Iron Man – Rise of the Technovore
Plot:
Tony Stark continues to be the self-declared world protector for criminals and evil-doers. To assist in this he is launching a surveillance satellite named “Howard” to help prevent crimes by finding them before they start. But the launch doesn’t go as smoothly as hoped when an unknown force lead by a boy in a suit attacks the compound. Iron Man and War Machine are quick to the scene but the boy is using a technology unlike anything Tony has ever encountered: the Technovore. Claiming it is the future Tony is left to learn the truth of the boy, the technology, and their motives.
Run Time: 88 minute OVA
Studio:
Like the Iron Man series before it this installation was produced by Studio Mad House.
Animation –
Mad House of course delivers on a good-looking show. While there are clear decisions that have been made to help cut costs (like avoiding showing Tony’s lip flaps in the suit by focusing on his eyes) the OAV overall has a nice glossy look. There is a clear application of CG, as is to be expected with robot shows these days. But it doesn’t seem out of place when it is used.
Director:
The director was not involved in any of the previous Iron Man, interestingly enough. But he did do some shows like Stein’s Gate, so he has been involved in something good.
Dubbing:
I actually watched this dubbed and it wasn’t so bad. As most of the characters are supposed to be American something about it actually “clicked” being dubbed and not having Tony Stark be Japanese.
That being said some of the writing was just a bit sad in how corny or mediocre it was. Some lines were particularly awful, but something about it did fit at times as an over the top super-hero movie.
Review:
So, think of Iron Man live action. What does it have?
- Iron suit dog fights?
- Playboy Genius moments?
- Other superhero cameos?
- Crazy over the top villians?
This anime? Check, check, check and check. It is exactly what Iron Man reboots have always and should always be. There is light techno babel but the important part is Tony Stark being Tony Stark and unabashedly messing people’s days up as Iron Man.
Right from the start they get into the action and do pretty well at keeping the beat all the way through the movie.
Nick Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Pepper Pots, even the Punisher all have moments in this adaptation and it’s kind of fun to see Marvel’s take on the other characters in the Marvel universe. However, while Tony seemed to be as on-point as is to be expected these other characters fell flat for me. I’m not sure if it was writing, acting, or just bad storytelling but most seemed awkward, especially when dealing with Tony. Key example was Pepper Pots. I admit to being a Tony/Pepper fangirl. But every time I saw them together I was left wanting to laugh, or just shake my head. Right up until the end their whole interaction, professional and romantic, seemed forced and awkward. It would’ve been far better if she had never been in there from the start.
The story was simple enough to understand, but maybe too simple in that I didn’t completely get some of the motives of the villain. Just a crazy kid I suppose. But sometimes they would throw in techno-babble or self-important book quoting that made you feel like you went from the kiddy pool to the deep end and back without ever having a chance to acclimate.
But these are things that are just normal problems that shows, and superhero shows, have. Iron Man Rise of the Technovore did have some cool moments and great lines. One such moment was when Tony jumped into his Iron Man suit, literally, and it was an awesome sequence to see the motion of it wrapping around him.
The best thing I can say for this movie is that it’s fun. This movie is 100% fun. Like a summer action flick you can turn your brain off and just enjoy what’s going on. Jump along for the ride and have fun. If that’s all you go into it with, well that and a healthy love of Iron Man, you will be able to enjoy this movie for what it is.
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