Sunday 21 June 2009

Gwyneth-Paltrow-or-Cate-Blanchett

Iron Man isn't new, it's been out on DVD for a while, but I've decided it's topical because I've only just seen it. As far as comic book films go (so, um, Spiderman 2 and The Dark Knight) this is just below the best. It manages to be loud and stupid in a clever, entertaining way. These things live or die on the characters. If they're just hollow action puppets hitting each other in the face then there's no point. The character:explosions ratio is almost right here. I say almost because it does descend into a dull, robotic fight at the end, which is a shame because they could have done something far more interesting with these characters. Robert Downey Jr gets a lot of time with a face instead of a mask, and Gwyneth-Paltrow-or-Cate-Blanchett (I honestly don't know the difference) is mopey but alright. Is it wrong that I'd rather the climax be a conversation rather than a rocket launcher shoot out?

Also, they restrained themselves from a neat creation-of-the-suit montage. Instead Tony Stark has dialogue with helper robots that have more life in them than most action movie characters.

6 comments:

  1. Gwyneth-Paltrow or Cate-Blanchett?

    There's only one way to find out... fight!

    Weirdly enough I was re-watching this this afternoon. I do like it.

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  2. But then they'd have to appear in the same place together, which obviously couldn't happen. I'll have to check if they've ever been in the same film.

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  3. The Talented Mr. Ripley. I have to disagree with you on this one - I think Cate Blanchett can wipe the floor with Gwyneth Paltrow, although I see your point - pale, frequently mopey. I don't think Gwyneth Paltrow in Elizabeth, for instance, would have quite done the job.

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  4. Conversation as climax - Frost/ Nixon.

    Would make for an interesting mash-up with the superhero genre. Perhaps with Cate Blanchett starring. Or maybe Gwyneth...

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  5. Frost/Nixon is on my list of films to watch (an imaginary list but it still exists). I'd like to see a Frost/Batman film, or maybe not.

    I'm really going to have to learn the difference between Blanchett and Paltrow.

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  6. Other than both being tall and blond, there are no similiarities with Cate and Gwyneth.

    f you can't tell the difference, then you need your head examined.

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