Pumping "Iron"

Even as I begin to put my together my thoughts on Spider-Man 3, for my review of the superhero blockbuster, I was jazzed by this "First Look" article in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly concerning a big film due next year:

Jeff Jensen has An exclusive look at the robo-suit that will turn Robert Downey Jr. into a comic-book legend in 2008...



Iron Man is the latest Marvel Comics superhero to jump from splash page to big screen. (The film is due May 2008.) Director Jon Favreau (Elf ) began shooting in March with star Robert Downey Jr. — in his first comic-book role — as the man inside the cybernetic Mark III suit (pictured) and Gwyneth Paltrow as his trusted assistant.

In the film, Downey plays Tony Stark, a playboy industrialist who decides to don high-tech armor to fight baddies after suffering a life-threatening heart injury in war-torn Afghanistan. ''This is a decidedly adult superhero story,'' says Favreau. (Fanboy FYI: Look for Stark's legendary drinking problem to pop up in possible sequels.)

Faithful to the comics and constructed by Oscar-winning F/X maestro Stan Winston the Iron Man togs — a far cry from Stark's normal black-tie attire — are robo-cool but make for restrictive, sweaty duds. ''Robert was very bullish on wearing the suit whenever possible,'' says Favreau of his star, who bulked up for the role. ''Now I don't know if he's such a fan of that idea.''

Faithful to the comics indeed. I am thrilled to know that Winston is working on this flick--He and his team are the BEST at what they do. The stuff that was accomplished on another Cyber movie, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), for example--still dazzles to this day. Can't wait!