Comments on: Review: Iron Man

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:50:15 +0000

Patrick — It worked out if you discount the Taliban, which was the result of said intervention. That said, I loved Charlie Wilson’s War; you just have to realize it, er, glossed over certain unpleasantries.

Nick — Thanks. I liked it too.

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:43:17 +0000

I agree – great write up, I loved the film.

By: patrick

patrick — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:40:16 +0000

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are a classic combination… Charlie Wilson’s War made me feel a little better about U.S. foreign intervention, it seemed to work out that time

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:24:30 +0000

I say “aye” to the over-thinking allowed by Evan. And I like both of your thoughts on the foreign policy and foreign enemy aspects. Great write-up, Rick.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:21:30 +0000

I think you hit it on the head … the movie tries to have it both ways. It tries to condemn American foreign policy and glorify it at the same time. Those Arabs are made both the bad guys and the good guys, who need protecting from that benevolent father figure, the good ol’ USA.

Actually, I just saw the after-the-credits scene on YouTube … “the avenger initiative.” If that doesn’t sound shadowy-governmenty, I don’t know what does …

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:02:45 +0000

Rick, you’re right that it’s just a fun popcorn flick, but at the same time the motivations for who the bad guy is, where the film is set, etc. have to come from somewhere. Iron Man was initially an anti-communist fighter, conceived in ‘63. The warzone he found himself trapped in initially was Vietnam. In the nineties it was updated to the Gulf War. Today, it’s Afghanistan. Iraq would have worked better, but I’m guessing they figured that was a little too hot-button for a comic book movie. (by the way, I know all of this from Wikipedia…although I have been known to pick up a comic book in my time, Iron Man wasn’t one of them).

So now we’ve got an arrogant war-crazy American waging war on the terrorists who ambushed him with his own weapons. A story for our times, no?

Besides, Rick, film criticism isn’t any fun if we just say the same things all the other film critics are saying, or making the same observations that any guy on the street could make (even though we are guys on the street). So no, I don’t think you’re over-thinking. In fact, I read your site because I want to hear your over-thinking. So over-think away my friend.

What is interesting about Iron Man is that it seems to be condemning American foreign policy even as it glorifies it. Quite the paradox.

By the way, did you stay for the scene after the credits?