American soldiers. Wussy, I know, but...

Hulk almost never kills anyone. I am sure we will see lots of explosions and then see troops scurrying away dazed but unharmed. No way they will show Hulk killing lots of soldiers.

--Jason "it is gonna take a lot for me to believe/understand the mercinary dude who walks up to Hulk and says, 'is that all you got?'" Evans

[Jim3k]

I saw Iron Man with my 16 year old son on Saturday night. I didn't want to go because I'm not into superheroes. However. . .

I loved it!!! I'm not even familiar with the Iron Man comic book character, so I worried that I wouldn't understand the movie. No worries. No prior knowledge necessary.

Robert Downey, Jr. is fabulous in this flick. Gwyneth Paltrow is lovely. Terrence Howard is funny and yummy. Jeff Bridges is scary in a good way.

No one has mentioned in this thread yet that Marvel Studios' Chairman is David Maisel, a Duke graduate and fellow classmate from the class of 1984.

Go see this movie.

My wife and I went on Thursday; audience was light and almost had a private screening. We went because my '03 daughter liked it a lot.

Aside from doing too much plot/character analysis, we both agreed that it was a fun movie. Iron Man appeared in the comix after I stopped reading them. (Even Mayola's selections did not hold my attention.) I'm glad Downey, Jr. has made it back to professional capability. And I've alway been a fan of Jeff Bridges -- who does, AFAIK, his first real villain performance -- and does it well.

Certainly nice to see that a Dukie is making a living doing films for Marvel.

[JasonEvans]

And I've alway been a fan of Jeff Bridges -- who does, AFAIK, his first real villain performance -- and does it well.

You need to The Vanishing. He's really creepy in that.

Technically, he was a "villain" in The Jagged Edge too, but only at the very end of the movie.

--Jason "you wanna talk actors with longevity-- whew, Jeff Bridges has been a star for a looooong time" Evans

[pfrduke]

I'm really sick of Hulk from seeing the trailer. Watching a comic-book character torch humvees and helicopters full of American GIs is not my idea of a fun evening.

Would it be more fun of an evening for you to see a comic-book character killing a bunch of Afganis, Iraqis, Colombians, Koreans, etc.?

[Jim3k]

You need to The Vanishing. He's really creepy in that.

Technically, he was a "villain" in The Jagged Edge too, but only at the very end of the movie.

--Jason "you wanna talk actors with longevity-- whew, Jeff Bridges has been a star for a looooong time" Evans

I had seen the European version and I just didn't want to see an American version, so I missed Bridges' performance.