I am IronMan!!!

**min0 lee** · 04-28-2007, 07:29 AM

First look: Downey forges a bond with 'Iron Man' role
By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — Robert Downey Jr. is hardly the obvious choice to play an iconic crime fighter.
After all, this is the guy who became a poster boy for Hollywood excess, serving a year in prison on drug and alcohol-related charges and checking in and out of rehab like it was the Four Seasons.
But it is exactly that past, says director Jon Favreau (Elf), that makes Downey the only choice to play playboy millionaire and recovering alcoholic Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, the comic-book superhero who hits multiplexes next year.
"We didn't want to just go with a safe choice," Favreau says from the set of the film, due in theaters May 2, 2008. "The best and worst moments of Robert's life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That's Tony Stark. Robert brings a depth that goes beyond a comic-book character who is having trouble in high school, or can't get the girl. Plus, he's simply one of the best actors around."
For his part, Downey is trying to become an iron man. At 42, he lifts weights five days a week and practices martial arts to get in shape to play the hard-bodied Stark, an arms manufacturer who uses his ultimate weapon, a jet-powered, missile-launching suit of armor, to fight evil.

More important, Downey says, he's been working on his emotional stamina since coming out of rehab in 2002. His supporting roles in Good Night, and Good Luck and Zodiac have earned critical raves.
And anchoring a big-budget summer film such as Iron Man could go a long way toward cementing that return.
"I'm more diligent than I used to be," Downey says. "I want to show Jon he was right to have faith in me. Whatever questions might have arisen about my life weren't issues with him."
Nor with many fans, says Rob Worley of Comics2Film.com.
"Fans need the heart of the comic to be in" the movie, he says. "Tony Stark had a substance abuse problem. He was built up and torn down many times. I think when people heard Robert Downey was going to play the part, there was actually a big relief."
Downey knows a thing or two about comics, and he can get downright geeky when discussing them. He prefers Marvel to D.C. comics. He liked Iron Man, "but mainly through his appearance with Avengers." His favorite early heroes, he says, were the relatively obscure Sgt. Rock and Sgt. Fury.
It wasn't until Downey matured that he came to appreciate the man in the iron suit.
"He struggles with his lifestyle, he struggles with the drinking," Downey says of Stark. "He faces the same issues a lot of people do."

WELDED TO THE IDEA?: Is Robert Downey Jr. the best casting choice for Iron Man? Leave your thoughts below.

**MCx2** · 04-28-2007, 07:30 AM

I guess we'll find out come movie time.

**min0 lee** · 04-28-2007, 07:32 AM

I think he can pull it off, what are your thouhgts.

While on the subject of comic characters....how was the movie Ghostrider?

**MCx2** · 04-28-2007, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I think he can pull it off, what are your thouhgts.

While on the subject of comic characters....how was the movie Ghostrider?

I think if anyone can pull it off it would be Downey. I had my doubts about Keaton as Batman, and he's still my favorite. Like Keaton, Downey made a career from his impeccable comedic timing, but he's equally as talented in dramatic rolls IMO.

I didn't see Ghostrider because I can't stand Nick Cage.

**min0 lee** · 04-28-2007, 07:45 AM

Stark had a drinking problem which Downey also had, I think he can pull it off.

I guess GH didn't do to good.....I don't recall any talk of it.

**BulkMeUp** · 04-28-2007, 09:56 AM

hhrrmm.. never heard of IronMan.. or maybe i just cant make the connection right now.

I almost didnt watch Ghostrider as i cant stand Cage as well (whihc is why i didnt bother watching his new movie 'next' though the story concept sounds intresting). But i did like some scenes in the trailer of Ghostrider and decided to watch it. The movie is watchable, but not anything great.

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 04-28-2007, 10:55 AM

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 04-28-2007, 11:23 AM

He is Iron Man

**BoneCrusher** · 04-28-2007, 04:26 PM

I don't like Downey at all. To me he comes off as just another spoiled little Hollywood rich boy who played too much, not some stoic figure who overcame a tough addiction issue. If he wasn't a Hollywood son he'd have gone to prison for all the idiocy he got slapped on the hand for.

I'm just thankful they put him in the role of a character I've never heard of so that when I don't go see it it'll be no loss.

Robert Downey Jr. is a total

**Gordo** · 04-29-2007, 05:47 AM

I'd prefer him as Dr. Strange. But with the gotee, not bad.

**min0 lee** · 04-29-2007, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by BoneCrusher

I don't like Downey at all. To me he comes off as just another spoiled little Hollywood rich boy who played too much, not some stoic figure who overcame a tough addiction issue. If he wasn't a Hollywood son he'd have gone to prison for all the idiocy he got slapped on the hand for.

I'm just thankful they put him in the role of a character I've never heard of so that when I don't go see it it'll be no loss.

Robert Downey Jr. is a total

You never heard of IronMan?

**goob** · 04-29-2007, 07:04 AM

"I am Ironman"

**Brachiisaurus** · 04-29-2007, 03:39 PM

Iron Man: The Movie

**AKIRA** · 04-29-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

He is Iron Man

Hahahah poor Rocky Dennis

I always liked the look of Iron Man but I never had a clue about what he is until the Ultimate Avengers movies. Roberts face looks like him, but eh.

But I said the same about Keaton.

**lucifuge** · 04-29-2007, 09:13 PM

I think he can do it... it's kinda odd how his life reflects the character (well, the addiction part anyway)

**DiGiTaL** · 04-29-2007, 11:55 PM

From everyone that watched ghostrider told me it was really bad. So i didnt watch it lol.

**min0 lee** · 05-02-2007, 09:21 PM

**Yanick** · 05-02-2007, 09:32 PM

Sounds like a cool flick. IronMan was always a cool character to me, I never read the comic but watched a cartoon series when I was a kid. I also remember he had a partner in a black armored suit with guns or something coming out of his back. Always a cool concept to me, I'll pay 12 bucks to see it.

**Gordo** · 05-03-2007, 08:22 AM

Yup, Stan Winston Studios has been very faithful to the comic.

**Brachiisaurus** · 05-03-2007, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Yanick

Sounds like a cool flick. IronMan was always a cool character to me, I never read the comic but watched a cartoon series when I was a kid. I also remember he had a partner in a black armored suit with guns or something coming out of his back. Always a cool concept to me, I'll pay 12 bucks to see it.

Yes, his name was War Machine.

**min0 lee** · 09-10-2007, 01:46 PM

Apple - Trailers - Iron Man

**min0 lee** · 05-02-2008, 05:01 PM

If you go to see this movie, make sure to stay and watch the credits...great spoiler in the end.

**min0 lee** · 05-02-2008, 05:07 PM

I hear nothing but good things about this film.

Very solid. One of the best superhero flicks, to be sure. I knew Downey would be a perfect Tony Stark. He really made the movie.

Probably one of the best Marvel movies ever made. I give this one a 9.5 out of 10.

**Witchblade** · 05-02-2008, 07:56 PM

It's very nice and exactly what you'd expect from another Marvel movie. Downey really makes the movie. There are quite a few clichés though (even for a comic book movie). 7/10

Edit: heh, used the same words as the commentor in mino's quote.

**min0 lee** · 05-02-2008, 08:13 PM

Did you stay to see the credits?

7/10....what were the bad parts?

**Hoglander** · 05-02-2008, 08:23 PM

I saw it. It's OK. For me.. I would like to see much much more extended proof of concept scenes. Sure stuff blew up but there is so much more constructively destructive mayhem that could have brought to bare on the bad guys.

6/10

**tomuchgear** · 05-02-2008, 08:38 PM

i am a comic nerd what can i say. i think downey will be great becouse tony stark is pretty much writtin for downey. ghost rider was actualy really good. cage over acted a few times but you will have that. next blew balls. great premiss but movie was not great at all. war machine was alway drawn in a black/grey and white suit. so much more bad ass than iron man. jim rhodes aka war machine one of the first really cool black super heros. i hope they dont screw him up. either way i am taking my son, and daughter to see it next week.

**Witchblade** · 05-02-2008, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Did you stay to see the credits?

7/10....what were the bad parts?

This no-good piece of crap manager cut the credits short, so I had to watch it on youtube. It's cool they put it in, although it doesn't mean much to me, not being an Iron Man fan.

Bad parts were mainly clichÃ©s and predictable scenes: "I'd never do Y", next scene he's doing Y; and the bad guy being brought down by [SPOILER!] environmental factors instead of skill.

**Hoglander** · 05-02-2008, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Did you stay to see the credits?

7/10....what were the bad parts?

That quote wasn't directed at me but it made me think I was being to negative. So I'd like to comment on some GOOD PARTS.

The "flamethrower scene" as well as the "no collateral damage and kill multiple bad guys scene" were worth the price of admission.

**tomuchgear** · 05-02-2008, 08:43 PM

honestly witch if they stay true to the comics, you wont get a good villian till the mandrin. to a lesser extent modok. kind of the way they went with spiderman or blade three. comics are always hard to turn into movies with out making them stupid. yes i think blade three sucked. hannibal king should have stayed a vamp becouse in the nightstalker comics he was a bad ass.

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