Kansas's second album, Song for America, was recorded and released not long after their first. They had to make a living with their music, so songs for the second album were essentially written on the road. The songs on this album are also a lot more polished than the songs from the first, which was, for the most part, a lot more raw because the songs were each recorded in one take.
The album starts off with Down the Road, a song in the same vein as Can I Tell You, a blazing straight-ahead rocker. This is a song about a man who tries to get rich quick but ends up getting involved with the wrong crowd. Now he wants to "get out of town" without being killed by a loan shark. It's a real fun song despite the somewhat heavy lyrics. Near the middle of the song the band erupts into a sort of hoedown-esque solo, with the violin playing more of a fiddle style and some folks clapping their hands while Robby Steinhardt's hands fly across the violin. This is by far the shortest song on the album.
Next we come to Song for America. The topic of the song is just as the title suggests: it's an ode to America. The liner notes of the remastered edition mentions that Livgren wrote the song while he was in an airplane, looking down at the country and musing over "our relatively young nation and how unique we are." Before the song finishes, however, it returns to the themes established in the Death of Mother Nature Suite and laments the damage that humans have done to this majestic land. At just over 10 minutes long, this song isn't even the longest on the record. The music is just as majestic as you expect a song about the beauty and grandeur of America to be. This was also the only single on the album and they really took a meat cleaver to it. They condensed a 10 minute song down to just three minutes. It's more egregious than the radio single version of Meat Loaf's I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That). To anyone familiar with the full album version, the radio edit is pretty jarring. Just about everyone knows Carry On Wayward Son, but Song for America was really Kansas' first signature song.
After that we have Lamplight Symphony. As great as Song for America is, this is probably my favorite song on the album. It tells a tale of an old man whose wife recently died. He pines away for her, wishing he could bring her back. But suddenly the ghost of his wife appears to comfort him and tell him that one day soon they'll be reunited. This song is more mystical than the previous one and the music is more mystical to match, with sustained strings and organ to add an air of mystery to the verses, and a portion where the bass leads the movement of the song to express the fearful wonder of seeing his dead wife appear. Then the music fades as the apparition does, leaving him alone to ponder the message his wife brought.
Coming up next we have Lonely Street, a bluesy song in 11/8 time, which moves to 12/8 for the choruses. The lyrics are a bit heavier than even Down the Road. In this case, the protagonist is a man who walks up and down a street, looking for a man who robbed and raped his girlfriend/wife, and the shady characters he meets on his journey. The verses being in 11/8 is pretty unique. I don't listen to enough blues to know if there are other songs in this time signature, but it definitely adds a bit of interest to the song.
The second-to-last song is The Devil Game. They raise allusions to the Christian concept of the devil, referring to him as Lucifer and Satan, which are some of his names in Christianity. But as to whether or not they are referring to the literal devil is anyone's guess. It could simply be a song warning against being bad, because those who live an evil life will fall in the end. This is another raucous rocker that isn't extremely lengthy but still clocks in at over five minutes long.
Finally, we have Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman. A hymn is a song, usually religions, that expresses adoration to something or someone. "Atman" is a term in Hinduism which essentially refers to the immortal soul. I haven't been able to find a meaning for "incomudro", so perhaps it is a word that Livgren made up while coming up with a title for this song. In his autobiography Seeds of Change, Livgren says this song sums up the syncretistic approach he took to religion, combining elements of Hinduism with Zen Buddhism. This is Kansas' longest track they've ever recorded. A couple of noteworthy things: First, Phil Ehart has a drum solo near the middle of the song, and during a violin solo, the song takes on a "waltzy" feel, where the song is played in a feel of one large beat per measure, but instead of being in 3/4, as waltzes usually are, this was in 4/4 but played as if in one beat per minute. Non-musicians probably won't care much about that but I thought it was pretty interesting.
This album, as a whole, sounds better than their first, which was a lot more rushed although still excellently performed. Despite how great this album is, it would still be a couple more albums before they found worldwide fame. But with this album, they really solidified their staying power.
Album: Song for America (1975)
Band: Kansas
Phil Ehart -- drums, glockenspiel, moog drum, gong
Dave Hope -- bass guitar
Kerry Livgren -- lead and rhythm guitars, piano, ARP and moog synthesizers, ARP strings
Robby Steinhardt -- lead vocal, vocals, violin
Steve Walsh -- organ, piano, scat and lead vocals, ARP and moog synthesizers
Rich Williams -- acoustic and electric guitars, lead and rhythm guitars
Track list:
1. Down the Road (3:44) -- Walsh, Livgren (handclaps by Food Alright and the Wines)
2. *Song for America (10:03) -- Livgren
3. Lamplight Symphony (8:14) -- Livgren
4. Lonely Street (5:43) -- Walsh, Hope, Williams, Ehart
5. The Devil Game (5:04) -- Walsh, Hope
6. Incomudro-Hymn to the Atman (12:13) -- Livgren
* denotes a single
Monday, May 11, 2020
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Studio Album Review: Kansas by Kansas
Kansas is the eponymous debut album by progressive hard rock band Kansas. To record their first album, this iteration of Kansas was brought together from two separate projects: Kerry Livgren, from an earlier iteration of Kansas, and White Clover, a rock and blues band. The material on the album is a combination of material from both groups. You'll notice a lack of love songs. Early on, the band told Rolling Stone that they avoided writing love songs because everything that can be said about love has already been said. Of course, they would relax this rule on later albums.
The album starts with Can I Tell You, a short blazing rocker about freedom and making sure you appreciate it when you have it. According to the liner notes on the remastered album, this was the song that got the label interested in signing the band. There's only one verse in this song. It's sung three times with a lengthy instrumental section between the second and third verses. It sets the mood of what you can expect from Kansas: while their songs usually contain lyrics, and these lyrics are often intellectual and sometimes mystical, it's the music and the musicality of the band that really sets them apart. Even though unusual in a hard rock band, the violin is certainly not an afterthought. It carries the music through most of the instrumental before the guitar and organ trade solos, backed by a great rhythm section in Dave Hope and Phil Ehart, the latter being probably the most underrated drummer in rock music.
Next we hear Bringing it Back, a cover of a song by J.J. Cale about a man in jail reminiscing about getting caught bringing drugs back across the border from Mexico. Kansas really puts their own spin on it, playing the song a lot faster than the original. I had no idea it was a cover until recently, it sounds so much like they could have written it. Steve Walsh's piano playing really shines on this song.
After that we get Lonely Wind, a piano ballad written by Steve Walsh. It's a nice song, and the violin just soars in the intro and the solo. The meaning of this song has always been kind of obscure to me. Most of the interpretations I found on-line are that this is a song about a man who goes out into nature to commune with God. This doesn't sound plausible as the band is well known in its early incarnation for exploring various religious faiths, especially eastern religions, although the song does contain the lyric "Sometimes he seems to be the only one beside me/Who can feel the Lord's breath all around him", so who knows? Maybe it's correct. They wouldn't become a Christian band until the early 80's and Steve Walsh left the band after Livgren's and Hope's conversion because their lyrics had become too Christian. Another interpretation I found took a more literal approach: the protagonist is a man without friends who finds comfort in the wind as his only companion. As for me, I've always thought about it as a man who has been unable to find love but can find solace in the arms of a friend, which can make the pain of loneliness more bearable. At any rate, it's a nice ballad but I wouldn't consider it among the best songs on the album.
Next up is Belexes, a song that is inspired by the pseudo-Asian sound of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot, an opera about an Asian man who wants to marry a princess, but must answer three riddles on pain of beheading if he answers incorrectly. As far as I can tell, it's inspired by the music, not the story. Livgren was fond of making up words for the titles of his songs, and this is one such example. Belexes doesn't mean anything, it's just a word that came to him when he was thinking of a title (according to his book, Seeds of Change). The meaning of the lyrics seems a little obscure, but it appears, at its heart, to be a song about making sure you make wise decisions. Despite what others may say about your future, it's ultimately up to you to choose how best to proceed. After bringing it down a bit with Lonely Wind, Belexes kicks it back into high gear with a general swing feel at a fast pace.
After this we get Journey from Mariabronn, a song inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Narcissus and Goldmund, a story of a man, Goldmund, who is at a Catholic monastery and forms a close bond with his teacher, Narcissus. Goldmund meets a Gypsy woman who seduces him, causing him to decide he was never meant to be a monk. So he searches Germany in search of the meaning of life. The book appears to be heavily influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of the Apollonian and Dionysian spirit, as well as Jung's union of polar opposites. I have not read this book myself, but you can read the synopsis and explication of the general themes at the Wikipedia page. As for the musicality, this is one of the most progressive songs on the album. Just the key signatures, alone, are varied, moving from 10/4, to 7/8, to 6/8, to 4/4, and others. Despite how fast the song is, it still clocks in at almost eight minutes long.
The Pilgrimage comes next, another song with a swing feel though it's even more bluesy than Belexes was. There are even some elements of southern rock you can hear from the violin during the solo. The guitar gets a chance to shine during the solo, and the keyboard is evident throughout the verses and turnarounds. It's not clear from the lyrics what kind of pilgrimage Kansas is singing about, but considering how great the musicians are, you're happy just to be taking the journey.
The penultimate song is Apercu, a word which may be unfamiliar to you (as it was to me), but it simply means "an immediate impression", or "insight". Again, the insight the song is talking about is not very clear from the lyrics, but then again the vision that the protagonist is seeking is still hazy and concealed by "the mists of time", so perhaps the listener is meant to be as in the dark as the protagonist. It is worth noting, however, that one reviewer I found said the song is about reincarnation (e.g. talking about how we've "done this all before"). This is a song that shifts from quiet and introspective during the verses to big and bombastic during the choruses. All of the instruments are heard clearly throughout the song. Kansas is not the kind of band to just feature one instrument but often has very complex arrangements that requires extraordinary skill from each player. That's no more evident than on this song and Journey to Mariabronn.
Apercu leads right into Death of Mother Nature Suite, a song that outright condemns humanity's destruction of the environment set to an eight minute rock epic. This one has more esoteric elements than the others, incorporating a lengthy violin solo over sustained organ and wailing from the vocalists. The song is definitely a strong closer, if a bit heavy-handed in its message.
Overall, Kansas is an excellent debut album from a band that would become world-famous but would also have its ups and downs. This album, like all of Kansas' albums, is worth checking out. To fans of classical music like me, there's a lot to love from Kansas' progressive output. And for fans of hard rock (also like me), there's much to love in their more straight ahead rock offerings.
Album: Kansas (1974)
Band: Kansas
Phil Ehart -- drums
Dave Hope -- bass guitar, vocals
Kerry Livgren -- Lead and rhythm guitar, piano, organ, moog synthesizer, vocals
Robby Steinhardt -- violin, lead vocals and harmony
Steve Walsh -- organ, piano, congas, lead vocals and harmony
Rich Williams -- guitar
Track list:
1. *Can I Tell You (3:32) -- Williams, Walsh, Ehart, Hope
2. *Bringing it Back (3:32) -- J.J. Cale
3. Lonely Wind (4:17) -- Walsh (additional harmony by Jay Siegel of The Tokens)
4. Belexes (4:24) -- Livgren
5. Journey from Mariabronn (7:56) -- Livgren, Walsh
6. The Pilgrimage (3:43) -- Livgren, Walsh
7. Apercu (9:36) -- Livgren, Walsh
8. Death of Mother Nature Suite (7:53) -- Livgren
* denotes a single
The album starts with Can I Tell You, a short blazing rocker about freedom and making sure you appreciate it when you have it. According to the liner notes on the remastered album, this was the song that got the label interested in signing the band. There's only one verse in this song. It's sung three times with a lengthy instrumental section between the second and third verses. It sets the mood of what you can expect from Kansas: while their songs usually contain lyrics, and these lyrics are often intellectual and sometimes mystical, it's the music and the musicality of the band that really sets them apart. Even though unusual in a hard rock band, the violin is certainly not an afterthought. It carries the music through most of the instrumental before the guitar and organ trade solos, backed by a great rhythm section in Dave Hope and Phil Ehart, the latter being probably the most underrated drummer in rock music.
Next we hear Bringing it Back, a cover of a song by J.J. Cale about a man in jail reminiscing about getting caught bringing drugs back across the border from Mexico. Kansas really puts their own spin on it, playing the song a lot faster than the original. I had no idea it was a cover until recently, it sounds so much like they could have written it. Steve Walsh's piano playing really shines on this song.
After that we get Lonely Wind, a piano ballad written by Steve Walsh. It's a nice song, and the violin just soars in the intro and the solo. The meaning of this song has always been kind of obscure to me. Most of the interpretations I found on-line are that this is a song about a man who goes out into nature to commune with God. This doesn't sound plausible as the band is well known in its early incarnation for exploring various religious faiths, especially eastern religions, although the song does contain the lyric "Sometimes he seems to be the only one beside me/Who can feel the Lord's breath all around him", so who knows? Maybe it's correct. They wouldn't become a Christian band until the early 80's and Steve Walsh left the band after Livgren's and Hope's conversion because their lyrics had become too Christian. Another interpretation I found took a more literal approach: the protagonist is a man without friends who finds comfort in the wind as his only companion. As for me, I've always thought about it as a man who has been unable to find love but can find solace in the arms of a friend, which can make the pain of loneliness more bearable. At any rate, it's a nice ballad but I wouldn't consider it among the best songs on the album.
Next up is Belexes, a song that is inspired by the pseudo-Asian sound of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot, an opera about an Asian man who wants to marry a princess, but must answer three riddles on pain of beheading if he answers incorrectly. As far as I can tell, it's inspired by the music, not the story. Livgren was fond of making up words for the titles of his songs, and this is one such example. Belexes doesn't mean anything, it's just a word that came to him when he was thinking of a title (according to his book, Seeds of Change). The meaning of the lyrics seems a little obscure, but it appears, at its heart, to be a song about making sure you make wise decisions. Despite what others may say about your future, it's ultimately up to you to choose how best to proceed. After bringing it down a bit with Lonely Wind, Belexes kicks it back into high gear with a general swing feel at a fast pace.
After this we get Journey from Mariabronn, a song inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Narcissus and Goldmund, a story of a man, Goldmund, who is at a Catholic monastery and forms a close bond with his teacher, Narcissus. Goldmund meets a Gypsy woman who seduces him, causing him to decide he was never meant to be a monk. So he searches Germany in search of the meaning of life. The book appears to be heavily influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of the Apollonian and Dionysian spirit, as well as Jung's union of polar opposites. I have not read this book myself, but you can read the synopsis and explication of the general themes at the Wikipedia page. As for the musicality, this is one of the most progressive songs on the album. Just the key signatures, alone, are varied, moving from 10/4, to 7/8, to 6/8, to 4/4, and others. Despite how fast the song is, it still clocks in at almost eight minutes long.
The Pilgrimage comes next, another song with a swing feel though it's even more bluesy than Belexes was. There are even some elements of southern rock you can hear from the violin during the solo. The guitar gets a chance to shine during the solo, and the keyboard is evident throughout the verses and turnarounds. It's not clear from the lyrics what kind of pilgrimage Kansas is singing about, but considering how great the musicians are, you're happy just to be taking the journey.
The penultimate song is Apercu, a word which may be unfamiliar to you (as it was to me), but it simply means "an immediate impression", or "insight". Again, the insight the song is talking about is not very clear from the lyrics, but then again the vision that the protagonist is seeking is still hazy and concealed by "the mists of time", so perhaps the listener is meant to be as in the dark as the protagonist. It is worth noting, however, that one reviewer I found said the song is about reincarnation (e.g. talking about how we've "done this all before"). This is a song that shifts from quiet and introspective during the verses to big and bombastic during the choruses. All of the instruments are heard clearly throughout the song. Kansas is not the kind of band to just feature one instrument but often has very complex arrangements that requires extraordinary skill from each player. That's no more evident than on this song and Journey to Mariabronn.
Apercu leads right into Death of Mother Nature Suite, a song that outright condemns humanity's destruction of the environment set to an eight minute rock epic. This one has more esoteric elements than the others, incorporating a lengthy violin solo over sustained organ and wailing from the vocalists. The song is definitely a strong closer, if a bit heavy-handed in its message.
Overall, Kansas is an excellent debut album from a band that would become world-famous but would also have its ups and downs. This album, like all of Kansas' albums, is worth checking out. To fans of classical music like me, there's a lot to love from Kansas' progressive output. And for fans of hard rock (also like me), there's much to love in their more straight ahead rock offerings.
Album: Kansas (1974)
Band: Kansas
Phil Ehart -- drums
Dave Hope -- bass guitar, vocals
Kerry Livgren -- Lead and rhythm guitar, piano, organ, moog synthesizer, vocals
Robby Steinhardt -- violin, lead vocals and harmony
Steve Walsh -- organ, piano, congas, lead vocals and harmony
Rich Williams -- guitar
Track list:
1. *Can I Tell You (3:32) -- Williams, Walsh, Ehart, Hope
2. *Bringing it Back (3:32) -- J.J. Cale
3. Lonely Wind (4:17) -- Walsh (additional harmony by Jay Siegel of The Tokens)
4. Belexes (4:24) -- Livgren
5. Journey from Mariabronn (7:56) -- Livgren, Walsh
6. The Pilgrimage (3:43) -- Livgren, Walsh
7. Apercu (9:36) -- Livgren, Walsh
8. Death of Mother Nature Suite (7:53) -- Livgren
* denotes a single
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Movie Review: Captain America: The First Avenger
Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned. This review also contains a spoiler for the recent Captain Marvel movie.
Steve Rogers is a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who wants nothing more than to join the war and fight to defend his country. His small size and his numerous health issues prevent him from being shipped off to war, but one scientist, named Erskine, allows Rogers to enlist into the Strategic Scientific Reserve. An act of self-sacrificing bravery shows the scientist that Rogers has what it takes to receive an experimental serum which transforms him into a supersoldier. Proving his mettle in battle, he is enlisted to square off against Hydra and the Red Skull, who wields a relic called the Tesseract, which grants him immense power.
Captain America was originally created as a patriotic supersoldier who fought the forces of the Axis during World War II, which is also when this film is set. The movie takes place in the early 1940s, while World War II was going on. Captain America is called the first avenger because he was the first hero created (intentionally or unintentionally). At the end of the film, Rogers finds himself frozen in ice for roughly 70 years which brings him into the modern era of superheros. As the film takes place in the 1940s, it doesn't happen necessarily at the same time as Hulk or Iron Man 2, but at the end of the film, while Henry Stark is searching the ocean for Captain America, he finds the Tesseract, which is held by S.H.I.E.L.D. until the events of Thor, in which Nick Fury asks Dr. Selvig to study the Tesseract, although Captain Marvel recently retconned in that the Tesseract wound up in outer space, being guarded by a group of Skrulls in an invisible lab ship. The Tesseract, we'll later come to find out, is the first of the six Infinity Stones that Thanos is going to attempt to locate.
Watching this again (for the third time) for this review, I actually forgot just how great Tommy Lee Jones is in this movie. He plays a colonel in the army, and he has some great lines. He was perfect for that role. The filmmakers also did a really great job of recreating the atmosphere of World War II, including the way that old movies about that era look. It's a really great aesthetic for the film.
Themes
Despite Rogers' small size, he never gives up. He was constantly picked on in his hometown but he never let the bullies steal his spirit or his resolve. But of course it also leads to character flaws, such as Rogers feeling that he has something to prove to himself and to the world. His close friend, Bucky, is going off to war without him and tries to talk some sense into him, but Rogers will not be deterred. When Erskine gives him the serum to transform Rogers into a supersoldier, Erskine implores him never to lose the goodness that was inside him or the perspective he gained from always being the scrawny one, knowing what true power actually means.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee plays a general at a ceremony Rogers is supposed to receive a medal at. Someone who isn't Rogers rushes out to explain that to the presenter, and Lee looks at the man next to him and says "I thought he'd be taller."
Grade: A+
I think this film, along with Iron Man, is one of Marvel's best films. Tommy Lee Jones is great in his role as an army colonel. The film is well-constructed and well acted. The villain is great. The aesthetic really gives you the impression of the 1940s. It's just an all-around great film.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Starring:
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Tommy Lee Jones as Chester Phillips
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Sebastain Stan as James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes
Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark
Neal McDonough as Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan
Derek Luke as Gabe Jones
Stanley Tucci as Abraham ErskineToby Jones as Arnim Zola
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (cameo)
Stan Lee as general (cameo)
Steve Rogers is a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who wants nothing more than to join the war and fight to defend his country. His small size and his numerous health issues prevent him from being shipped off to war, but one scientist, named Erskine, allows Rogers to enlist into the Strategic Scientific Reserve. An act of self-sacrificing bravery shows the scientist that Rogers has what it takes to receive an experimental serum which transforms him into a supersoldier. Proving his mettle in battle, he is enlisted to square off against Hydra and the Red Skull, who wields a relic called the Tesseract, which grants him immense power.
Captain America was originally created as a patriotic supersoldier who fought the forces of the Axis during World War II, which is also when this film is set. The movie takes place in the early 1940s, while World War II was going on. Captain America is called the first avenger because he was the first hero created (intentionally or unintentionally). At the end of the film, Rogers finds himself frozen in ice for roughly 70 years which brings him into the modern era of superheros. As the film takes place in the 1940s, it doesn't happen necessarily at the same time as Hulk or Iron Man 2, but at the end of the film, while Henry Stark is searching the ocean for Captain America, he finds the Tesseract, which is held by S.H.I.E.L.D. until the events of Thor, in which Nick Fury asks Dr. Selvig to study the Tesseract, although Captain Marvel recently retconned in that the Tesseract wound up in outer space, being guarded by a group of Skrulls in an invisible lab ship. The Tesseract, we'll later come to find out, is the first of the six Infinity Stones that Thanos is going to attempt to locate.
Watching this again (for the third time) for this review, I actually forgot just how great Tommy Lee Jones is in this movie. He plays a colonel in the army, and he has some great lines. He was perfect for that role. The filmmakers also did a really great job of recreating the atmosphere of World War II, including the way that old movies about that era look. It's a really great aesthetic for the film.
Themes
Despite Rogers' small size, he never gives up. He was constantly picked on in his hometown but he never let the bullies steal his spirit or his resolve. But of course it also leads to character flaws, such as Rogers feeling that he has something to prove to himself and to the world. His close friend, Bucky, is going off to war without him and tries to talk some sense into him, but Rogers will not be deterred. When Erskine gives him the serum to transform Rogers into a supersoldier, Erskine implores him never to lose the goodness that was inside him or the perspective he gained from always being the scrawny one, knowing what true power actually means.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee plays a general at a ceremony Rogers is supposed to receive a medal at. Someone who isn't Rogers rushes out to explain that to the presenter, and Lee looks at the man next to him and says "I thought he'd be taller."
Grade: A+
I think this film, along with Iron Man, is one of Marvel's best films. Tommy Lee Jones is great in his role as an army colonel. The film is well-constructed and well acted. The villain is great. The aesthetic really gives you the impression of the 1940s. It's just an all-around great film.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Starring:
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Tommy Lee Jones as Chester Phillips
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Sebastain Stan as James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes
Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark
Neal McDonough as Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan
Derek Luke as Gabe Jones
Stanley Tucci as Abraham ErskineToby Jones as Arnim Zola
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (cameo)
Stan Lee as general (cameo)
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Movie Review: Thor
Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned.
As Thor prepares to ascend to the throne, Frost Giants invade and attempt to retrieve an artifact that used to belong to them. Again the orders of his father, Odin, Thor, along with his brother Loki, the lady Sif, and the Warriors Three (Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun), go to Jotunheim to control Laufey, the leader of the Frost Giants. As a result, he reignites a war against the two peoples. Odin decides this act proves Thor's unworthiness to rule Asgard, so he banishes Thor to Earth, stripping him of his powers and his immortality. He puts a spell on Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, that only he who is worthy, will be able to lift the hammer. Now as Loki plots to become the new ruler of Asgard, Thor must find a way to prove his worthiness.
Thor was originally conceived as a way to make a superhero stronger than the strongest human. The characters and places in Thor are based on the old Norse legends, including giving the characters the look of the ancient Vikings.
The concept of Thor is not a new one (although it may have been original back when it was first published in the comics). Many science fiction franchises have explored the possible existence of beings we know as gods -- humanoid aliens who were worshiped as gods due to having such advanced technology. In the film, they even mention that they were worshiped as gods due to their superhuman abilities.
Thor takes places around roughly the same time as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 (so both Hulk and Thor take place about six months after the events of Iron Man). With The Incredible Hulk, the hints are more subtle, but with Thor, it's pretty obvious. In Iron Man 2, Agent Coulson told Stark that he had to go to New Mexico, which is where Thor and his hammer both ended up. Also, on the Thor DVD, there is a one-shot called The Consultant, in which Agents Coulson and Sitwell are having lunch, and Coulson tells Sitwell that the World Security Council want Emil Blonsky (a.k.a. Abomination) in the Avengers. So they conspire to send a "consultant" to annoy General Ross and make him change his mind. This "consultant" turns out to be Tony Stark, regarding his scene from The Incredible Hulk.
Theme
In Asgard, one is not simply born into royalty. You cannot rule Asgard unless you are worthy, a lesson that Thor learns all too well. Odin deems Thor much to headstrong and childish in seeking a fight with the Frost Giants, so he has Thor banished to Earth, stripped of his powers and immortality. Odin puts a spell on the hammer, that only the one who is worthy may lift it and rule Asgard, and the hammer is sent to New Mexico near where Thor lands. While he is on earth, he locates Mjolnir, tries to lift it, and fails. Through this act and a brief discussion with Loki, he resigns himself to life on Earth and develops a romance with Jane Foster. It's not until Thor selflessly sacrifices his life in a battle with The Destroyer does Thor prove his worthiness to wield Mjolnir.
In his conversation with Loki, Thor's brother laments that it was a cruel act to place Mjolnir so close to Thor as a constant reminder of his failure, but I think that Loki has it all wrong. I believe that Odin banished his son for a purpose -- because his son needed a wake-up call if he was going to rule Asgard. He needed some life experience. And while it's not made so explicit in the film, in the deleted scenes it's focused on a bit more than Odin had a plan for sending Thor through this trial. Odin exemplifies the fact that we can't shirk away from trouble or suffering because it's through suffering that we grow as people and we become better, by overcoming our trials. By overcoming his exile and learning how to become a hero, Thor was able to redeem himself and take the throne as the rightful ruler of Asgard.
Stan Lee cameo
In a scene where people gather around to try and lift Mjolnir, Stan Lee plays a truck driver who tries to lift the hammer by tying it to his truck with a chain. He looks back and asks "Did I get it?"
Grade: A-
A very solid film, with some solid action and good performances from the actors. Not a perfect film, and the "fish out of water" scenario has been done many times before, but a good origin film for the god of thunder.
Thor
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Written by: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne
Starring:
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Stellan Skarsgard as Erik Selvig
Colm Feore as Laufey
Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
Idris Elba as Heimdall
Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis
Rene Russo as Frigga
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
Josh Dallas as Fandral
Jaimie Alexander as Sif
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Maximiliano Hernandez as Jasper Sitwell
Stan Lee as pick-up truck driver (cameo)
J. Michael Straczynski as pick-up truck driver (cameo)
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (cameo)
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye
As Thor prepares to ascend to the throne, Frost Giants invade and attempt to retrieve an artifact that used to belong to them. Again the orders of his father, Odin, Thor, along with his brother Loki, the lady Sif, and the Warriors Three (Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun), go to Jotunheim to control Laufey, the leader of the Frost Giants. As a result, he reignites a war against the two peoples. Odin decides this act proves Thor's unworthiness to rule Asgard, so he banishes Thor to Earth, stripping him of his powers and his immortality. He puts a spell on Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, that only he who is worthy, will be able to lift the hammer. Now as Loki plots to become the new ruler of Asgard, Thor must find a way to prove his worthiness.Thor was originally conceived as a way to make a superhero stronger than the strongest human. The characters and places in Thor are based on the old Norse legends, including giving the characters the look of the ancient Vikings.
The concept of Thor is not a new one (although it may have been original back when it was first published in the comics). Many science fiction franchises have explored the possible existence of beings we know as gods -- humanoid aliens who were worshiped as gods due to having such advanced technology. In the film, they even mention that they were worshiped as gods due to their superhuman abilities.
Thor takes places around roughly the same time as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 (so both Hulk and Thor take place about six months after the events of Iron Man). With The Incredible Hulk, the hints are more subtle, but with Thor, it's pretty obvious. In Iron Man 2, Agent Coulson told Stark that he had to go to New Mexico, which is where Thor and his hammer both ended up. Also, on the Thor DVD, there is a one-shot called The Consultant, in which Agents Coulson and Sitwell are having lunch, and Coulson tells Sitwell that the World Security Council want Emil Blonsky (a.k.a. Abomination) in the Avengers. So they conspire to send a "consultant" to annoy General Ross and make him change his mind. This "consultant" turns out to be Tony Stark, regarding his scene from The Incredible Hulk.
Theme
In Asgard, one is not simply born into royalty. You cannot rule Asgard unless you are worthy, a lesson that Thor learns all too well. Odin deems Thor much to headstrong and childish in seeking a fight with the Frost Giants, so he has Thor banished to Earth, stripped of his powers and immortality. Odin puts a spell on the hammer, that only the one who is worthy may lift it and rule Asgard, and the hammer is sent to New Mexico near where Thor lands. While he is on earth, he locates Mjolnir, tries to lift it, and fails. Through this act and a brief discussion with Loki, he resigns himself to life on Earth and develops a romance with Jane Foster. It's not until Thor selflessly sacrifices his life in a battle with The Destroyer does Thor prove his worthiness to wield Mjolnir.
In his conversation with Loki, Thor's brother laments that it was a cruel act to place Mjolnir so close to Thor as a constant reminder of his failure, but I think that Loki has it all wrong. I believe that Odin banished his son for a purpose -- because his son needed a wake-up call if he was going to rule Asgard. He needed some life experience. And while it's not made so explicit in the film, in the deleted scenes it's focused on a bit more than Odin had a plan for sending Thor through this trial. Odin exemplifies the fact that we can't shirk away from trouble or suffering because it's through suffering that we grow as people and we become better, by overcoming our trials. By overcoming his exile and learning how to become a hero, Thor was able to redeem himself and take the throne as the rightful ruler of Asgard.
Stan Lee cameo
In a scene where people gather around to try and lift Mjolnir, Stan Lee plays a truck driver who tries to lift the hammer by tying it to his truck with a chain. He looks back and asks "Did I get it?"
Grade: A-
A very solid film, with some solid action and good performances from the actors. Not a perfect film, and the "fish out of water" scenario has been done many times before, but a good origin film for the god of thunder.
Thor
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Written by: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Don Payne
Starring:
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Stellan Skarsgard as Erik Selvig
Colm Feore as Laufey
Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
Idris Elba as Heimdall
Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis
Rene Russo as Frigga
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
Josh Dallas as Fandral
Jaimie Alexander as Sif
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Maximiliano Hernandez as Jasper Sitwell
Stan Lee as pick-up truck driver (cameo)
J. Michael Straczynski as pick-up truck driver (cameo)
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (cameo)
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Movie Review: Iron Man 2
Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned.
Six months after Tony Stark revealed to the media that he is Iron Man, he is a superstar and is resisting pressure by the government to sell them his supersuit technology. Stark has been keeping the peace, but it turns out that the palladium core in the arc reactor is slowly poisoning him. Stark searches for a cure, which is complicated by a new threat that enters the scene: Ivan Vanko, son of Anton Vanko of whom Ivan blames Howard Stark for his death, attacks Tony in the middle of a race. Stark dons his iron suit and takes Vanko down after a fierce battle, and Vanko later reveals he had no intention of defeating Stark, just proving that Iron Man is not invincible. Stark's rival, Justin Hammer, fakes Vanko's death and recruits him to build more supersuits. Stark must race to find a non-poisonous substitute to the palladium core in his suit, all the while Vanko has a master plan that doesn't really involve Hammer at all.
With the success of the first Iron Man movie, of course there came a sequel (although a sequel to Iron Man was produced before the third MCU hero was introduced into the universe). It's been rightly said that there have not been any outright bad movies that Marvel has produced in the MCU. There have been some mediocre ones, especially compared to the good ones. Iron Man 2 is still quite a good film, even if it isn't quite as good as the original. There's still some humor in it but not nearly as much as the first one. The sequel isn't quite as fun, but still a solid movie with great acting and great action in the introduction of the new villain, Whiplash, to the MCU.
Theme
The palladium core is slowly poisoning Tony Stark, causing him to come to grips with his own mortality. He refuses to even tell his closest associates (Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts) about it and starts engaging in self-destructive behavior, much to the chagrin of not just his associates, but also of Rhodey, who steals Stark's War Machine armor and uses it to try and beat some sense into Stark (who is in his Iron Man armor). Natasha Romanoff is introduced to the MCU in this film, but she takes an alias and pretends to work for Stark's business. In reality, she was put there by S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to evaluate him, and his narcissistic personality causes Nick Fury to want to use him as a consultant in the Avengers Initiative, rather than on the team, proper.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee once again falls victim to mistaken identity. This time, at a party Stark throws, Tony mistakes him for Larry King.
Grade: A-
Not as good or as fun as the original, but still a solid film with good acting, good action, and a good examination of Stark having an existential crisis, of which he does not react very well to.
Iron Man 2
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Written by: Justin Theroux
Starring:
Robert Downey, Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man
Gwynyth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Don Cheadle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine
Scarlett Johansson as "Natalie Rushman"/Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer
Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko/Whiplash
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart
John Slattery as Howard Stark
Garry Shandling as Senator Stern
Paul Bettany as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S.
Stan Lee as himself (cameo)
Christiane Amanpour as herself (cameo)
Bill O'Reilly as himself (cameo)
Adam Goldstein as himself (cameo)
Elon Musk as himself (cameo)
Larry Ellison as himself (cameo)
Max Favreau as young Peter Parker (cameo)*
*Jon Favreau gave his son a cameo part in the movie. He was originally just playing a boy in an Iron Man mask that Stark saves from a drone, but it was later retroactively confirmed, once Spider-Man was headed to the MCU, that the kid Stark saves was a young Peter Parker. This was confirmed by Tom Holland in an interview, who says he confirmed it with Kevin Feige.
Six months after Tony Stark revealed to the media that he is Iron Man, he is a superstar and is resisting pressure by the government to sell them his supersuit technology. Stark has been keeping the peace, but it turns out that the palladium core in the arc reactor is slowly poisoning him. Stark searches for a cure, which is complicated by a new threat that enters the scene: Ivan Vanko, son of Anton Vanko of whom Ivan blames Howard Stark for his death, attacks Tony in the middle of a race. Stark dons his iron suit and takes Vanko down after a fierce battle, and Vanko later reveals he had no intention of defeating Stark, just proving that Iron Man is not invincible. Stark's rival, Justin Hammer, fakes Vanko's death and recruits him to build more supersuits. Stark must race to find a non-poisonous substitute to the palladium core in his suit, all the while Vanko has a master plan that doesn't really involve Hammer at all.With the success of the first Iron Man movie, of course there came a sequel (although a sequel to Iron Man was produced before the third MCU hero was introduced into the universe). It's been rightly said that there have not been any outright bad movies that Marvel has produced in the MCU. There have been some mediocre ones, especially compared to the good ones. Iron Man 2 is still quite a good film, even if it isn't quite as good as the original. There's still some humor in it but not nearly as much as the first one. The sequel isn't quite as fun, but still a solid movie with great acting and great action in the introduction of the new villain, Whiplash, to the MCU.
Theme
The palladium core is slowly poisoning Tony Stark, causing him to come to grips with his own mortality. He refuses to even tell his closest associates (Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts) about it and starts engaging in self-destructive behavior, much to the chagrin of not just his associates, but also of Rhodey, who steals Stark's War Machine armor and uses it to try and beat some sense into Stark (who is in his Iron Man armor). Natasha Romanoff is introduced to the MCU in this film, but she takes an alias and pretends to work for Stark's business. In reality, she was put there by S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to evaluate him, and his narcissistic personality causes Nick Fury to want to use him as a consultant in the Avengers Initiative, rather than on the team, proper.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee once again falls victim to mistaken identity. This time, at a party Stark throws, Tony mistakes him for Larry King.
Grade: A-
Not as good or as fun as the original, but still a solid film with good acting, good action, and a good examination of Stark having an existential crisis, of which he does not react very well to.
Iron Man 2
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Written by: Justin Theroux
Starring:
Robert Downey, Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man
Gwynyth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Don Cheadle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine
Scarlett Johansson as "Natalie Rushman"/Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer
Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko/Whiplash
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart
John Slattery as Howard Stark
Garry Shandling as Senator Stern
Paul Bettany as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S.
Stan Lee as himself (cameo)
Christiane Amanpour as herself (cameo)
Bill O'Reilly as himself (cameo)
Adam Goldstein as himself (cameo)
Elon Musk as himself (cameo)
Larry Ellison as himself (cameo)
Max Favreau as young Peter Parker (cameo)*
*Jon Favreau gave his son a cameo part in the movie. He was originally just playing a boy in an Iron Man mask that Stark saves from a drone, but it was later retroactively confirmed, once Spider-Man was headed to the MCU, that the kid Stark saves was a young Peter Parker. This was confirmed by Tom Holland in an interview, who says he confirmed it with Kevin Feige.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk
Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned.
General Ross, in experimenting with trying to make humans immune to gamma radiation with a serum used as part of a World War II-era supersoldier program (seen later in Captain America: The First Avenger), injects Bruce Banner with the serum. The experiment fails, however, and Banner temporarily becomes a huge green monster by a reaction that is triggered if his heart rate goes too high (usually if he gets angry, but it can occur by other methods, such as strenuous exercise). After destroying the lab and killing numerous people, including injuring General Ross and his daughter Betty, who also happens to be Banner's girlfriend, Banner becomes a fugitive and hides out in Brazil. Now Banner searches for a cure to his Hulk transformations, finding a scientist who goes by the alias Mr. Blue (later revealed to be Dr. Samuel Sterns), who agrees to try and help him, all the while Banner must stay on the run from General Ross, who wants to weaponize The Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk serves as a reboot to the 2003 Ang Lee version of the film, and it also serves as the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity. This would be the only film in which Banner was played by Edward Norton, being replaced by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers and all subsequent films in which the character appears.
The Hulk was obviously inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in that the titular character was human and would transform into a monstrous creature, although while he didn't transform through the use of a serum, he had limited control by using techniques to keep his heart rate and anger under control. The character was created as a reaction to the Cold War and the threat of nuclear attack, which essentially took advantage of the prevailing sense among Americans that nuclear power can create monsters.
Themes
Aside from the theme of the military wanting to weaponize The Hulk, which is a similar theme to what we found in Iron Man (and one that's totally believable), the story of The Hulk is about an internal conflict between Bruce Banner, a regular guy, and The Hulk, a huge monster that goes on rampages and kills indiscriminately (with the exception of Elizabeth Ross, his girlfriend). Unfortunately, the movie doesn't delve too deep into this theme, instead focusing more on the militaristic aspect of it, the chase between General Ross and Bruce Banner, and the obsession of Emil Blonksy with The Hulk.
In fact, Iron Man sort of set up a theme of its own regarding the villain that the superhero would fight; namesly, a supervillain similar to the hero but bigger and more powerful. Iron Man faced off with Iron Monger, The Hulk faces off with Abomination, Thor will face off with Loki, etc. They will eventually do away with this theme and even focus more on developing the villain, but for now, these are the kinds of villains we are seeing.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee cameos as a man who drinks from a bottle of soda that was accidentally contaminated by Bruce Banner's blood, giving him gamma radiation poisoning and forwarding the plot by giving General Ross a lead on Banner.
Grade: A-
By no means is The Incredible Hulk a bad film. But it is kind of slow and plodding in some cases and not for the right reason. It doesn't delve very deep into the dualistic themes that a story like this lends itself to, but the action is, of course, top notch.
The Incredible Hulk
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Zak Penn
Starring:
Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Lou Ferrigno as the voice of The Hulk
Liv Tyler as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross
Tim Roth as Emil Blonksy/Abomination
Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader
Ty Burrell as Leonard Samson
William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark (cameo)
Stan Lee as a man who falls ill from gamma radiation poisoning (cameo)
Lou Ferrigno as security guard (cameo)
Paul Soles as Stanley (cameo)
Martin Starr as computer nerd (cameo)
*note: Samuel Sterns did not become The Leader in this film. He was exposed to a substance and his head starts contorting, implying his impending transformation. He has never been seen as The Leader in any of the MCU films, but in a canon tie-in comic with The Avengers, he is seen as The Leader.
General Ross, in experimenting with trying to make humans immune to gamma radiation with a serum used as part of a World War II-era supersoldier program (seen later in Captain America: The First Avenger), injects Bruce Banner with the serum. The experiment fails, however, and Banner temporarily becomes a huge green monster by a reaction that is triggered if his heart rate goes too high (usually if he gets angry, but it can occur by other methods, such as strenuous exercise). After destroying the lab and killing numerous people, including injuring General Ross and his daughter Betty, who also happens to be Banner's girlfriend, Banner becomes a fugitive and hides out in Brazil. Now Banner searches for a cure to his Hulk transformations, finding a scientist who goes by the alias Mr. Blue (later revealed to be Dr. Samuel Sterns), who agrees to try and help him, all the while Banner must stay on the run from General Ross, who wants to weaponize The Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk serves as a reboot to the 2003 Ang Lee version of the film, and it also serves as the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity. This would be the only film in which Banner was played by Edward Norton, being replaced by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers and all subsequent films in which the character appears.
The Hulk was obviously inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in that the titular character was human and would transform into a monstrous creature, although while he didn't transform through the use of a serum, he had limited control by using techniques to keep his heart rate and anger under control. The character was created as a reaction to the Cold War and the threat of nuclear attack, which essentially took advantage of the prevailing sense among Americans that nuclear power can create monsters.Themes
Aside from the theme of the military wanting to weaponize The Hulk, which is a similar theme to what we found in Iron Man (and one that's totally believable), the story of The Hulk is about an internal conflict between Bruce Banner, a regular guy, and The Hulk, a huge monster that goes on rampages and kills indiscriminately (with the exception of Elizabeth Ross, his girlfriend). Unfortunately, the movie doesn't delve too deep into this theme, instead focusing more on the militaristic aspect of it, the chase between General Ross and Bruce Banner, and the obsession of Emil Blonksy with The Hulk.
In fact, Iron Man sort of set up a theme of its own regarding the villain that the superhero would fight; namesly, a supervillain similar to the hero but bigger and more powerful. Iron Man faced off with Iron Monger, The Hulk faces off with Abomination, Thor will face off with Loki, etc. They will eventually do away with this theme and even focus more on developing the villain, but for now, these are the kinds of villains we are seeing.
Stan Lee cameo
Stan Lee cameos as a man who drinks from a bottle of soda that was accidentally contaminated by Bruce Banner's blood, giving him gamma radiation poisoning and forwarding the plot by giving General Ross a lead on Banner.
Grade: A-
By no means is The Incredible Hulk a bad film. But it is kind of slow and plodding in some cases and not for the right reason. It doesn't delve very deep into the dualistic themes that a story like this lends itself to, but the action is, of course, top notch.
The Incredible Hulk
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Zak Penn
Starring:
Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Lou Ferrigno as the voice of The Hulk
Liv Tyler as Elizabeth "Betty" Ross
Tim Roth as Emil Blonksy/Abomination
Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader
Ty Burrell as Leonard Samson
William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark (cameo)
Stan Lee as a man who falls ill from gamma radiation poisoning (cameo)
Lou Ferrigno as security guard (cameo)
Paul Soles as Stanley (cameo)
Martin Starr as computer nerd (cameo)
*note: Samuel Sterns did not become The Leader in this film. He was exposed to a substance and his head starts contorting, implying his impending transformation. He has never been seen as The Leader in any of the MCU films, but in a canon tie-in comic with The Avengers, he is seen as The Leader.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Movie Review: Iron Man
Disclaimer: This review will contain spoilers. Don't read it unless you've already watched the movie or unless you don't care about being spoiled. I like to analyze movies, and I can't really do that unless I spoil the movie. You have been warned.Tony Stark is a billionaire who runs a weapons manufacturing plant he inherited from his father, Howard. On a trip to Afghanistan to talk to soldiers about a new weapon his firm developed, the Jericho Missile, his platoon escort is attacked and Stark is taken hostage by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. Imprisoned by the group, Stark befriends a fellow captive named Yinsen, who saved his life by removing shrapnel from his body. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to remove all the shrapnel, so Yinsen installs a device in Stark's chest to prevent the shrapnel he couldn't remove from reaching Stark's heart and killing him. Raza, the leader of the Ten Rings, orders Stark to create more of the Jericho missile. Stark pretends to work on the missile but instead develops a suit of armor, which he uses to escape (and unfortunately, Yinsen is killed buying Stark time to finish his suit). After escaping, Stark wants to close down the weapons production of his company but starts to learn that there is a bigger plot afoot -- his own company has been selling arms to the terrorists.
This is the movie that started it all -- the first film in the franchise that would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the formula that many would try to recreate and ultimately fail, though the modern-day DCEU is still on life support. Marvel struck gold with their idea of building a whole cinematic universe around their comic book characters. While there are many similarities with the comics, the cinematic universe is considered a different continuity from any in the comics. So while many elements will remain the same to bring in long-time fans, they are not necessarily beholden to comic canon in their films.
Now, I grew up with many superheroes, including Iron Man. But I never really read the comics. I played cards as a kid; my parents would not have had the money to buy me cards and comics, and when I finally reached an age where I could get a job and buy my own, the comics just never really appealed to me much. So my knowledge of superheroes comes primarily from the animated shows I grew up with. Iron Man was one such cartoon that played when I was a kid (others included the X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, and Super Friends). As such, I'll be looking on Wikipedia for similarities and differences to the comic book characters.
Stark, in the film, is a ladies' man, genius inventor, and an arms manufacturer. You do get a real sense of his playboyishness in the film, but good grief, many of the deleted scenes kind of takes it to a whole other level. The film seems to have stayed pretty close to Stark's origin story in the comics, except that in the comics Stark was captured by one Wong-Chu.
Some people have expressed disapproval in the way that films like this try to set up a cinematic universe, feeling that it takes away from the story of the film to spend a couple of minutes world-building. But I actually like that. I prefer shows and movies that take place in a larger universe. That's one of the reasons I enjoy Star Trek, because there have been 50+ years of shows and movies, all within the same universe (or, now, multiverse). There's a minor bit of worldbuilding in Iron Man, such as the post-credits scene with Nick Fury, the fact that Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up and wants to debrief Stark on his suit, and Rhodey looking at the War Machine armor and commenting "next time, baby" (speaking of that, the part of James Rhodes was recast for Iron Man 2, which is kind of a shame because I thought that Robert Downey, Jr. and Terrence Howard had good chemistry in this film). I appreciate those kinds of things and I like to know where a particular story rests in the overall continuity of a universe.
Themes
Stan Lee originally devised Tony Stark as a hyper-capitalistic industrialist to explore Cold War themes. The comics version of Iron Man explored industry's role in the Cold War. For the films, war is still the central focus. Stark is a man who believes that war is the only way to achieve peace -- the way to keep peace with your neighbors is to have more powerful weapons than they do. After he is captured by a terrorist group and discovers that his weapons are being sold to the enemy, he announces that Stark Industries will no longer manufacture weapons which leads to a confrontation between himself and the second-in-command of his business.
Stan Lee Cameo
Stan Lee has had cameos in other Marvel films prior to this one, but this marks the first of his MCU cameos. Lee is attending a party for Stark Industries as is mistaken for Hugh Hefner by Tony Stark.
Grade: A+
Superhero movies have not been all that great. In fact, they were usually pretty awful. Superhero films were occasionally pretty good (such as the first Superman movie, the first Batman film, The Dark Knight, and the first two Sam Raimi Spider-Man films). Iron Man helped show that not only could superhero movies be good films, but that they could also be taken seriously as a film genre. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but it does treat its characters and its themes seriously. It also, along with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, helped set a new bar for superhero films, one that many films have failed to live up to (Fantastic Four, anyone?).
Iron Man
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Written by: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Starring:
Robert Downey, Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man
Terrence Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes
Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger
Shaun Toub as Yinsen
Gwynyth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Faran Tahir as Raza
Paul Bettany as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S.
Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart
Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan (cameo)
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (cameo)
Stan Lee as himself (cameo)
Tom Morello as terrorist guard (cameo)
Jim Cramer as himself (cameo)
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