"So, Ed what did you think of Iron Man?"
"Meh…"
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Well, to be honest, I thought it was a bit rubbish."
That was this morning, first thing. And it’s made for a bit of a funny day. I wrote up my review post-haste and it can be read right here. I absolutely understand if you cant be bothered to read that. The short version is that I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
The problem is that last night’s screening was a very massive one in a very massive cinema – the kind where every PR and studio exec shows up besides the usual clutch of critics, pundits and clingers-on. Most of these people are in the business of promoting films rather than actually assessing. Needless to say, they were enthused – blinkered against the woeful lack of originality and absolutely enthralled by the ‘spectacular!’ of Iron Man. Many of them have been on the blower and the email today.
"So that was amazing that Iron Man eh?"
"Actually I wasn’t a fan."
There’s a surprised ‘Oh!’ at this point. The subtext of that is thus: "YOU THOUGHT WHAT?! ARE YOU MENTAL?! DID YOU ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR EYES OPEN YOU SQUID-BRAINED IMBECILE?! THE GUY TURNED HIMSELF INTO A KICK-ARSE IRON SUPERHERO!!!! WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE????!!"
The problem is that Iron Man marks the beginning of SUMMER – a mythical point at which the film industry starts making serious cash. All the industry types can see at this point is bar charts pointing drastically upwards as the slow awards season comes to a close and ‘SUMMER’ starts. It’s box-office party time and critical types such as myself have a really irritating tendency to stick in the mud. Why can’t we just get ‘on board’ with all the ‘buzz’ and get behind it all?
Well, because it’s our job. And despite Iron Man being a disappointment, it’ll still do well. That trailer is a masterpiece!
MSN Movies Blog UK 
So you had a bad day then??
Seconded. – Obviously a "hard day at the office" Wish i could get a job that involved getting to see films before everyone else then get the opportunity to vent my spleen after a such a stressful time smoozing with "PR and studio exec\’s..the usual clutch of critics, pundits and clingers-on.." All that free food and drink must have put a dampner on the evening!
I watched the trailer for Superbad one evening visit to the local, like others I was seriously laughing. I never got to watch it until recently when I came into some money and bought it. It wasn\’t as funny as I felt I had been led to believe.
The only trailer I saw recently that led up to it\’s hype was Transformers. For a movie that long, it just freely rolls.
I hate to know what the trailer was for 21. I went on a date and paid £19.50 for two tickets. They were the only tickets available for a film that was starting close to when we arrived and was over a PG rating. We felt robbed. Nice twist at the end but it was expected and well it was just so slow.
use mark kermode review instead there alot better
OK then.
Having just read your review, a few things. Iron Man, or rather Tony Stark, is meant to be a morally grey character. If you like Bruce Wayne/Batman, there\’s no real reason to dislike Tony Stark/Iron Man. Both rich, both assholes, both vigilantes.
The devastating predictability, as you put it, is the formula of pretty much every conventional hero story since the dawn of time. Disney has being recycling the same story formula for what must be nearly a century now, and it\’s still popular. It\’s the way that people recognise a hero story. Super-hero stories, therefore, would also follow this age-old formula. Otherwise, they cease to be hero stories. See where I\’m coming from?
Back to Stark as being morally grey. His character is currently potrayed in Marvel as a recovering alcoholic. He\’s not a clean-cut, all-American hero like Superman. The reason for this? He\’s a billionaire businessman. Name a single billionaire businessman who got their fortune by helping old women with their shopping? Like Bruce Wayne, he does things in his way because that\’s what\’s got results in the past. As a result, you probably won\’t believe him in the same way you would when you hear the same line from Superman.
Thanks for the review, you have certainly made my mind up about watching Iron Man, a definite yes. As a guide to watching any film at the cinema I firstly check out all the reviews from critics and then make sure I go and see none that are recommended. Too many of you critics are trying to be high intellectuals rather than just going to the cinema to actually enjoy something and lose yourself for a couple of hours, probably because you see it as a job. Hopefully, one day a critic will come along and realise that films such as Brokeback Mountain are actually depressing and create no enjoyment to the watcher who is actually trying to be entertained.
Wow, this isn\’t the first review I\’ve seen on here that doesn\’t make any sense.
You don\’t go to see a super hero movie for the intellectual and thought provoking ride of your life, you just go for the ride. Perhaps someone else should take over this movie review blog, someone, for a start who doesn\’t fall asleep during movies. See below.
"reminiscent of Dr Collossus and Spider-Man 2"
Um, Dr Collossus? Have you been watching late night episodes of the simpsons whilst writing your review? Nevermind, better luck next time 🙂
Excellent attempt at controversy. Why not go the whole hog and critique the fact that you don\’t think it possible to propel such mass into the air…? How could so much fuel be stored, and as for the armament – IMPOSSIBLE!
If you\’re getting grey and wispy round the temples and hair is coming out of both your nose and ears, it\’s time to move on Mr Critic. Hand over to the young blood, you obviously don\’t have any enjoyment left in your life and your chosen profession is a chore to you. I\’ve heard that "The Peoples\’ Friend" require a Features Editor, your application is pre-approved given your ineptness in your current field.
Furthermore, as "Jax" stated, get your facts right buster. If you can drag yourself to a wine and food evening, endure the film for two hours and make it out alive, spare a little more effort than scrawling your adolescent diatribe on a laptop in the back of a Hackney Carriage…. "Meh" Get a grip!
As somebody who watches in exess of 100 movies a year – it amazes me that people are paid to give a subjective account of somebody\’s art, then passe it onto other people who have the same senses to make up their own minds. A slating from "critics" generally encourages people into the cinema – if for no other reason than to form their own opinion. MEH!!!
"Meh"
Ok, did anyone actually read any valid points as to why this dim wit so-called film critic, did not like the Film???? Its photography, its storyline, the visual effects, good acting the bad acting??? Hmmm… All i got is that this film bench marks the start of the summer film season.. um, woopy-bloody-do!! and yes i think you did have your eyes closed! If your thing is turn of the century dramas, then go review them, if your into your all out blood and horror calore then hey fill your boots!! but review the films that get your interest, not just see it as a means to get paid at the end of the week, or month???
I wondered how long it would be before someone slagged it off!! When so far the Beeb, Radio 1, any many normal folk have said its brilliant! AND Robert Downey Jnr does fit the character very well, bad guy come good! Realised what he was doing after a slap or two, and decided to go the good way, and getting a little lip action along the way! Plus his natural sense of comedy and delivery which is still spot on, so long after his early successes. There was no mention of the acting, the visual effects or aids, the story or the quality of the cinematography. just Meh????
I mean, what the hell is Meh! ?? dum talk for i could not be bothered? Come on people when are we going to get a critic who likes watching films, and will actually pick the films they want to see too!!!!
Your just one persons opinion. and to be honest, i bdont give a fuck what other people say about it, because its there opinion.. im still gonna see it. reviews mean jack shit to me!
Hey, dirty blacky. is the critic grey & wispy etc. or, is the critic an adolescent? Make yer mind up, MEH! P.S. the film is crap and a waste of money. I\’m glad we have critics, cos\’ if we beleived the gravel voiced prat advertising these films at the cinema, every film would be….\’Truly Amazing\’, \’An unbelievable Extravagnza\’, \’The most important film to come out of holywood in a decade\’, \’A must see\’ etc, etc, ad nauseum. Go waste yer money, plebs.
Who gives a shit what film critcis say, make your own mind up. Most comic book characters to film transfers have gone ok, some have even got better than the originals, like Batman!! See the film then make your own mind up, hasn\’t anyone had enough of people telling them what they should and shouldn\’y like, STAND UP & HAVE YOUR OWN BLOODY OPINION!!!