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Is ‘Iron Man’ Wearing Out His Welcome?

Joseph Doherty — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Since exploding onto the screen in 2008, Marvel’s Iron Man has imbedded himself into the pop culture. In addition to headlining two Hollywood blockbusters, the character made a scene stealing cameo appearance in 2008′s The Incredible Hulk and will be featured prominently in The Avengers, which hits theaters Friday. But with Iron Man 3 well in the works, it begs the question – “Is the character wearing out his welcome?”

Looking back at the first Iron Man, it’s a minor miracle that the character became so big – it seemed poised to fail. Iron Man was a second tier superhero that lacked the mythic nature and pathos of a Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man. And Robert Downey Jr. – while being an enormously talented actor – never had to shoulder this sort of big-budget motion picture before, and a lot was riding on his metal outfit.

Behind the camera, you had Jon Favreau, who was known to bring an independent sensibility – including lots of improvisation – to any project he worked on. Arming him with a $140 million budget was a gamble for studio bosses. In the end, Favreau and Downey had the last laugh, crafting a well-rounded and occasionally riveting film. Iron Man had arrived and fans rejoiced.

But this has proven to be a blessing and a curse for both the character and star. Landing the role of Tony Stark gave Robert Downey Jr. a huge outlet to showcase his talents. and his Stark is one of the most debonair superheroes to ever grace the screen. Downey rocketed to the top of the A-list, becoming one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. However, his performance as Tony Stark is so iconic that Downey has become imprisoned by it. With the exception of Tropic Thunder (which was filmed before Iron Man was released), Downey has played a series of characters much in the same vein as Stark – his Sherlock Holmes is Stark with a British accent Though he can sell a one-liner with the best of them, Downey is capable of so much more.

As for Iron Man, Marvel has certainly done their job in saturating the market with toys, video games, and film appearances of the character in recent years. While Downey’s cameo in The Incredible Hulk provided a much needed jolt to an otherwise tame motion picture, cracks in the franchise began to show with the release of Iron Man 2. Though it had all the effects and action money could buy, the memorable characters got lost in the mix, including Tony Stark. Iron Man did a wonderful job of laying the groundwork for Stark as a three dimensional character and the sequel failed to build on that. It failed, period.

It looks as though the character’s appearance in the upcoming Avengers film will offer more of the same. Sure, Downey will deliver his characteristic rock-solid performance and The Avengers should go on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year, but is it a sin to ask for a little more substance? There is no question that Iron Man is still at his zenith commercially., but there could be a backlash if the films don’t become more artistically ambitious.

In December 2010, it was announced that Jon Favreau passed on directing Iron Man 3 and writer/director Shane Black would be stepping in. Having only helmed the action-comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (though famous for his scripts for Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout) it is hard to get a read on where Black will take the franchise. Last week at CinemaCon, he dropped a few subtle hints saying the film will be a thriller and incorporate elements of war and terrorism. More intriguing was that Black said the Tony Stark character will be seriously tested by these elements. Hopefully, Shane Black remains true to his word and gets back to the kind of deep-rooted character development featured in the first Iron Man. The last thing we want is Iron Man becoming the next Pirates of the Caribbean, another once-innovative franchise that was drowned in a sea of greed and repetition.

Do you think ‘Iron Man’ is wearing out his welcome?

Cowboys and Aliens: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:00:02 +0000

This weekend in theaters, Favreau is back with two grumpy, bad-asses, Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford with his latest genre twist, Cowboys & Aliens. The film is big and bad, with plenty of explosions and known faces, but it never quite delivered on anything I was hoping for. The biggest problem with this film is that it’s very much a Western, with alien bad-guys, that never really evokes the natural comedy that one would imagine should come with a film titled “Cowboys& Aliens”. Find out more below…

The Players:

Directed by: Jon Favreau
Screenplay By: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Screen Story By: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Steve Oedekerk
Comic Book By: Scott Mitchell Rosenberg
Actors: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Abigail Spencer, Paul Dano…
Original Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography by: Matthew Libatique

The Plot:

The film is set in Arizona in 1873 in the midst of the gold rush in the wild west, a time where men were real men. Suddenly a spaceship arrives to take over the Earth and a posse of cowboys have to take them down before all of their friends and family are farmed by the aliens.

The Good:

Rockwell: He has a small role, but was by far the most humorous and interesting to watch. Rockwell seems to have a power on screen that sucks you in and makes you care about him even in the most trivial of roles. Favreau also works best with funny, quick-witted actors, that seem to enjoy their time on camera. He knows how to let them play and they know how to deliver. The combo was great in the Iron Man films and wonderful here as well.
Scares: This was the first time in a long time that aliens actually managed to scare an audience. In a film that was very bland, it was great to have a few powerful “jump” moments… if only there would have been more of that in the tone from the start, this may have been a kick-ass film…

The Bad:

Lack of Humor: For a film with such a humorous title they sure do take themselves extremely seriously. Everything about the film is serious, and Favreau doesn’t thrive in that genre. The film touches on horror aspects which to me sounds like a fun idea… I guess it’s a little too late to throw our that suggestion though? If you’re going to make a film “Cowboys and Aliens,” give the audience what they’re looking for, some humor and an epic battle between the two, this film has neither of the two.
Pleasant, Tough Old Men: You have Craig and Harrison, who are both old(er), cranky, tough guys — use it to the film’s advantage! Don’t rely on daddy issues, let the two have at it! Watching them bounce off one another could have been extremely funny, but instead, they played everything so damn seriously and the script was written without much humor and therefore their relationship was extremely flat and there was no real chemistry between two. They’re naturally grouchy, and have great timing… let us see it!
Writing/Writers: 5 screenwriter, 3 story writers and 1 comic book writer = 1 inconsistent mess with no real sense of self and no consistent tone throughout.

Overall:

It’s just not what it could have been and it’s a shame, though it’s not bad with a drink and a bucket of popcorn.

Rating: 4.5/10

Cowboys & Aliens in theaters July 29th.

Photo Gallery:

New Cowboys And Aliens Trailer

Damon Houx — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:36:44 +0000

One of the more interesting summer movies this year is Jon Favreau‘s Cowboys and Aliens, which opens July 29. It stars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell, and Oliva Wilde, and combines science fiction action (and invasion) with the old west. The latest trailer finally starts giving more details of the film’s narrative, and more of a look at the alien invasion and some of their tools. Take a look..

The new thing seems to be that at least the middle section of the movie will be dedicated to chasing after the aliens (which reminds me of Rango a little), and that for sure either Olivia Wilde is an alien, or had some experiences with them. Perhaps she’s some sort of Yoda for Craig’s character.

The two things about this film that concern me most are the director and Harrison Ford. Jon Favreau’s Iron Man films partly get over because of the performers, but the second film got away from pretty much everybody. Hopefully this is more reigned in. As per Ford, he’s older now, and the last couple of performances have been harder to watch because he doesn’t always seem on the ball. Ford still carries great weight as an icon, but it’s been a while since he’s given much of a performance (though he wasn’t bad in Morning Glory).

We’ll know for sure this summer, but for now the trailer offers spectacle.It’s also nice that one of the event films of the summer isn’t a sequel (though it is based on a comic book).

Are you excited for this one?

Cowboys and Aliens Super Bowl Commercial

Krystal Clark — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:23:43 +0000

With TV spots from Captain America, Thor, and Super 8, did you really think that Cowboys & Aliens would sit this one out? Super Bowl Sunday is the premiere place to advertise summer blockbusters and Jon Favreau’s latest got in on the action. The film is slated to hit theaters this May, and blends multiple genres including western and sci-fi. Check out the TV spot…

Cowboys & Aliens center on outer-space creatures who land in Arizona circa the mid-19th century intent on enslaving the local population — until a group of cowboys and Apache Indians fight back. Craig will play Zeke Jackson, the revolt leader and a very talented gunman. The cast of the film also includes Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Noah Ringer, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Adam Beach, and Abigail Spencer.

Here’s a more detailed plot synopsis for the film:

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

Cowboys & Aliens hits theaters on July 29, 2011

What do you think of the Super Bowl spot for Cowboys & Aliens?

Jon Favreau Discusses Leaving Marvel’s Iron Man 3

Krystal Clark — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:12:47 +0000

Tuesday afternoon comic fans everywhere were hit with a serious blow. Jon Favreau announced that he won’t return to direct Iron Man 3, but will take on The Magic Kingdom for Disney instead. This came as a shock because he’s been behind the Iron Man machine from the very beginning and for the for him to leave this late in the game for another project just seems weird. Over at the Hero Complex, they got the opportunity to speak to Favreau about the logic behind his decision…

“Marvel and I both came of age together. The years that we shared were a pivotal experience. Kevin has a firm grasp on the many franchises and how they all interweave and I am happy that I had the opportunity to establish the world that these characters can now play in…. Iron Man has given me tremendous opportunities and Kevin and I are enjoying a lot of momentum in our careers thanks to the Iron Man films. I look forward to seeing what others can do playing in the same world.”

That doesn’t really tell us why he left. It’s just a generic, “thanks for your time” type of response. Over at ComicBookMovie, they reported that Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr. butt heads over the film because the actor was unhappy with the turn out of Iron Man 2. A top secret industry source stated,

“I think Robert Downey, Jr. blamed Jon Favreau. That’s why Downey dropped out of Cowboys and Aliens, because he didn’t want to work with Jon Favreau again. Also, by the way, it’s why Jon Favreau dropped out of The Avengers. I thought the odds of him directing Iron Man 3 were slim, and that proved right.

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, Iron Man 2 was nothing more than a huge trailer for The Avengers. Even though we don’t know what really went on behind closed doors, one thing’s for sure, Favreau’s out and Iron Man 3 is still scheduled to hit theaters on May 3, 2012. Will you be there?

Why do you think Favreau left Iron Man 3?

Update: Jon Favreau Won’t Direct Iron Man 3!

Krystal Clark — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:02:46 +0000

Update: Favreau just confirmed his departure via his Twitter account. He wrote, “It’s true, I’m directing Magic Kingdom, not Iron Man 3. I’ve had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best.”

The world must be coming to an end because according to a report from Vulture Jon Favreau will not return to direct Iron Man 3. This can’t be a good sign. Favreau has championed the project for years and saw it through to the end, but the site claims that he handed in his resignation as director of the sequel this morning.

No official reason has been given as to why Favreau opted out of the film but sources say that he was frustrated with Marvel’s “urge to stuff more of their in-house heroes into the next film in the wake of The Avengers.” On the flip side, some industry insiders claim that Favreau’s budget was getting too big for the studio’s taste and that’s why they ended up butting heads. Vulture says that Marvel “quietly began the process of finding a director to replace Favreau last night.”

All reasons being thrown out regarding his departure are speculative. Nothing official has been said but we expect an official press statement to be released at some point to let us know what’s going on.

Both Iron Mans made a ridiculous amount of money for Paramount, so it would be shocking if they had an issue with Favreau’s budget. They’re almost guaranteed to make their money back on the sequel. The idea of Favreau being turned off by the studio’s decision to over stuff Iron Man 3 makes more sense. Let’s be honest, Iron Man 2 was nothing more than a big trailer for The Avengers. It was a means to an end.

What do you think about Favreau’s departure? Who could replace him?

Jon Favreau Says Iron Man 3 Will Be a Sequel to The Avengers, Thor, Captain America

Krystal Clark — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:29:05 +0000

We’re not sure if this should be thrown in the “obvious news” pile but we’re going to roll with it. Director Jon Favreau recently spoke about the story plans for his upcoming sequel Iron Man 3, which is scheduled to hit theaters on May 3, 2013. Three major Marvel features will open before the film including Thor, Captain America, and of course The Avengers. Whatever happens in Iron Man’s future is heavily based on the invents that take place in those movies.

According to Favreau,

“In theory, ‘Iron Man 3′ is going to be a sequel or continuation of ‘Thor,’ ‘Hulk,’ ‘Captain America’ and ‘Avengers,’ This whole world… I have no idea what it is. I don’t think they do either, from conversations I’ve had with those guys.”

He went on to say that Thor and Captain America are on the top of the studio’s priority list so Iron Man 3 isn’t even on their radar. He stressed that so many things can change from the time those films hit theaters to the time the sequel’s screenplay is finalized. Therefore, he can’t really say much about what’s in store for the character.

It may seem obvious that Iron Man 3 would be a follow up to The Avengers because that will be the last time we see Tony Stark on the big screen. It would be weird for the film to pick up and act like The Avengers didn’t happen wouldn’t it? Oh wait, something like that already occurred.

Do you remember when Stark appeared in 2008′s The Incredible Hulk looking for Bruce Banner? They made it seem as if he was already a member of The Avengers team and was recruiting the Hulk for a mission. Fast forward two years later to Iron Man 2 and that incident is never mentioned. They completely ignore that aspect of the movie. It was like Stark never did anything for Nick Fury or S.H.I.E.L.D. It was confusing as hell for those of us who payed attention. Does anyone else remember that?

P.S.

A lot of readers have mentioned that both Iron Man films were prequels to The Incredible Hulk. That’s fine but it’s still confusing because the films aren’t in chronological order. It’s not IM 1, IM 2, then The Incredible Hulk. Hulk is in the middle of those two films.

What do you think about the Iron man 3 time line?

Source: MTV

Jon Favreau Gives Commentary on Cowboys and Aliens Teaser Trailer

Krystal Clark — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:00:25 +0000

Last week the teaser trailer for Jon Favreau’s upcoming film Cowboys & Aliens debuted to a slew of ecstatic fans. Seeing Daniel Craig wear a cowboy hat, tight pants, and a vest was just the tip of the iceberg. The film is a hybrid. It has old school western elements as well as some futuristic sci-fi elements, just check out the heavy duty bracelet Craig’s character wears in the film. To get you up to speed, Favreau gave his personal commentary on the trailer in a new video courtesy of MTV and it’s pretty interesting to hear his take on the whole thing. Check it out…

Cowboys & Aliens debuts in theaters nationwide on July 29, 2011.

What do you think of Favreau’s insight into the trailer? Are you excited to see the film?

Cowboys and Aliens Teaser Poster – Daniel Craig is a Lone Ranger

Krystal Clark — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:04:15 +0000

Universal has released the first teaser poster for their upcoming comic adaptation, Cowboys & Aliens. The film is directed by Jon Favreau and features Daniel Craig as the lead. This is one of the few films that we’re actually looking forward to next summer, and hopefully it will be as entertaining and top-notch as its cast. Check out the full poster…

Don’t you just love how Craig’s face is barely shown on this one sheet? This teaser poster looks ten times better than the one released for Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (no offense).

Here’s a more detailed plot synopsis for the film:

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

Cowboys & Aliens hits theaters on July 29, 2011

What do you think of the teaser poster for Cowboys & Aliens?

Source: Yahoo Movies

Jon Favreau Directing Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Krystal Clark — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:47:05 +0000

Disney has gotten their hooks into Jon Favreau for the big screen adaptation of the Magic Kingdom (as in the huge centerpiece of Disneyland). If they can make Pirates of the Caribbean a movie, why can’t they do the same for the place that’s served as the logo of the studio for decades? According to Heat Vision, Favreau has finalized a deal for the project, and they’re just awaiting completion of the screenplay.

Magic Kingdom is currently in the development stages, and the studio is on the hunt for a screenwriter to revamp the original script that was penned by “Battlestar Gallactica” showrunner, Ron Moore. We’re not sure if this will be Favreau’s next project, because he has one huge tentpole that takes precedent over this film and any others at the moment — Iron Man 3. Disney revealed that the film will hit theaters on May 3, 2013, and we’re not sure if all the loose ends for Magic Kingdom will be tied before the Marvel sequel goes into production.

No plot details have been revealed for Magic Kingdom, all we know is that it will center “around the Disneyland theme park in which attractions and characters come to life.” That leaves a lot to the imagination. Will all the Disney princesses be there? What about the old school “House of Mouse” crew? So many questions, but no answers.

What do you think of Favreau directing Magic Kingdom?

Abigail Spencer Cast in Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens

Krystal Clark — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:29:12 +0000

Jon Favreau has added another actor to his upcoming sci-fi comic film, Cowboys & Aliens and its “Mad Men” and “Hawthorne” alum Abigail Spencer. According to Heat Vision she’s officially signed on and will be making her big screen debut. She’ll be joining the cast that currently includes Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Noah Ringer, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, and Adam Beach.

Spencer who’s best known for playing Don Draper’s mistress on “Mad Men” will stay on that amoral path for her role in Cowboys & Aliens. She’ll star as a prostitute named Alice, a former lover of Craig’s character who makes him change his ways. Doesn’t that remind you of Megan Fox’s role in Jonah Hex? We’re sure Spencer will do a better job though (and look less sweaty while at it.)

Cowboys & Aliens will center on outer-space creatures who land in Arizona circa the mid-19th century intent on enslaving the local population — until a group of cowboys and Apache Indians fight back. Zeke Jackson (Craig) is a very talented gunman and will be the revolt leader.

Cowboys & Aliens is slated to hit theaters on July 29, 2011

What do you think of the latest addition to the cast of Cowboys & Aliens? Are you interested in seeing the film?

No Iron Man Cameo in Thor or Captain America

Krystal Clark — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:00:27 +0000

After seeing the heavy handed influence The Avengers had on this spring’s Iron Man 2 it looked like Tony Stark would be the anchor character to join all the new Marvel movies together. But director and producer Jon Favreau recently appeared on a local Los Angeles radio show to clear up any rumors regarding an Iron Man cameo in Captain America or Thor.

Even though [Spoiler for Iron Man 2] Thor’s hammer showed up at the very end of the sequel don’t expect to see the Nordic hero get a visit from Stark in his movie. Here’s what Favreau had to say about the character’s future…

“He’s not in Thor, he’s not in Cap which are the two movies for next Summer. It’ll be very interesting to see how the Marvel Universe branches off. All of these movies are going to be taken into account for The Avenger‘ in two years.”

In the past, Marvel has been less than honest when it comes to cameos so we’re not sure what to believe. If Favreau’s serious about this, they better give us a decent replacement. If neither Tony Stark or Nick Fury will be involved with Thor can Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner be the bridge between the films? And maybe from there they can loop in Captain America? Just give us some Hulk action!

What do you think they should do to link Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America?

Source: Comic Book Movie

ScreenCrave.com » jon favreau

Is ‘Iron Man’ Wearing Out His Welcome?

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