If you missed the Robert Downey superhero flick Iron Man at the theatres, now’s the time to make up for it.
You can now watch the movie on DVD, which has been out for about a fortnight in the U.S.
If you live in the U.S., you can rent the DVD from your neighborhood Blockbuster store or the online DVD rental service Netflix.
Outlandish and Fantastic
To borrow a phrase Robert Downey uses toward the end of the movie, Iron Man is both an outlandish and fantastic exercise.
Inspired by the comic book character, Iron Man is a film that rests on the twin pillars of compelling special effects and Robert Downey’s acting skills.
Both are in abundant supply in Iron Man, one of the biggest Hollywood grossers of 2008.
The special effects are eye-poppingly good as they ought to be in a movie of this genre.
For Indian movie-makers, who are still struggling to understand the basics of makeup (case in point – Kamal Haasan’s crap-show Dasavatharam), the snazzy gimmicks in Iron Man are a pipe dream – virtually impossible to replicate for at least five years.
Robert Downey is an accomplished actor, who excels in a variety of roles whether in a romantic role (Chances Are) or a superhero.
In Iron Man, Downey seems tailormade for the role of a brilliant designer and arms merchant.
While the special effects and Downey’s performance make up the fantastic aspects of Iron Man, the bizarre story constitutes the outlandish part of this movie.
Perhaps, outlandish elements are inherent in all superhero tales.
But to see Downey’s character build an Iron Man suit (in a cave in the Afghan mountains) that not only resists heavy artillery fire but also helps our hero to fly out of captivity is not merely to engage in suspension of disbelief but to embrace nonsense wholeheartedly.
Iron Man is worth a watch not merely for itself but also to understand the enormous hiatus between Hollywood and Bollywood when it comes to superhero movies.
Thieving Indian movie-makers who steal Hollywood stories with impunity will identify well with the following sentence from Iron Man’s villain Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) to Tony Stark a.k.a Iron Man (Robert Downey):
Do you really think that just because you have a great idea, it belongs to you?
Iron Man has already grossed in excess of half a billion dollars since its debut on May 2, 2008.
Compared to Indian superhero garbage like Drona and Krrish, Iron Man is a masterpiece.
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But Beware! “Robot” or Endiran is coming to crush all the hollywood movies made now and before. Just be prepared for the nightmare.
After seeing the movie, surely following things could happen for certain:
Spiderman will surely get entangled in his own web
Superman’s flying engine will breakdown
Batman’s night vision will be lost
Ironman will find his iron suit beginning to rust
Fantastic four will be reduced to a disgusting 02
The Incredibles will become The Disables
The Hulk will be “The Bulk” after eating a million dhosa
Surely and for certainty I will commit suicide after taking a Faluda!!!
Come on, Kolly boys… give us more ( Morrr is a drink made from liquid curd)
something was off in this movie.. I had too high an expectation, I guess.
But to see Downey’s character build an Iron Man suit (in a cave in the Afghan mountains) that not only resists heavy artillery fire..
That was probably one of the reasons I didn’t like it.
Bale’s Batman movies were more engrossing and believable.
Spiderman was more believable.. I don’t know why.. probably because I grew up with spiderman comics.. never heard of Iron Man until now.
Seems like you reviews are not impartial at all while spitting against Indian movies and raving reviews on many Hollywood movies. No doubt, Indian movies are in no way comparable to the Hollywood movies, but SOME don’t deserve your pitiful remarks. They have their own genre with which you have to account for the melodrama, dance and song sequences (not that I’m for it all the way, but some should be appreciated). I’ve been looking at your reviews about Bollywood & Hollywood movies and a few stories that cover Indians for the past 3-4 months and you give a feeling that you have some hatred against Indians and/or India.
“Iron Man” was not such a great movie afterall, the story was not realistic at all. If this was originally made into an Indian movie, probably, you would have thrown 100’s of ugly remarks on it. It may have amassed 580+ million dollars. In that way, “Singh is Kiing” (the other name is “Crap”) also was a superhit with comparatively earning lot more money that other Indian movies.
I’m not a big fan of Bollywood movies and I agree that many of them are crappy. While saying that, I’m also selective on Hollywood movies and certainly not do I polish white man’s shoes!
Peace!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: and certainly not do I polish white man’s shoes!
Since you ended with a veiled insult, let’s first return the compliment. Do you lick the brown sahib’s chappals?
2. You write: Seems like you reviews are not impartial at all while spitting against Indian movies and raving reviews on many Hollywood movies
Seems like you have serious reading difficulties.
We’ve been quite critical of some recent Hollywood movie including Body of Lies, Righteous Kill, Dark Knight and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
So, the next time your fingers are itching to type some nonsensical comment you might want to pause for a moment to consider whether you have the right facts.
3. You write: No doubt, Indian movies are in no way comparable to the Hollywood movies, but SOME don’t deserve your pitiful remarks. They have their own genre with which you have to account for the melodrama, dance and song sequences
You are right, Indian movies are for the most part not comparable to Hollywood movies.
But what gets our goat is the rampant theft (which you blissfully ignore) in Bollywood & Kollywood. Just take a look at some of the recent Indian movies that have been stolen: God Tussi Great Ho, Kidnap, Saroja, Heyy Baby, Partner….. The list is endless.
Since you turn a Nelson’s eye to such outright theft, we have to assume it doesn’t bother you. But it sure as hell bothers us.
4. You write: They have their own genre with which you have to account for the melodrama, dance and song sequences
Gosh, we love the Hindi song and dance sequences. We grew up on them. What bugs now is the unimaginative stories, repetitive nonsense or stolen tunes. Why do you think most Bollywood film-makers go to Switzerland, Namibia, USA, Australia and all the places in between – just to mask the absence of a story and pull the wool over your eyes.
5. You write: you give a feeling that you have some hatred against Indians and/or India
Like the rest of your illogical arguments, this one too has no merit.
6. We don’t know about you but we have high expectations from Indian movies, whether Hindi or Tamil. India has been making movies for nearly 100 years now. Surely, it shouldn’t take that long to get up to speed.
When we pay $15 or $25 to watch a movie, we want our money’s worth (paisa vasool, as they call it in India).
SearchIndia.com is the most objective site for information on India or Indians.
“Search India is the most objective site for information on India or Indians”
We agree on this without any doubt as we don’t get critical point of view and facts so loud as in SI.
TRUTH REALLY HURTS!!! But it must be told, boldly!
Thanks for your cynical comments! As your language itself says, seems like you eat a lot of hot sauce! I put a mild language such as “polish white man’s chappals” although “lick white man’s shoes” came to my mind. If you want to write a blog and make it popular, you might want to change the tone of your language…. otherwise, you won’t be able to succeed in life. This is my sincere suggestion!
As said earlier, I’m not a fan of Indian movies and am very selective on those and Hollywood movies. Yes, I turn a blind eye to those movies that are blatant thefts or having third rate comedy or even for that matter love stories as I don’t watch them.
My feeling was that you were way too critical of Indians, Indian movies, and India whereas your comments are milder than it should be against Hollywood ones. I don’t want to argue with you but that’s just my feeling and many others over here.
This would be my last comment on your website!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. When you want to be rude and insulting to us, you’ve got to be ready when we dish it out.
Most folks on this blog are polite (unlike you) and are treated with respect (unlike you).
2. You write: If you want to write a blog and make it popular, you might want to change the tone of your language…. otherwise, you won’t be able to succeed in life. This is my sincere suggestion!
For someone who insulted us by suggesting that we are polishing the White Man’s shoes without bothering to carefully read our Hollywood reviews, you have a nerve asking us to change the tone of our language. Is Hypocrisy your first name? You can shove your insincere suggestion up your canal.
3. You write: even for that matter love stories as I don’t watch them
If you don’t watch Love Stories, then there’s really very little left as most Bollywood films are built around love themes.
4. You write: seems like you eat a lot of hot sauce
Yes, siree. We sure do love our curry.
5. You write: This would be my last comment on your website!
God, we hope you stick to your promise.