What the fuck is up with Marvel? They seem to afraid not to choose a big named star to star in their movies (probably more of a studio choice than a marvel choice suppose).
It all started with Ben Afflec for Dare Devil. Oh well...
Robert Downey, Jr., does not exactly set the box office on fire. They chose an actor, not a marquee name.
Tobey MacGuire, Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, Ioan Gruffudd...none of these people were household names when they were offered lead roles in Marvel Films (and in Bana and Gruffudd's cases, still aren't). Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage: these guys are the exception to the casting rule, and interestingly enough both of those movies were directed by the same hack.
wow, totally didn't expect an installment of marvel's "civil war" to unfold here.
i agree with you lea, i don't get that "save me" superhero vibe
from downey. it's like michael keaton playing batman--i couldn't dig
him either, but that won't stop me from seeing the movie. i think
kevin does bring up a good point--this role is perfect for downey and i
think he'll do pretty good job, i just wish i could get over the lack
of superhero aura, as you put it.
steve, i'll get back to you on my strange psychic connection to downey...after i've had my afternoon "drink".
i think downey's perfectly flawed to play tony stark. not that i know anything about iron man. just from what little i know of iron man and what little i know of downey, i think it's a good match. heh.
I agree, gamany. I don't see it. I think Downey is
talented, but I don't consider him the theatrical tour-de-force that
everyone else seems to liken him to be. I dare to say that there
are times when I think he's been somewhat overrated.
I'm a fan of the Iron Man comic, and in terms of perfect casting, I
think Viggo Mortensen would have been a lock. When I heard about
him being cast around the end of 2006, my folks (huge comic book fans
and collectors) emailed me crying havoc. I don't know if I'm
gonna see it because so far, nothing about the film is screaming, "Must
See!"
This afternoon I was chatting with my mom about last night's Lost, and
I mentioned the Iron Man thing. Apparently, my stepfather's
slowing coming around. And since he's a huge Tony Stark fan, so
maybe he sees something I don't. But he's also a purist, so he's
never truly happy whenever they move one of his favorite comics over to
film. I think he's taking the "wait-and-see" approach.
Maybe Downey will pull a Daniel Craig, and just blow of us naysayers
away.
I'm still sticking with my Viggo vote, though. My mother thinks
Viggo can do the tortured Tony and the ladies' man Tony, but she
doesn't think Viggo can pull off the smart ass Tony. I
disagree. I've seen VM in enough interviews to know that he can
do sarcastic and aloof. My mother thinks he's too
soft-spoken. M'eh, what does she know.
I think a lot of people doubted whether Toby Maguire was the right choice for Peter Parker, but we all know how right he was now. Casting decisions are often controversial until the film comes out. Maybe RD will surprise us.
kelleah, i haven't seen daniel craig in the new bond movie but i heard he did a fantastic job! i'm surprised your mom thought viggo was too soft-spoken. i don't get that feeling about him at all.
matt, i'm definitely taking the "wait-and-see" approach.
Comments
The casting on this thing has so far been uniformly excellent. I'm not even an Iron Man fan and I'm looking forward to it.
I am digging post-rehab Downey's career choices.
I cannot see this as a good choice. He doesn't fit. I don't look at him and think "please save me, Mr. Drunkard."
I'm not knocking the acting skills just lack of superhero aura.
as long as it falls even vaguely closer to "spiderman," "superman," and "x-men," rather than "daredevil" and "ghostrider," i'll be happy.
The character is a millionaire playboy who at one point in the comic's arc had a serious drinking problem.
Tell me that isn't perfect territory for Robert Downey, Jr.
So wait -- if yesterday YOU were IronMan, and today RD Jr is IronMan, does that mean you have some strange psychic connection to Robert Downey Jr??
It all started with Ben Afflec for Dare Devil. Oh well...
So now the casting's too spot-on? MAKE UP YOUR MIND. :P
I'm pretty much down to watch anything Downey does lately, so I am eagerly anticipating this.
He's too dark and unsettling for my taste.
Robert Downey, Jr., does not exactly set the box office on fire. They chose an actor, not a marquee name.
Tobey MacGuire, Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman, Ioan Gruffudd...none of these people were household names when they were offered lead roles in Marvel Films (and in Bana and Gruffudd's cases, still aren't). Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage: these guys are the exception to the casting rule, and interestingly enough both of those movies were directed by the same hack.
i agree with you lea, i don't get that "save me" superhero vibe from downey. it's like michael keaton playing batman--i couldn't dig him either, but that won't stop me from seeing the movie. i think kevin does bring up a good point--this role is perfect for downey and i think he'll do pretty good job, i just wish i could get over the lack of superhero aura, as you put it.
steve, i'll get back to you on my strange psychic connection to downey...after i've had my afternoon "drink".
Michael Keaton was radically, drastically, woefully miscast as Batman. I believed it then and I believe it now.
But Downey is a terrific actor and I have every faith in him.
I'm a fan of the Iron Man comic, and in terms of perfect casting, I think Viggo Mortensen would have been a lock. When I heard about him being cast around the end of 2006, my folks (huge comic book fans and collectors) emailed me crying havoc. I don't know if I'm gonna see it because so far, nothing about the film is screaming, "Must See!"
Thank you... finally, a voice of reason!
did someone say Viggo?
I'm still sticking with my Viggo vote, though. My mother thinks Viggo can do the tortured Tony and the ladies' man Tony, but she doesn't think Viggo can pull off the smart ass Tony. I disagree. I've seen VM in enough interviews to know that he can do sarcastic and aloof. My mother thinks he's too soft-spoken. M'eh, what does she know.
matt, i'm definitely taking the "wait-and-see" approach.
jeff bridges as obadiah stane. [with pictures!!]
i love jeff bridges.