IRON MAN

vs.

Superman, Spider-Man & Batman

by M.G. Wood

If conventional wisdom is to be accepted, the cinematic Crown Jewels of the Super-Hero genre are SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978), SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004), and BATMAN BEGINS (2005).

So, it stands to reason that whenever a new film enters the arena of Super-Hero ideas, this film must be placed up against the best.

So, we have IRON MAN.

FACE-OFF

___________

Personality Crises:

The fact is, all these guys suffer from fear of intimacy, separation anxiety, and paranoid delusions.

Clark Kent (Superman) would probably have the lightest therapy bill, given that his inferiority complex is rooted in his being an adopted child, never having known his real parents.

Peter Parker's (Spider-Man) suffering is even more pedestrian. Fear of commitment 101.

Tony Stark's (Iron Man) problems are the most 21st century American: Conflicted man weighted down by addiction, greed, and narcissism.

But, the edge has to go to Bruce Wayne, at least as written and portrayed in BATMAN BEGINS. An emotionally damaged Man-Child that comfortably coexists with a dark and dirty alternate personality.

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Gal Pals:

Okay, right off the bat, Rachel Dawes is a newly added concoction for the BATMAN franchise. And as played by Katie Holmes, she's the one and only weakness in BATMAN BEGINS. Therefore she can not even be considered up against the likes of Margot Kiddor, Kirsten Dunst and Gwyneth Paltrow (hence the replacement for THE DARK KNIGHT with one Maggie Gyllenhaal, a vast improvement).

Because IRON MAN merely introduces Pepper Potts (Ms. Paltrow) with precious little screen time, teasing fans to come back for more in the sequel, we'll move on.

Kirsten Dunst is probably the most perfectly cast actor in any Super-Hero movie. She looks, talks and acts exactly the way one would imagine Mary Jane. Especially to one who spent way too many hours reading and re-reading Spidey comics as a kid.

And Ms. Dunst just barely edges out Margot Kiddor, who despite being a little too old and a little too strong to play the damsel in distress, still manages to be an enchanting and sexy Lois Lane.

Bad Guys:

Cillian Murphy is creepy and compelling as Scarecrow in BATMAN BEGINS.

Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane in IRON MAN with terrific relish.

Doc Ock in SPIDER-MAN 2 as played by Alfred Molina is the one bad guy in these films that truly has a suit that outshines the good guy's.

But, come on. Gene Hackman as Lex Luther. `Nuff said.

At Home With the Super-Heroes:

Sadly, Spidey's room at his Auntie's falls way short.

Superman's Fortress of Solitude is classic.

Stately Wayne Manor is perfectly Gothic.

But, alas if the filmmakers behind IRON MAN deserve credit for anything, it's planting Tony Stark in a super-groovy pad high atop a hill along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Actors:

Tobey Maguire is good.

Christopher Reeve was perfect.

Christian Bale re-invented how to play a comic book character.

And Robert Downey, Jr. perfectly marries personality and performance into the role of his career.

THE VERDICT:

So. A four-way tie?

Not really.

If you like your Super-Heroes old-fashioned, you're gonna go with Superman.

Sensitive? Spider-Man.

Dark and Dreamy with a dash of Goth angst? Batman.

Postmodern Renaissance Man? Iron Man.

Then again...

You could weigh in the suits and tip the scales heavily toward IRON MAN...

Mr. Wood continues HERE with MORE on Mr. Downey's work.