Source: CCTV.com

05-12-2008 09:30

Iron Man, emerges as the latest cartoon here to step on to the big screen. Within five days of the film's release on April 30th, Jon Favreau's latest effort earned an amazing world wide box office return of 201 million dollars. That return exceeded the highest expectations for the film. The Iron Man craze brewed up another fever for cartoon heroes in China. In our "Spotlight" today, we look at all those fictional big screen heroes that sworn to uphold the right and combat the force of evil.

Iron Man, emerges as the latest cartoon here to step on to the big screen. Within five days of the film's release on April 30th.(sina.com)

Robert Downey Junior plays the title role. Jon Favreau is the director of "Iron Man". Even the pickiest movie critics have sung praises to the pair. Among the nearly two hundred reviews on the Rotten Tomato website, a movie data base portal, "Iron Man"'s earned an extremely high rating -- 94 percent. The Iron Man, Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr, is a millionaire. He's an expert on advanced weapons. He puts together a suit of armor which affords him supernatural powers. With the help of his assistants, Stark vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

Over the years big screen cartoon heroes have established a solid fan base in China. The influence began in 2002, when Spiderman, the Movie was released in China. Superman and Batman may have been household names in China. Spiderman was far from well known. But Spiderman started a trend toward animated films in the Chinese domestic market. Box office returns for the Spiderman trilogy show an impressive upward spiral. While the first instalment earned 41 million Yuan, the third took in a box office of 146 million Yuan.