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I saw a movie today! I'm not even sure it rates a review, but I saw a movie in the theater! Brilliant Husband dragged me out after lunch this afternoon.
SG-1 spotting: Tim Guinee as Major Allen in Iron Man! Points to me for leaning over and whispering in BH's ear, "Tomin!" in his first scene. Of course, I couldn't remember the actor's name, and I had to look on IMDb both to get his name and his character's name (as it wouldn't do to post "Tim Guinee as some guy who had a few lines and wore an Air Force uniform!"). Yay Tomin! He didn't get much to do.
But who did in this movie?
Great visuals, loved the effects, maybe I've just had too many comic book movies? This movie had no real surprises to it. I could see plot twists from pretty early on. I didn't get bored, and I got some laughs, but there was a good bit of carnage, and I wouldn't recommend it for plot or character. (But really, were you going to Iron Man for plot and character? I was going because my BH wanted to go.)
Robert Downey, Jr., not surprisingly, proves convincing as the smart but irresponsible Tony Stark. I don't imagine Casting wasted a lot of time making this choice. Gwyneth Paltrow as his assistant surprised me, because I hadn't been following news about the movie, and suddenly there she was on screen! She's cute, she's pretty, she's wasted in this movie--but I must say, I wish I could carry off heels as high as she does! She doesn't need them. Arguably, I do.
The movie tries hard not to be offensive; there are bad guys in Afghanistan, but the script goes a little out of its way to make sure we know they're not all Afghanis, and they're surely not all Muslim (one is seen drinking). I think it gets to have things both ways by tossing some possible criticisms at the US military-industrial complex, but they're easily dismissed as not systemic, and we get to watch lots of stuff get blown up real good while decrying militarism, if we like, or simply enjoying it, if we prefer.
I did like the visuals a lot. Cool tech, some great sets, and some good-looking people. Nothing to write home about, really, but I'm going into withdrawal without posting Stargate and Torchwood reviews, and I don't want to start doing reviews for every episode of Doctor Who, because that would encourage me to be more critical than I want to be. So I write anyway.
Boos to whoever brought the little kids who sat in the front of the theater! At a disturbing moment, the two(?) of them started to cry out, and either the parent or guardian didn't care, or the parent or guardian wasn't sitting with them, because it seemed to go unchecked for a bit! (Does IMDb not show the ratings? I can't find it there. I think it was R, but I didn't really pay attention, because we sure as heck weren't bringing Small Child!) The children were eventually quiet, but shouldn't they have been taken out? Or never brought in the first place? This movie was just too violent!
SG-1 spotting: Tim Guinee as Major Allen in Iron Man! Points to me for leaning over and whispering in BH's ear, "Tomin!" in his first scene. Of course, I couldn't remember the actor's name, and I had to look on IMDb both to get his name and his character's name (as it wouldn't do to post "Tim Guinee as some guy who had a few lines and wore an Air Force uniform!"). Yay Tomin! He didn't get much to do.
But who did in this movie?
Great visuals, loved the effects, maybe I've just had too many comic book movies? This movie had no real surprises to it. I could see plot twists from pretty early on. I didn't get bored, and I got some laughs, but there was a good bit of carnage, and I wouldn't recommend it for plot or character. (But really, were you going to Iron Man for plot and character? I was going because my BH wanted to go.)
Robert Downey, Jr., not surprisingly, proves convincing as the smart but irresponsible Tony Stark. I don't imagine Casting wasted a lot of time making this choice. Gwyneth Paltrow as his assistant surprised me, because I hadn't been following news about the movie, and suddenly there she was on screen! She's cute, she's pretty, she's wasted in this movie--but I must say, I wish I could carry off heels as high as she does! She doesn't need them. Arguably, I do.
The movie tries hard not to be offensive; there are bad guys in Afghanistan, but the script goes a little out of its way to make sure we know they're not all Afghanis, and they're surely not all Muslim (one is seen drinking). I think it gets to have things both ways by tossing some possible criticisms at the US military-industrial complex, but they're easily dismissed as not systemic, and we get to watch lots of stuff get blown up real good while decrying militarism, if we like, or simply enjoying it, if we prefer.
I did like the visuals a lot. Cool tech, some great sets, and some good-looking people. Nothing to write home about, really, but I'm going into withdrawal without posting Stargate and Torchwood reviews, and I don't want to start doing reviews for every episode of Doctor Who, because that would encourage me to be more critical than I want to be. So I write anyway.
Boos to whoever brought the little kids who sat in the front of the theater! At a disturbing moment, the two(?) of them started to cry out, and either the parent or guardian didn't care, or the parent or guardian wasn't sitting with them, because it seemed to go unchecked for a bit! (Does IMDb not show the ratings? I can't find it there. I think it was R, but I didn't really pay attention, because we sure as heck weren't bringing Small Child!) The children were eventually quiet, but shouldn't they have been taken out? Or never brought in the first place? This movie was just too violent!
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Besides, I could use some brainless entertainment.
Oh, and some good news - I go in on Monday for an interview for that University job! Squeeeee!!!
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Yay for the interview! Good luck!
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I didn't stay through the credits, dang it. I was hurting and had to get up and move around. But I snickered at the first time SHEILD was mentioned, and through the rest of the movie kept wondering when they'd make a reference to Nick Fury. :)
And as far as I'm concerned, any woman who can walk, let alone run, in 4" stilletto f***-me pumps is a bigger super hero than any guy with a snazzy suit of armor. Yeesh! My feet (and knees, and hips, and lower back) were screaming for mercy watching Gweneth.
And BTW, thank you for the comments on "Shadow's Tail" over on Wraithbait! =^.^=
From:
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Gwyneth Paltrow seriously deserves a movie of her own after this. Several, in fact. I was totally in awe of the heels. And the dress. And the fact that she carried off what should have been quite a ridiculous role--Pepper manages to be simultaneously really smart and competent, and really, really ditzy!
Okay, I gotta ask--SPOILER ALERT! ANYONE READING THIS WHO HASN'T SEEN THE MOVIE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
SPOILER SPACE
I didn't read the comics. So I got that the electromagnet originally kept the shrapnel from circulating through his body and ripping him to bits. What I didn't get came later. When Pepper is digging around in his chest, it looks like that danged pipe goes practically all the way through! She sticks her hand in to the wrist! Where the heck is his heart? And what happens when Stane pulls out his arc reactor? Does this loose the shrapnel to go ripping through his body? Okay, then he could die at any moment, but he shouldn't be acting like he's having a heart attack, which is what it looked like to me. Was that the effects of the paralytic still? By the end, I was convinced he must have replaced all or part of his damaged heart with the little reactor, but BH insists he didn't--and admits he was totally befuddled by Stark crawling around the basement floor clutching at his chest. Either the shrapnel has shredded his arteries, in which case the reactor isn't going to prevent him from bleeding out internally, or it hasn't, in which case he should be okay. Right?
Oh, and if I got to one of those little sliding boards while I was dragging myself through the garage, I wouldn't push it out of the way; I'd get on it and roll over to the table!
Yeah, I really enjoyed "Shadow's Tail"; keep on writing! :-)
From:
no subject
His heart wasn't replaced from what I gathered from before, but the size of the device was a bit misleading. Well, a LOT misleading. I had to laugh when he pushed the mechanic's dolly out of the way - hell, I'd have crawled up on it and surfed across the floor. Ah well, wouldn't have been dramatic enough, I guess.
Yeah, I think the shrapnel conveniently vanished. Perhaps the magnet eventually pulled it all out, miraculously, without any internal hemorrhaging.... Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
"Shadow's Tale" was a bugger to write. But I got to put my anthropology schooling to use! =^.^= I'm going to draw a picture of Kintu on an Ixlatecutl next, I think.
From:
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*SPOILER WARNING* (for anyone incautiously reading comments without having seen the movie)
I found the whole heart thing rather silly myself, but overlooked it due to the comic book origin. I suppose you could fanwank it that there was a piece of metal exerting pressure on an artery, so without the force of the magnet pulling it away, it restricts his blood flow, causing a heart attack in a relatively short time. But I just ignored it and watched the FX.
I did think they did a pretty good job of consistency in characterization- the rich kid with brains but no responsibility gets a wake-up call, and a kick in the ego by the Afghanistan events, but it doesn't suddenly make him a thoughtful considerate person or even much more caring- he doesn't even look at the kid he saves in Afghanistan. He's no Superman. And the way they ended it? Totally in character- Stark isn't one to shun the spotlight.
I also thought they did a good job of making the suit look complicated. It's not realistic as a feat of engineering even without the magic power source, of course, but they didn't just have him wave his hands and complete it. They actually took the time to establish it as a difficult task, and the flying thing as requiring practice and testing and development. Which thrills my inner geek... *g*.
And I liked it that the girl doesn't fall into his arms in totally clicheed fashion.
Not great art, but a fun evening with friends.
From:
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I do like your fanwank of the heart problem: a fragment pressing on an artery. Must share with BH....
BH says, "Okay, I'll buy it."
Yes, the suit was great. I did like the practices--especially the ill-advised ones in the basement/garage.
Yeah, at least Pepper doesn't quite fall into his arms, but despite Gwyneth Paltrow doing her very best, there's only so much I can like Pepper. I totally admire the running in heels thing.