IRONMAN is here to Stay

It happens rarely that one goes to a movie and gets surprised. Not necessarily because the movie is extremely good. It can also happen when a movie is better than ones expectations or when a movie tries to make a paradigm shift. Iron Man is one such movie which made me sit up and take notice of it.

Being a Hollywood movie, special effects were definitely of the highest levels. But the good thing in Iron Man was that these effects didn’t look as if something is happening out of the ordinary. They were believable and as audience one can mistake to think that if one gets that exoskeleton suit to wear, one can do all those things by oneself. Also unlike other superhero movies this one is really topical and deals with a serious issue of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, making it an interesting watch. While other superhero movies make caricatures out of their villains, Iron Man’s evil elements are entrenched in the grim realities of the present world. So when we watch a Superman or a Spiderman, we watch it as an outsider as if the events are unfolding in some world which doesn’t exist. But Iron Man is different; it reminds us of the dangerous world we live in.

Three other elements of this superhero flick, which makes it markedly different from other movies of similar ilk, have impressed me big time. And I am already awaiting its sequel.

No Split Personality – Right from Superman to Spiderman to even our desi Krissh, the superheroes depict extremely different personalities with and without costumes. Take Spiderman for example. Without his costume Peter Parker is a simple guy, who behaves like loser at times and when he dons his Spiderman costume, the change in his persona is highly dramatic. In Iron Man, nothing of that sort exists. Tony Stark is as powerful and ingenious as Iron Man himself. He can survive and win without the costume. His costume is the extension of his personality and not the other way around. That element makes Iron Man more endearing than any other superhero.

No Need to Hide – While other superheroes make an effort to hide their real identities, Iron Man is cool with revealing his real self. He is indulgent and seeks pleasure in his accomplishments.

No Freak Show – While Spiderman gets his powers from a freak bite and Krissh gets his magic from equally freak ‘Jaadoo’; Iron Man uses his technological know-how and resources to give himself that edge. He makes us believe that Superheroes are humans after all.

I cherished Iron Man and I am sure he is here to stay.

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