"I-am-Iron Man-La La La La La La La Iron Man" is what I remember of the lyrics to Black Sabbath's songLike many young boys from the pre-internet days, I read comic books to pass the time between baseball games and Battlestar Galactica. Back then, comic book adaptations to tv or movies were a dicey affair. The first two Superman movies, the Wonder Woman and Batman tv shows were all successful adaptations (even if the Batman show redefined the character as campy). But in spite of these successes, dreary stuff like The Amazing Spider Man starring Nicholas Hammond or the Captain America tv movie became the norm. The Batman movie series re-established the darkness of the character and was financially successful until Joel Schumaker drove it back to it's campy style.
Marvel comics had the most difficult time to adapt because the edgier storylines and more complex "super powers" made it tougher to fit into any companies budget. The special effects weren't up to the level needed to make the characters abilities seem real. And plotlines that have to do with self doubt or racism wasn't going to sell any tickets.
Until The Matrix. The Matrix made it possible for comic books, particularly Marvel Comic books, to successfully adapt. That landmark film pulled in a huge audience with a superpowered hero filled with self doubt battling both himself and the universe with innovative special effects. It opened the door and great versions of Spider Man and The X Men hit the silver screen and became successful films in their own right.
But after those successes came an endless stream of crappy movies, some of which were just as profitable financially as Spider Man. Sad versions of The Punisher, Daredevil, Elektra, Hulk and The Fantastic Four popped up and mostly made money. So when I heard that Iron Man was going to be made into a movie, I was expecting the worst.
Which is why the trailer is such a surprise. In the two and a half minutes featured here, you can see the serious tone and special effects really come through. Plus, Robert Downey Jr's bit as Tony Stark shows he has a good fix on the alcoholic billionaire arms contractor the way Michael Keaton did Bruce Wayne in Batman. Best of all, the special effects don't look like the wholesale bargin bin stuff they've been using for most comic adaptations lately.
Iron Man won't come out until 2008, but I'm looking forward to it already. Repulsors at maximum!
Iron Man trailer
Marvel comics had the most difficult time to adapt because the edgier storylines and more complex "super powers" made it tougher to fit into any companies budget. The special effects weren't up to the level needed to make the characters abilities seem real. And plotlines that have to do with self doubt or racism wasn't going to sell any tickets.
Until The Matrix. The Matrix made it possible for comic books, particularly Marvel Comic books, to successfully adapt. That landmark film pulled in a huge audience with a superpowered hero filled with self doubt battling both himself and the universe with innovative special effects. It opened the door and great versions of Spider Man and The X Men hit the silver screen and became successful films in their own right.
But after those successes came an endless stream of crappy movies, some of which were just as profitable financially as Spider Man. Sad versions of The Punisher, Daredevil, Elektra, Hulk and The Fantastic Four popped up and mostly made money. So when I heard that Iron Man was going to be made into a movie, I was expecting the worst.
Which is why the trailer is such a surprise. In the two and a half minutes featured here, you can see the serious tone and special effects really come through. Plus, Robert Downey Jr's bit as Tony Stark shows he has a good fix on the alcoholic billionaire arms contractor the way Michael Keaton did Bruce Wayne in Batman. Best of all, the special effects don't look like the wholesale bargin bin stuff they've been using for most comic adaptations lately.
Iron Man won't come out until 2008, but I'm looking forward to it already. Repulsors at maximum!
Iron Man trailer
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