'Iron Man'

Visual Effects

By DAVID S. COHEN

Lately, the visual effects that have grabbed the most attention -- and awards -- have usually been groundbreaking digital ones. But in "Iron Man," it's the interplay of CGI and practical effects that really brought the eponymous hero to life.

The onscreen Iron Man is a combination of a life-sized practical suit, made by Stan Winston Studio (one of the last jobs for the late practical-effects master) and digital animation, much of it from Industrial Light & Magic.

Visual effects supervisor John Nelson says, "From the practical suit, the CG suit, the heads-up display and where you look inside and see Robert (Downey Jr.), from all those elements we constructed a total performance that is very immersive and satisfying and real."