Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America - io9 Comments

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Bandy — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:15:22 PDT

Good write up, apart from a couple of points:

Starks heart is not turned into a source of world-beating power - the technology had already been created - albeit in a larger form. He merely miniaturised it.

Paltrow doesn't do any 'uber-hacking' - she plugs in a USB device that gains her access to the network.

And yes, Dunny0 - it's an acronym. not an anagram.

Bandy

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Rooo sez BISH PLZ — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:29:15 PDT

"Part of Iron Man's great strength ...is that you can read whatever you want into its intensely political storyline."

Yeah ... I was kinda wondering whose side you were going to come down on on that.

*has martini*

Rooo sez BISH PLZ

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Sharpless — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:18:37 PDT

Okay, first, the guy's name is Stane. READ MORE. The end.

I loved Iron Man. I'm not sure I like it more than Batman Begins, which I consider to be the pinnacle of comic book movies. I really enjoyed the characters, the action, the humor, and I really appreciated Stark's story of revelation and redemption. A really fun, rock-em-sock-em package, much like the first Spiderman movie, only much more kickass.

Love it, love it, love it. The ending(s) were perfect. Perfect.

Sharpless

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

jaydot — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:41:15 PDT

i've got a great deal of hope that they continue to pull the best and smartest and most science and reality-based from the marvel universes and unify them in this continuity they're spinning with the movies.

its a real chance to ignore all of the absolutely retarded storylines that marvel has (and continues to) spit out.

all i'm sayin is if nanobots take over tony stark's brain extremis style, i'm gonna be pissed.

jaydot

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Onizuka — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:26:22 PDT

@nikongmer: bwahaha, Samual L. Jackson, Re-mother f'in MIXED.

Onizuka

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Nikongmer — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:25:09 PDT

@hummingpenguin

Nikongmer

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Klebert L. Hall — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:20:41 PDT

@Redwraithvienna:

Sure, it was better before '79 - but the central government was weak and corrupt, and the country was mostly ruled by local warlords. There just wasn't a war going on.

Just because something's worse now, doesn't mean it was really all that great before.
-Kle.

Klebert L. Hall

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

regis — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:11:14 PDT

i like this movie. flaws and all.

i saw the early screening in boston a couple of days ago. have they, in fact, included the alleged jackson cameo at the end in the real theatrical release?

regis

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

hummingpenguin — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:07:09 PDT

@antimatty: sonnava...what happens after the credits? we didn't stay and now i'm sad.

hummingpenguin

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

jbq — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:38:07 PDT

@Blue Tyson: Now, Superman DID go around frakking up known (and easily availavle as set pieces) landmarks around the world, like the Tower of Pisa, when he was on the red kryptonite. That might not be construed as *good*, but at least he was out there :-D

jbq

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Blue Tyson — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:33:26 PDT

Do they have to be in movies? Plenty of American superhero arsekickery all over the world, solar system, galaxy, universe, etc.

Do they particularly have to fly in movies? Coz that certainly cuts down the options a hell of a lot. :)

Blue Tyson

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Waelwulf — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:30:53 PDT

Or, it could just be a movie about blowing things up with really no real aim in pushing any sort of political platform.

It could very well be pushing the agendas you point out Charlie but too often we will make up a platform just to make either ourselves or the movie sound "smarter".

Waelwulf

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

antimatty — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:29:32 PDT

i just saw the movie 30 minutes ago at a midnight showing. best movie of the year!

STAY AFTER THE CREDITS!!!

antimatty

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

El_Bandito — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:27:42 PDT

I loved this movie.

The first American (correct me if I'm wrong) superhero who actually flies OUT of his home country/town/city to do some good in other parts of the World.

And THAT is why Iron Man is awesome.

El_Bandito

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Final — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:03:36 PDT

Pew Pew Pew Repulsor Beams
Swhooooooooossshhhhhhhh...

SHRA pwns you all...
Except you Thor.

Final

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

modernboy — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:59:37 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders:

i would never question your through research on the matter of super heroes Charlie. I'm just sayin' that i loved Iron Man as a kid through to being an adult. It's probably my fondness for gadgets and hightech-ery. i also always dug the playboy millionaire/crime fighter thing too. not that it matters though. the film sounds great and your reviews was fantastic as always.

modernboy

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

ithidet — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:04:52 PDT

staine his name is staine

ithidet

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

pn2501 — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:31:59 PDT

Watched it last night, this review is spot on, i usually don't get into the superhero comic book thing.

pn2501

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Buzz Killington — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:10:32 PDT

"...that has turned Afghanistan into a warlord-ridden wasteland..."

At what point in the history of the world was Afghanistan NOT a warlord-ridden wasteland?

Buzz Killington

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Stueymon — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:16:37 PDT

Tony Stark is just another bleeding heart! :D

thankyou, thankyou, try the shrimp

Stueymon

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:37:25 PDT

@woodforbrains: Which spoiler? I tried to keep it as spoiler-lite as I could, without just being super-vague and generalizing.

Charlie Jane Anders

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Redwraithvienna — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:08:14 PDT

@Grey_Area:

Lol my gf pointed that out too :)

He words were something along "hey how can she run on the grating in heels ... did she get the flying shoes from tony too "

Redwraithvienna

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Redwraithvienna — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:06:26 PDT

@Klebert L. Hall:

i would saybefore the russian invasion in 1979 ? you know there was a time when afghanistan was seen as the switzerland of central asia. And Kabul was a place in which woman could wear mini skirts without the risk of getting shot, beaten, raped, hatever ...

Redwraithvienna

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

woodforbrains — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:57:24 PDT

It would be awesome if you could rewrite this just a tad so there isn't a huge spoiler in the last paragraph.

woodforbrains

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DSTRYA — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:49:02 PDT

@gods-n-clods: FYI, everybody: the vid on the hindu-tiger link is, for all intents and purposes, NSFW (even though it technically is safe for work).

DSTRYA

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Grey_Area — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:43:44 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders: So true. RDJr. makes Tony Stark actually interesting--a decadent and arrogant arms dealer who is charming as well. Paltrow's portrayal of Pepper Potts was surPrisingly pleasing as well. But how does she run across metal grating in 6" heels, mutant powers?

Grey_Area

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

gods-n-clods — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:29:19 PDT

@Charlie Jane Anders: CJA, great write up-- I really like your authorship in this post (Iron-fucker!)
Compelled to add-- RD Jr. isn't "slightly flabby"-- the guy is fit; it's those gnarly Hindu-Tiger push-ups... bodyweight exercises... just sayin'. If he's flabby, I'm a manatee (a strong and fast one).

gods-n-clods

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:17:55 PDT

@modernboy: I've read hundreds of Iron Man comics and thousands of Hulk comics... and Iron Man is just a bit dull. In the comics, he's your standard "millionaire playboy" and then he angsts a bit and puts on his suit of armor. It's not all that engaging.

Charlie Jane Anders

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

modernboy — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:13:14 PDT

Iron Man one of the most boring characters in comics? I would have to disagree with that statement. Hulk...now there is a fucking boring character. It's no wonder they can't produce a good movie out of him.

Can't wait to see Iron Man this weekend.

modernboy

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

In Other News... — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:38 PDT

So what you're saying is Iron Man is not a bit rusty. Excellent.

In Other News...

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DSTRYA — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:49:08 PDT

@darcymcgee:
not sure if uyou mean me, cus you didn't hit the "reply arrow." but if you did:

i had accused io9 in a previous post of being on the Iron Man payroll, and was teasing them for their gushing coverage. in an ironic twist, their gushing coverage has lead me to really, really want to see the movie.

"Hulk Fuckers" and "Crystal Skull Fuckers" sounds way more nasty than what i said. what i said was that io9 and Iron Man are totally TLF, they are going to get married, and they are going to have ten thousand babies.

DSTRYA

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:34:11 PDT

@darcymcgee: I totally want to be a crystal skull fucker.

Charlie Jane Anders

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

darcymcgee — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:10:58 PDT

Did you actually just call us all Iron Fuckers? I mean seriously?

What's next: Crystal Skull Fuckers? Hulk Fuckers?

I mean, c'mon.

darcymcgee

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

The Blow Leprechaun — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:10:45 PDT

Iron Man should be pro government, pro military. And Marvel should totally give us a Civil War movie as the culmination of that.

The Blow Leprechaun

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DSTRYA — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:49:36 PDT

stupid shift button! i knew it would ruin me!

DSTRYA

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DSTRYA — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:47:28 PDT

,b>ten thousand of his babies, io9. you want to give birth to 10,000 of Iron Man's babies.

DSTRYA

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Log1c — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:39:43 PDT

@Log1c: Stupid auto html thingy, there is an extra ) needed on that link in case anyone follows it, or just go to the main page and click his face.

Log1c

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Log1c — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:33:57 PDT

@GenXCub: Marvel also lists it as Stane
[www.marvel.com])

Log1c

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Tyr_Anasazi — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:28:40 PDT

@loserface: Nope, it's Stane...

Tyr_Anasazi

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Smeagol92055 — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:25:49 PDT

@GenXCub:
Actually, I heard from a reliable source that he forces everyone to refer to him as "The Dude" for the majority of the film and just sits around drinking White Russians.

Smeagol92055

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

GenXCub — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:21:59 PDT

@loserface:
[en.wikipedia.org]

GenXCub

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

GenXCub — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:18:19 PDT

@loserface:

IMDB lists it as Stane. Possible name change for this movie?

GenXCub

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

strangrnstranglnd — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:17:50 PDT

Wow. I want to see this movie now. IO9 should be doing promotions for movies. I might go see a lot more! Regular trailers don't usually do it for me, because they are all a formula done over and over again. I prefer the essay promo as apposed to the BOOM-catchy line-quiet-BOOM promos.

strangrnstranglnd

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Log1c — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:00:05 PDT

@LittlestLamshi: If we could just turn hileds into solid state lasers we would be okay!

Log1c

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Klebert L. Hall — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:59:47 PDT

"the arrogant weight-throwing-around that has turned Afghanistan into a warlord-ridden wasteland."

Sna?
When was the last time that Afghanistan wasn't a warlord-ridden wasteland? Maybe during Babur's reign of the Mughal Empire?

-Kle.

Klebert L. Hall

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Shutaro — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:42:34 PDT

@Log1c: No, but I wouldn't mind SLED HI protecting me (sounds like fun!).

Shutaro

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Dunny0 — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:38:24 PDT

@DocGratis: Lovecraft is in this too?
Iron Man vs. Cthulhu! YAY!

Dunny0

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

t3knomanser — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:36:35 PDT

@loserface: Definitely. Superman can't be interesting without nerfing him somehow. He's Perfect(tm).

I rather liked what Warren Ellis did with Iron Man. I remember back in the day when Ellis was very vocal in his criticism of the Underwear Pervert genre. His hate of the genre has made him one of the best things to happen to the traditional superhero in a long time.

t3knomanser

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

WellsJohnson — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:35:53 PDT

@loserface: [flashes geek card] Actually, it's Stane, Obadiah Stane. But I understand your confusion thanks to the TV character, Eli Stone, who under closer examination is indeed an evil suma' biatch. Anyone who has visions of George Michael and think it's a good thing, must be destroyed.

WellsJohnson

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

valarmorghulis — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:35:42 PDT

@loserface: [www.imdb.com]

valarmorghulis

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DocGratis — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:34:29 PDT

@Log1c: No, but how about H. L. DIES...?

Just in case you didn't know that HpLovecraft dies...

DocGratis

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

LittlestLamshi — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:33:17 PDT

@Log1c:
actually, mr logic... Hi power LED's would protect me... at least a little... and in huge quantities...

LittlestLamshi

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

DeepFriar — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:33:06 PDT

yeh smashy-pew pew!
boo politics and emotions!

and I thought Rhodes was supposed to be understated as a character, no?

DeepFriar

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Loserface — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:32:04 PDT

Also, Iron Man has gotten a lot better over the years. The most boring character is Superman.

Everyone knows that.

Loserface

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Log1c — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:31:47 PDT

@Dunny0: Acronym, anagram means you rearrange the letters to get a new word, would you like H.I.L.E.D.S. to protect you?

Log1c

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

braak — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:30:19 PDT

@Pope John Peeps II: I think we're all just a little surprised that Iron Man turned out to be good art, instead of just WHOOOOSH! EXPLODE!

braak

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Dunny0 — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:27:56 PDT

Great write up, now I'm really pissed that I have to wait another 11 hours to see this movie! Hurray for 8pm early screenings!

That said... Is S.H.I.E.L.D an anagram or acronym?

Dunny0

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Pope John Peeps II — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:22:05 PDT

Hmmm... It's almost like good art works to problematize the world's questions at that moment, to provoke thought on all aspects of an issue rather than simply prove a one-sided thesis.... Who would have thought.

And don't compare this movie to the garbage scow that transformers was. I had a piece of dry toast for breakfast that was better than transformers.

Pope John Peeps II

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

JesusDeSaad — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:19:50 PDT

Okay, I'm sold.

JesusDeSaad

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Jeff-Minor — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:18:47 PDT

Nice write-up. I was so-so about rushing out to see it, but this piece makes me want to go out and see this weekend.

Jeff-Minor

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

BloggyMcBlogBlog — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:18:25 PDT

I'm going to have to sneek out of the house this weekend to see it.

BloggyMcBlogBlog

Robert Downey Jr.'s Exposed Torso Is America

Loserface — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:10:26 PDT

Stone. His name is Stone.

Loserface