Bioshock moving from the small to the silver
With all the recent sucess and hype over good comic book movies (Batman Begins, Iron Man, The Dark Knight) it was only a matter of time before another video game movie rolled our way. With last years announcement of Gears of War being optioned for a picture, it seemed only natural that similar games would soon follow suit. It has been announced now that Bioshock, 2k Games underwater twist on the first person shooter, has been picked up by Universal pictures. Bioshock will be Universal Picture’s first video game based project since 2005’s Doom and one can only hope that the studio is going to try despratly to make up for that disaster. In was revieled in an interview with Variety that Pirates of the Caribbean‘s Gore Verbinski will direct the film. Verbinski talked about the characters and amazing art deco style of the game is what made him interested in the film. “I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that’s cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential, of all the games I’ve played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative” the director told Variety. He said that the characters were vastly impressive and would make for an incredible translation to cinema. I’d have to agree. There is no set production or release date, however the feeling is that the studio would like to begin production as soon as the scrip is compelete. Reports indicate that John Logan (Sweeney Todd, The Aviator) will be writing the script. This, coupled with the recent announcemtn of a Bioshock sequle, makes a big year for the world of Rapture.
Iron Man
To start, I am going to keep this as spoiler free as I possibly can. I will also try to be as unbiased as I can…but that won’t be easy. It’s no secret that I am a huge Iron Man fan, and have been anticipating this movie more than any other in recent history. So on with the review.
With the recent plague of terrible comic book movies (Spider-Man 3, Super Man Returns) the announcement of an Iron Man movie made a lot of fans fearful for what might happen to one of the most powerful and central characters in the Marvel Universe. Personally all of my fears were laid to rest with the casting of Robert Downy Jr. as Tony Stark. Downy Jr aside, Iron Man’s cast was beyond impressive for a comic book movie, with almost every actor in the film being an Oscar Nominee. That, plus the massive media attention and the desperate need for a good Marvel movie (DC hit gold with Batman Begins), rose expectations of Iron Man to a level that was hard to believe. Let me assure you, expectations were met, and exceeded.
Iron Man could esaily be described as another super hero origin story, though that would be selling the film short, it is so much more. In reality Iron Man is almost two films in one. The first part is your origin of Iron Man. Basic plot faithfully lifted from the pages of Iron Man V4, Stark is attaked in the middle east, held prisoner, and forced to create a device (the mark one armor) to escape. As his triumph over his captors comes to a close, it seems that the movie could have ended right there and been perfect. But it didn’t.
With the origin of Iron Man wrapped up, Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr, Zodiac) returns home and throws himself full on into the development of a newer and better Iron Man armor, and sets out to save the world. In the process Tony finds himself in a battel of ‘wits’ with his robot assistants, whom provide most of the comic releife (well that which isnt provided by Stark himself). One might go so far as to claim these characters to be this generations R2-D2. Aided by world class assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow) and best friend James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Terrence Howard, Crash) Stark battles the exile from his own company, and friend turned super villian Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski) in an attempt to create a world at peace, rather than war.
The movie is more faithful to the source material than perhaps any comic movie so far. Fans will have an issue with Jarvis’ role (who is fatured as Stark’s super advanced AI rather than his butler), it is understandable to change the character, seeing as having three ‘side kicks’ in the movie would just clutter up the screne. Another small change would be the relationship between Tony Stark and enemy Obadiah Stane. Stane in the comics is a rival buisness man, rather than the friend/mentor that he is in the film. To be honest I rather prefer the film’s take on Stane, as it makes for a more dramaic conflict between the two. Robert Downy Jr is flawless as Tony Stark. Never once did I think I was watching anything but Tony stark as Tony Stark. Downy Jr’s preformance is absolutly flawless, and he suceeds in translating a character from page to film better than anyone else in the history of modern cinema (as far as this critic is concerned anyway). Jeff Bridges worked better as a villian than I thought possible. As long time fan of Bridges, I was very interested to see how he would do has the antagonist, rather than his norm. He did not dissapoint. In fact I’d say that it was one of his bet preformances ever. Paltrow worked very well in her role, and the chemestry between her and Downy Jr was as natural as anything you’d hope to see on screne.
In a movie like this it is easy to see how the characters can take a back seat to the action. Indeed this is a major concern with most comic book adaptations. It would be terribly wrong not to give credit to Stan Winston and ILM for their work in this film. The Iron Man armors were amazing, and all the effects were absolutly beautifly done. The final fight scene was just a wonder to watch. The Live action blended seemlessly with the CG throughout the entire film. But as great as the action was, and the fighting flying mechanical marvels, it all took a back seat to the story of Tony Stark developing from loveable asshole playboy billionaire, to the super hero who genuienly wants nothing but to save the world.
While I love this movie for being arguably the best comic book movie of all time, I am also saddned by the fact that it is a comic book movie, becuase it will never get the reckognition and credit it deserves. Though maybe Iron Man will be the movie that breaks the norm. Perhaps this is the film that gets Super Hero movies put into a positive light and taken seriously. Becuase I can easily think of no fewer than 5 well earned Oscar Nominations for this movie, chief among them best actor and best adapted screne play. Heres to hoping.
In closing, this movie is amazing. It is fun, it is funny, it is action packed, it is dramatic. You laugh you cry you cheer. Even times when you know what is going to happen (I mean you knwo that Stark isn’t gong to die) you are still kept on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen, and who willmake it out alive. Even seeing it a second time, I was kept on my toes waiting to see what was going to happen next.
Oh, and make sure that you stay after the credits.
The Final Stage 