Summer Movie List No. 2 - Iron Man

Got my tickets. Psyched...as...hell.

First off, I have a comic background that contains very little Iron Man. I know the basics, whispered in tents at camps when I was 9 years old - Tony Stark was a functioning alcoholic who built a suit and fights Mandarin. Over the years, the knowledge base grew, and Iron Man still seemed sort of second tier behind the Batmans and Supermans and Spider-Mans of the world. He was no Thor or Ant Man, but still, second tier.

So when the news came down that John Favreau was directing Iron Man it was time to reexamine how excited to get at the prospect of an Iron Man film. When they cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, it was time for the excitement to start. When the first trailer hit and it was balls out fantastic, it was time to officially start anticipating.

What's there to get excited about? Let's count 'em down.

-The cast. Downey Jr., Terrance Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow (in short skirts, that helps), and The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges as the villain. Knock me over with a feather, what a great freaking cast.
-John Favreau has a knack for a) getting a lot out of his FX budget and b) has a love/hate thing with CGI. When at all possible, he likes the practical over the digital and that shows through in his flicks. Early reports are that it's hard to tell what's CG and what's practical. Good. I'm sick to death of overzealous CGI.
-Iron Man is the first movie from Marvel Studios, and they're looking to set up cross overs. Very cool, IMO.
-A lot of super hero movies brood maybe a touch more than they should. As the clip above demonstrates, Iron Man's got a nice goofy streak in it, but it doesn't look like it sacrifices the serious side of things.
-Stay with me for a sec - I watch "My Name is Earl" and believe that Jaime Pressly, who plays Joy, is a bad to fine actress who has excelled because she's found her role. It looks like Robert Downey Jr. has found his role, and he can act circles around most of his generation. He looks like he rocks a whole lot.

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.