Bayside resident Mark Metcalf is an actor who has worked in movies, TV and on the stage. He is best known for his work in "Animal House," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Seinfeld."

In addition to his work on screen, Metcalf is involved with the Milwaukee International Film Festival, First Stage Children's Theater and a number of other projects.

He also finds time to write about movies for OnMilwaukee.com. This week, Metcalf weighs in on "Ironman" and "Apocalypto."

IRON MAN (2008)

"Iron Man" rocks! That's what Alyssa said, also Emily and Julius. Alyssa was like a crazed person for the past two weeks waiting for it to come out on video. She won't admit it, because she is 16, but I think it's because Robert Downey is so sexy. Robert Downey is Iron Man, as he says to everyone's surprise at the end of the picture, and by Chinese syllogism, since Iron Man rocks and Robert Downey is Iron Man then Robert Downey rocks.

Robert Downey is Iron Man in many ways. If you think about the amount of drugs he has been caught with and admitted taking, which is probably only a portion of the drugs he has actually taken, and the number of times he has stood before judges because of those drugs, he has taken quite a beating. But, he still looks great, moves great, and thinks very clearly about himself and the things he has endured.

Throughout the movie, there are not-so-veiled references to the very public life that Downey has lived for the past several years. It is part of the reason the film is so much fun. It is completely aware of itself. In a very important way, it is about being a corrupt movie star, a hedonistic, cynical, ruthless, fun-loving movie star who descends through several of the rungs of Dante's hell, fights his way back to the surface, finds himself a changed man and learns to live with the change and the goodness that is still available to him.

There are a bunch of videos on YouTube comparing "Iron Man" and "Batman: The Dark Knight." There is really no comparison. "Batman" is a very seriously intentioned film. And as I have said in this format, I think it achieves those intentions very well. "Iron Man" is not. It is meant to be a fun, partial parody of a contemporary action-adventure-super-hero-Hollywood movie. It achieves those intentions, too.

The whole family can see it and see it again. Especially the 16-year-olds. It is a fun ride. Everyone that I know is looking forward to the sequel, although they can't figure out how they will do it since Tony Stark let the cat out of the bag at the end and there is no more secret identity.

There is also no archenemy left at the end. But it's Hollywood, I'm sure they will come up with something. They may have to wait until Robert Downey, Jr., writes the next chapter in his own life so that they can find a plot that will play with as much fun as he is obviously having.

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Posted by sijan_heights on Oct. 4, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (report)

Lighten up Mark. All the Opus Dei fueled dumb ass utterances and missteps from Gibson cannot detract from this movie. The cast is visually arresting and the plot engrossing. Yes it IS brutal, but it is a brutality with consequences, there certainly will be blood when you bash a head in with a mallet. Unlike Iron Man though, mortality and injustice sometimes do revail. The verdant jungle makes for an amazing set. I particularly liked the idea that the tribe regarded fear as a sickness. I think it succeeds as both a paleolithic Bullitt and as a hamhanded attempt at drawing parallels to the perils of civilization. Check it out, despite the Maestro's misgivings.