aelfgyfu_mead (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aelfgyfu_mead) wrote2008-05-02 07:05 pm
aelfgyfu_mead) wrote2008-05-02 07:05 pm
Entry tags:
Iron Man
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!