Duncan: Favreau is not the most innovative or stylistically interesting director around, but by god, despite its flaws this was a very entertaining and brilliantly cast movie. It doesn’t take itself too seriously (bonus points for the awesomely fake-ass terrorist camp), and everyone involved showed up, made the effort, and apparently had a good time doing so. 87%
Stephen: The smartest thing Favreau did was to make a genuinely fun and engaging action movie that just so happens to be about a super hero. OK – the second smartest thing after casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. Unlike practically every super hero movie before this, there’s no sense of embarrassed self-awareness of the source material being a comic book, and it shows. 95%
- Pros:
- Paid attention to detail that needed it – wobble in flight, logisitcs of the armor, etc. – while managing to avoid being dragged down in fanboy minutia.
- Above average acting and solid directing – not a single “groaner” of a scene.
- Gwyneth Paltrow channels her inner-hotness.
- Best twist nobody saw coming: [spoiler]“I am Iron Man.”[/spoiler]
- Cons:
- We’re not sure if the plot really holds together…but we’re also not sure if that really matters.
Spread the word!
If I may add a couple more:
Pro: SHIELD!
Pro: Serious hardcore techno-hotness, armor-wise (pant, pant, pant)
Con: Very forgettable soundtrack
Con: Wanted more armor action
Man, you’re so right. The soundtrack is atrocious. Why Marvel insists on using generic faux metal all the time I have no idea.
blar. i liked the soundtrack. i still got back in black and the opening desert scene stuck in my head. This movie rocks. mwaha. PUN!
I think you need to specify your argument parameters. Are we just rating superhero comic films or are we comparing it to all films ever made. Stephen’s rating is in line with how I feel about comic hero movies. This is the best one ever. Duncan’s rating is in line with how I feel if we are talking about all films. And Duncan, what films do you put ahead of Iron Man?
PL: Fair question. The scale is for superhero movies, of which as we all know the vast majority are either mediocre or just plain awful. I think only Incredibles and Hellboy are better than Iron Man as far as superhero movies go — but I readily admit I probably give Hellboy way too much credit. I’d say the ‘79 Superman is somewhere up there, too.
78 Superman, and X2 are the only better ones.
Oh yeah, ‘78. That’s what I meant.
It’s best if we don’t discuss the Xmen movies at this point in time.
brett ratner
95% + 87% / 2 = 91%
Pedantic nerd + A day later / Nothing constructive to add = Annoying as hell.
I hardly think there\’s anything scientific about this post. It\’s just a fun conversation starter.
If anyone saw Superman 1 today it would be sitting with Daredevil and Elektra…too many non-comic things happen in it – I’m surprised the Onion hasnt done a bit on that yet – Luthor with hair, Superman’s time travelling powers, fanboys will bash it for sure…and yet many allow it into a Top 10 list.
Iron Man, like Spider-Man 1, hit all the right notes…and changed it up – I think that the ending press conference scene was what nailed it for me. Beautiful ending, leave them all, even the characters in the movie, wanting more.
Haha I know, Peter. These guys are my friends. I know how nerdy it sounded — it was just some good-natured ribbing. No harm meant.
Lucas, you nailed my view on Superman. I loved it as a kid, find it difficult at best to watch as an adult and firmly believe that 905 of the good will it generates among fans is due to the simple fact that it was the first modern superhero movie.
I watch the original Superman often. You are incorrect.
You are NerdBlinded.
This is a banner day because again I agree with Tae. If it’s possible to put on the fanboy blinders and not judge a film on its details and minutiae, I think you’ll see the first Superman is still a solid — not great, but solid — flick thanks to a good script (minus the f*&king Carole King crap), nicely directed action scenes, and a good cast.
Not only does Reeve sell both Kent AND Superman, but Puzo came up with a brilliantly simple idea to test and overcome Superman’s god-like powers. These are both tough things to do! Even the comic rarely does either on the best days! Either way, it’s hardly Daredevil. Unlike the first Tim Burton Batman…but that’s another story.