Iron Man

Editorial Review

I suppose that what made this film a financial success is that you don't have to be familiar with the comic-book fan to appreciate and enjoy it. As an avid fan of the comic-book, this film took only a little while to assure me that one of my most esteemed superheroes was in good hands, as if othen not the case in other films in this genre. You know, I told myself before stepping into the theater, "Hey, Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, what could possibly go wrong?". And, indeed, I was right. Robert Downey, Jr., I think, is the biggest draw for this film. I can forget how he doesn't come across as a playboy the caliber of a James Bond (that the character is supposed to be in the comic-books), because his humor, wit and charisma just penetrates and disarms you.

The conditions and circumstances of Starks transformation into the superhero is also another factor that made this film attractive. Stark's is a conversion story, you see. I'm just swept off my feet at his change of hear, having live through a hellish nightmare at the hands of terrorists. We know that change is possible, and most of us are afraid of it. Downey's antics may distract us from this scary possibility, invites our cynicism, but we know it's there.

One more factor I attribute the success of this film is Jeff Bridges. Anyone who knows Bridges will likely agree with me that he has never been cast as a villain, right? Well, as the villainous Obadiah Stane, boy, is Bridges a riot. I have to admit that I thought Bridges might never pull this off. Bridges? Barbara Streisand's frequent leading man? A villian? If you think his bald head and beard is intimidating, wait until you see his character stab and twist that dagger of betrayal into Stark's back, or bully his subordinates into copying and improving upon Stark's toy. Like Gary Oldman was to Commissioner Gordon in the rebooted Batman film franchise, Bridges outdid his comic-book counterpart in deviousness and ruthlessness.