$104,250,000 opening for Iron Man

Spectacular way to jump-start a sluggish year and kick off the summer season with enthusiasm. As the AP reports:

“If that first May movie is a big hit, it tends to lead to a big summer,” said Rob Moore, Paramount vice chairman. “There hadn’t been a big event movie yet this year. So you have the first event movie of summer, and people go ‘And I hear it’s really good. All right, I’m in.'”

“Iron Man” was the 10th biggest opening of all time and the fourth biggest for a superhero movie. Among nonsequels, it came in behind only the first “Spider-Man,” which premiered with $114.8 million.

“If we have to, we’re happy to come in second to another Marvel property,” Maisel said. “It emphasizes how lucky we are to have such a powerful brand that’s not loved by just comic book fans but also general movie fans.”

And it helps to have directors who respect the material, along with the trend (noted in another thread) to cast actors who can make us care about the characters who embody the special effects. The acting in Iron Man was so good, I found myself almost resenting the intrusion of another whiz-bang vroosh of CGI.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utAgST4Noyo[/youtube]

Cheif among the human charms of Iron Man is Gwyneth Paltrow — here in an appearance on The Late Show — who reaffirms her genetically refined elegance with every gesture and vocal intonation. There’s no faking good breeding like this. Paltrow’s inborn poise and intelligence shines through in every step she takes and every word she utters. She’s the closest thing to Grace Kelly Hollywood has got, and my only major complaint about Iron Man is that we didn’t get to see more of her.

(part 2 of the Gwyneth/Letterman segment after the cut, as well as Terrence Howard on Ellen)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPT8ew-Grf8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBOvFYZ1slE[/youtube]