Iron Man Movie Review
"I am Iron Man."
-Tony Stark
-Tony Stark
Iron Man was released back in 2008 and kicked off what would become known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU for short. I don't think anyone could have foreseen the success of this film especially after the track record that Marvel had leading up to it. This was a fresh start for Marvel Studios and they chose to bring Iron Man to the big screen, a hero mostly comic book fans were familiar with but not so much the general public. The film was directed by Jon Favreau who was played a small role in every Iron Man film to date and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man himself. Back in 2008, Downey Jr. was not a household name like he is today so people weren't really sure what to think. Easy to say though, just as Hugh Jackman has become and embodied Wolverine, Robert Downey Jr. has done the same with Iron Man. Plain and simple.
So the film kicks off introducing us to the rich and famous Tony Stark. Son of Howard Stark who was a major weapons manufacturer during World War 2, Tony rose up to run his father's company and prospered from all the perks that came along with being a billionaire. In Tony's defense, he wasn't just handed the company, he was a genius in his own right and was decades ahead of other countries in terms of technological advances. He worked closely with his deceased father's partner Obadiah and didn't exactly have a hands on approach with running Stark industries. But Favreau does a good job of setting the ground work for Tony's character before actually creating Iron Man.
After a weapons demonstration in the Middle East, Tony is being transported by a military convoy, which starts off very funny. We get to see his wit and sense of humor as he interacts with the troops and takes pictures with them at their requests. Suddenly the convoy comes under fire and all the troops he is with are killed. During his attempt to escape through the baron wasteland he comes face to face with an explosive; an explosive with none other than the Stark Industries logo on it. After being severely injured and taken hostage by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings, he's implanted with a magnet in his chest that keeps the tiny pieces of shrapnel from reaching his heart. In captivity he meets Ho Yinsen, an engineer and scientist from Afghanistan who is also being held by the Ten Rings. Tony is forced into building a weapon of mass destruction for the Ten Rings if he wants any hope of making it out of the cave with his life.
Together Tony and Yinsen create a suit of armor to break out of the cave, while the Ten Rings think they are working on the weapon. When it comes time for action, the suit works perfectly but unfortunately Yinsen could not make out alive. This is where we see Tony experience loss for the first time as well as come to the realization that his actions and business really do effect people around the world. I don't usually go into so much plot summary, but as this is an origin story of the character that kicks off the MCU, I thought it important to cover all the bases. Tony makes it back home safe were he is bombarded by questions and more press than usual. Pepper Pots, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is Tony's entrusted assistant for his daily and business life. Along with Colonel Rhodey who in this film is played by Terrance Howard but is later replaced by Don Cheadle, Pepper is a very important part of Tony's life and these characters evolve as he does. Once Tony is home he realizes that his company's weapons have gotten into the wrong hands and he feels responsible. In response he creates a suit similar to the one that saved his life back in the cave, but much more sleek, to say the least. Behold the Mark 2, an all silver suit that encompasses the look we've all learned to love.
Along with the suit he created an arc reactor that both kept the shrapnel away from his heart and was a power source for his new creations. He decides to take justice into his own hands and begins fighting terrorism over seas. Neither the terrorists nor the U.S. government know who or what is doing this and Tony slowly begins to make Iron Man more popular in the public eye. With the assistance of his butler who is an artificial intelligence program named J.A.R.V.I.S., voiced by Paul Bettany, Tony evolves from a selfish, egotistical, genius, billionaire to a slightly less selfish version inside a super suit! What makes Iron Man not only such a great comic book film but a great film overall is it's heart. It creates a hero out of a very flawed but likable character. So much of that credit goes to Robert Downey Jr. himself. He embodies this character and makes you believe he really is Tony Stark. He is so genuinely funny and it is easy to connect with him, which is why it comes to no surprise that he has carried the role seven years later and is still killing it. The visuals were amazing, Tony had a great character arc, and there was a perfect balance of action and good story telling to satisfy everyone. The film ends with a funny, climactic scene where Tony tells the whole world that he is Iron Man. So much for secret identities in the MCU huh? Also Marvel fans would have to get used to something; the notorious after credit scene. The "tag" after the movie ends in Iron Man was the one to start it all. It consisted of a man walking into Tony Stark's house and telling him he wasn't the only hero in the world and that he was part of a bigger universe. It confused many, but to some the possibilities were endless. Looking back it is amazing to see what Marvel Studious has created and it started off with a very strong first film. I give Iron Man a 8.5 out 10.
So the film kicks off introducing us to the rich and famous Tony Stark. Son of Howard Stark who was a major weapons manufacturer during World War 2, Tony rose up to run his father's company and prospered from all the perks that came along with being a billionaire. In Tony's defense, he wasn't just handed the company, he was a genius in his own right and was decades ahead of other countries in terms of technological advances. He worked closely with his deceased father's partner Obadiah and didn't exactly have a hands on approach with running Stark industries. But Favreau does a good job of setting the ground work for Tony's character before actually creating Iron Man.
After a weapons demonstration in the Middle East, Tony is being transported by a military convoy, which starts off very funny. We get to see his wit and sense of humor as he interacts with the troops and takes pictures with them at their requests. Suddenly the convoy comes under fire and all the troops he is with are killed. During his attempt to escape through the baron wasteland he comes face to face with an explosive; an explosive with none other than the Stark Industries logo on it. After being severely injured and taken hostage by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings, he's implanted with a magnet in his chest that keeps the tiny pieces of shrapnel from reaching his heart. In captivity he meets Ho Yinsen, an engineer and scientist from Afghanistan who is also being held by the Ten Rings. Tony is forced into building a weapon of mass destruction for the Ten Rings if he wants any hope of making it out of the cave with his life.
Together Tony and Yinsen create a suit of armor to break out of the cave, while the Ten Rings think they are working on the weapon. When it comes time for action, the suit works perfectly but unfortunately Yinsen could not make out alive. This is where we see Tony experience loss for the first time as well as come to the realization that his actions and business really do effect people around the world. I don't usually go into so much plot summary, but as this is an origin story of the character that kicks off the MCU, I thought it important to cover all the bases. Tony makes it back home safe were he is bombarded by questions and more press than usual. Pepper Pots, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is Tony's entrusted assistant for his daily and business life. Along with Colonel Rhodey who in this film is played by Terrance Howard but is later replaced by Don Cheadle, Pepper is a very important part of Tony's life and these characters evolve as he does. Once Tony is home he realizes that his company's weapons have gotten into the wrong hands and he feels responsible. In response he creates a suit similar to the one that saved his life back in the cave, but much more sleek, to say the least. Behold the Mark 2, an all silver suit that encompasses the look we've all learned to love.
Along with the suit he created an arc reactor that both kept the shrapnel away from his heart and was a power source for his new creations. He decides to take justice into his own hands and begins fighting terrorism over seas. Neither the terrorists nor the U.S. government know who or what is doing this and Tony slowly begins to make Iron Man more popular in the public eye. With the assistance of his butler who is an artificial intelligence program named J.A.R.V.I.S., voiced by Paul Bettany, Tony evolves from a selfish, egotistical, genius, billionaire to a slightly less selfish version inside a super suit! What makes Iron Man not only such a great comic book film but a great film overall is it's heart. It creates a hero out of a very flawed but likable character. So much of that credit goes to Robert Downey Jr. himself. He embodies this character and makes you believe he really is Tony Stark. He is so genuinely funny and it is easy to connect with him, which is why it comes to no surprise that he has carried the role seven years later and is still killing it. The visuals were amazing, Tony had a great character arc, and there was a perfect balance of action and good story telling to satisfy everyone. The film ends with a funny, climactic scene where Tony tells the whole world that he is Iron Man. So much for secret identities in the MCU huh? Also Marvel fans would have to get used to something; the notorious after credit scene. The "tag" after the movie ends in Iron Man was the one to start it all. It consisted of a man walking into Tony Stark's house and telling him he wasn't the only hero in the world and that he was part of a bigger universe. It confused many, but to some the possibilities were endless. Looking back it is amazing to see what Marvel Studious has created and it started off with a very strong first film. I give Iron Man a 8.5 out 10.
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