Since no one comic book movie has been dead perfect according to fanboys (for my money, SUPERMAN I is the closest so far). Opinions always vary o'course but the rest have ranged from hit and miss at best to spectacularly craptastic.

Here's the q:

What are the odds the makers of IRON MAN will actually SUCCEED in striking a balance between broad appeal and satisfying the fan base?

CAN such a balance even be struck? Supes I proves you can come darn close, I sez. How close will I.M. get?

I ask this having heard no advance warning or spoilers regarding the plot or people in charge.

We'll know who was correct a few days after Iron Man opens and winner/s will win the ever-coveted No-Prize.

Excelsior!

What concerns me most about Iron Man is the writers. No track record to speak of.

I'm going to place my bet on 90/40: 90% of fanboys will be pleased, 40% of the general public will like it. Supes, Bats, and Spidey were well known among the populace because they're so ingrained into pop culture. You literally have to crawl out of a rock to not know* who any of those three were. Iron Man is a half-way known character. Not as esoteric as Hell Boy or the Punisher but not as well known as the X-Men.

Were do I base that assertion? I use my wife-o-meter. She really doesn't know anything about comic book heroes. If she's heard of a guy, then it's out there. If I get a blank stare, then he's unknown:

Wolverine - *ding ding*
Hawk Man - *crickets chirping*
Spidey - *ding ding*
Captain America - *ding*
Nightwing - *crickets chirping*

etc.

I'm hoping the guys doing this flick will learn from the stupidities committed by makers of prior films, and avoid them. Even as I say that, tho, I'm a realist and know that if it's perceived (key word!) as not possible to satisfy both groups, they'll obey the money and go with whatever they think will satisfy the general audience, fans be darned. I.M. is one of the few comic storylines I can think of that could actually work on both fronts, as long as you keep it real (as opposed to Tim Burton's trademark blend of fairytale and dimly lit grittiness) don't get far out with some of Shellhead's wackier villains...Mandarin, Fin Fang Foom, Modok the Big Giant Head, etc. Keep the booze, keep the playboy philandering, keep the heart injury, don't go too anime looking with the armor, make the threat REAL, and it might work.

They've got a shot at successfully walking the tightrope here, enough for me to plan to see it when it opens...unlike FF Meets V'Ger, which was a waste of a perfectly good drive-in evening.

And I for one have no problem with Downey - a little on the short side but camera angles can fix that.

Two suit designs were released to the internets long ago ...
if they ain't to yer liking, hopin' & wishin' ain't gonna change 'em.

Crossing my fingers but NOT holding my breath

Well, it's got Paltrow. She still appeals to my iron man.

The producers seem to have hit a home run with the armor. If the rest of the movie is that good, it will be a great one.

BTW - check Youtube under "Iron Man"...short but funny CGI clip of I.M. - probably drunk - telling all superheros to get registered or else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFw3GydIJms

Looks like I spoke too soon ...
they're going super-minimalist with the armor
http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6035

Is that a load of perrier water or beer in the fridge behind him? Cuz if they're gonna be consistent with the storyline... :drunk: *hic*

Looks like I spoke too soon ...
they're going super-minimalist with the armor
http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6035

Wouldn't that make him "Iron Hand", cousin of "Ironsides"?
:p

http://www.empireonline.com/gallery/image.asp?id=21022&caption=&gallery=Empire%20Magazine%20September%202007
Yes, the lovely folks at ILM, having already conjured up a killer Optimus Prime image for our February cover, have been hard at work once again and have provided us with a world exclusive new shot of Ol’Shellhead in action. Pretty darn cool, I’m sure you’ll agree.