'Iron Man' with an iron plot
By Nick Benavides
It seems as though people will never stop investing countless dollars month after month on the newest superhero movie unless the superheroes stop kicking the super villains' rumps.
This month, go ahead and play your Black Sabbath cassette tape until you have the lyrics memorized. You'll find -- besides the fact that the song "Iron Man" has nothing to do with the comic -- that you won't get enough of the phrase, "I am Iron Man," until Tony Stark himself proclaims it.
The recent release of Marvel Studios' newest movie, "Iron Man," has kids and adults alike rushing to the silver screen. They hope to catch a glimpse of what life would be like in a super-suit, which Marvel Studios President and "Iron Man" Producer Kevin Feige refers to as, "the greatest toy you have ever seen in your life."
Since most of us will not be getting an Iron Man suit for Christmas, $10 is not a bad price to watch Robert Downey Jr. have all the fun.
Downey plays Tony Stark, the CEO of Stark Industries -- a man who has a lot of money, a lot of women and no sense of responsibility. Many things come easily to him, including progressive ideas in the field of weapons design.
The movie's first 30 minutes are, to be honest, quite boring and borderline propaganda. But when a shameless fast food advertisement flashes across the screen, do not leave. Trust me, the second part of the movie puts the first to shame.
The movie begins in the controversial setting of Afghanistan, where Stark is busy selling his newest creation to the U.S. Air Force.
While there, Stark's headstrong friend, Colonel Jim Rhodes portrayed by Terrence Howard, sloughs off Stark's abuse and continues doing his job.
On a convoy, Stark is attacked and taken hostage by terrorists who are almost too stupid to resemble intelligent foes, and they insist that he build them one of his famous Jericho missiles. Luckily, the terrorists do not notice that Stark also built the original Iron Man suit, which he uses to escape.
Back in the United States, Stark's secretary, Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, keeps him in line by managing all of his affairs.
Obadiah Stane, played by Jeff Bridges, who helped found Stark Industries with Tony's father, is Stark's foil, a man who sweats capitalism. He will stop at nothing to continue making a profit despite the fact that Stark no longer wishes to sell weapons.
The movie is made with one goal in mind: to entertain. Marvel trimmed down the fatty side plots that plagued movies such as "Spiderman" and "Daredevil," making "Iron Man" one of the most exciting superhero movies to date.
Gwyneth Paltrow said, "I would go see it." Enough said.
The only major drawback to this movie will be all the kids dusting off their guitars, feebly attempting to melt faces with the genius that is Ozzy Osbourne in the weeks to come.
Grade: A-
Contact Nick Benavides at nbenavides@scu.edu.