movies/tv Iron Man: Rise of Technovore

[Trixie the Greatest 130]

 

 

Iron Man:  Rise of Technovore

 

Anime Review

 

2012 

 

Marvel/Sony Pictures

 

PG-13

 

The Technovore story ark was featured in the mid 90s comic Iron Man, after Tony Stark confronted a technological monstrosity that was devouring anything that was technological and merged it into its own, creating a devastating creature that got too big to stay on Earth, thus Iron Man faced it in space, putting Tony Stark into a state between life and death as a result (Tony already had died once in the Marvel universe before this ark was written, therefore encountering paranormal events when his life was threatened became more the norm after that story ark).  It was one of the most frightening events in Marvel continuity dealing with Iron Man against technology going horribly wrong.

 

Flash forward to 2012, a few years after Iron Man was syndicated as an Anime distributed by Sony Pictures and also aired in US airwaves (Another Marvel franchise turned into an Anime by Sony as well was Wolverine, who would also make cameos in Iron Man being that it was the same animated universe).  Rise of Technovore explores the same events presented in the comic book ark but with a slight difference of its origin and the antagonist, being human instead of a sentient technological monster.  Iron Man and War Machine have a friendly race across the sky over the launch command where a new satellite made by Stark Industries is about to launch.  Said satellite dubbed the Howard by Tony in honor of his father, would be the latest in national security surveillance being that it could hack into any activity that would threaten the world by terrorists or anyone among them.  This big brother approach is not taken lightly as mechanical suited mercenaries begin to attack the launch site, keeping Iron Man and War Machine busy while the culprit invades the control station of said launch.  While Tony asks Rhodes to take care of the situation, along with some help from SHIELD air fighters, he flies over to confront the person behind said attach, only to find a mysterious young man who uses a nano technological suit which obeys his every thought and also uses weaponry in an organic way, killing people instantly as nano machines invade their bodies.  He proves too fast and advances for Iron Man to stop him, but gets to buy time for the Howard as it launches into space safely.  Just before he resumes his attempt in capturing the attacker, the being who now reveals himself as Technovore leaves behind some of its nano spheres which creates an explosion where Iron Man and War Machine are caught.  While Tony is spared, Rhodes is found in critical condition, therefore Stark attempts to get revenge for what happened, but not before Nick Fury tries to stop him, sending the Black Widow after him.  Moments later Iron Man seeks the aid of his confidant Pepper Potts and afterwards The Punisher to seek leads to who the Technovore is in reality and where to find him.  All this while SHIELD along with its top agents Hawkeye and Black Widow try to subdue him. 

 

Tony finds out that Technovore is in reality, Ezekiel Stane, son of his then business partner Obadiah Stane (For those who keep track, Obadiah was the first villain Iron Man confronted in the first Iron Man movie as the Iron Monger, tying the Anime with the current movies starring Robert Downey Jr.).  Events tat occurred years ago as Tony recalls Obadiah trying to take over in his own suit and meeting his demise flash in his mind, while he sets on finding Ezekiel and settle the score.  After a near miss, Iron Man gets to defeat Ezekiel and SHIELD contains him, but not before he begins taking control of the Helicarrier, using it as beacon to control not only The Howard, but every other satellite in existence used by the military around the world.  In his moment of self confidence and arrogance, Ezekiel loses control of the nano machines in his body, turning him into a hideous monster that Iron Man tries to take down, but begins losing the battle.  It is when War Machine makes a comeback thanks to the nano machines that were spread to take over the Helicarrier that healed him that the fight gets evenly between them and Technovore.  

 

But not all goes as planned; Technovore evolves into a non human psyche, and takes control of the city where the Helicarrier was forced to crash land.  Iron Man uses a backdoor code that he asks Pepper Potts to initiate and regain control of the Howard momentarily, so he could direct a direct attack on the godlike Technovore.  Using himself as bait so War Machine may operate one of the satellites via remote control and shoot his central reactor in Tony's suit, Iron Man nearly faces death as he saves humanity from the technological nightmare.  Ezekiel is taken back to custody as a semi vegetable shell of what he was before he became Technovore and regains a bit of self consciousness before the movie ends.

 

I have watched Marvel's Anime line with Wolverine and Iron Man, while Wolverine was a bit overplayed, Iron Man seemed to have more promise, being that it was in the time when the Iron Man movies where out in the mainstream and Iron Man 2 itself was playing.  Anime Tony Stark is remarkable character wise as Robert Downey Jr., a great nod to his personality in this movie.  Pepper Potts, Rhodes, The Punisher, and many Marvel characters that appear in Rise of Technovore are very well portrayed; my geek factor went to 11 after seeing Frank Castle and Iron Man together in a classic car chase from Hawkeye and Black Widow in a scene.  War Machine himself was extraordinary and as fans may expect, he had a humongous arsenal all around his suit, including a gigantic shoulder cannon and machine gun-like weaponry mounted on each wrist.  His scenes are the most action packed in terms of firepower.  Hearing Marvel characters in Japanese voice overs is kinda unique, as it was when Batman Gotham Knight came along years prior.  A splendid blend of East and West animation rolled into a majestic feature.  Tying the live action movie events with the Anime is a wonderful decision that brought a smile on my face.  Perhaps a smirk as well.  Not loose ends as to what and why events occur in the movie, whether you have read the original story ark which its based upon or not.

 

Iron Man Rise of Technovore is a great addition to your Marvel movie library, echoing a classic story ark from the comics and adapting it in quite a great way into an animated movie.

 

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