Iron Man
Movie details
Based on the Marvel comics superhero, this exciting feature film tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and inventor who is kidnapped overseas and forced to build a devastating weapon. When Tony Stark is forced to create a life support suit to keep him alive after an accident he decides to use the technology in his suit to fight crime.
Director Jon Favreau
Stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow
Moderate action violence
Our review
While they are a fanboy's dream come true, comic book adaptations can be a fairly hit-and-miss affair for the ordinary viewer. Fortunately, Iron Man is pure escapism that is a real treat for cinema goers.
After a demonstration of his company's latest weaponry in Afghanistan, billionaire playboy protagonist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is captured by a rebel group that keeps him captive to build them a missile. They are big fans of his work, having a stockpile of Stark Industries products at their disposal.
While there he has an epiphany about the consequences of his life's work and fashions an armoured suit to escape in. When he finally makes it back to the US, he decides to no longer make weapons of death. Unfortunately, his company has other ideas.
Iron Man has everything going for it and makes the most of it. The script is sharp, fitting Robert Downey Jr like a glove, with a plot that updates the comic book backstory for modern times by setting it in Afghanistan rather than Vietnam. Jon Favreau's direction shows that he is clearly a fan of the character, and even manages a cameo as Stark's driver.
Downey Jr is inspired casting. You can tell he is having a blast, infusing Stark with enough wit and cool so that when he suits up as Iron Man nothing he does seems corny, avoiding a trap that many heroes in these types of films fall into.
Jeff Bridge's interpretation of the two-faced Obadiah Stane is pretty straight, but the real surprise here is Gwyneth Paltrow. Love her or hate her, she is fantastic as Stark's faithful assistant Pepper Potts.
If there is one part that lets Iron Man, it's the final battle - it feels like it treads on the ground previously covered by Transformers.
While there is an inevitable sequel coming (or two), this film is a cut above the norm. Forget Superman, Batman and Spider-Man - Iron Man finally delivers a comic book adaptation that stands alone as a great movie, even outside the superhero genre.
8/10
Ben Shute
In compiling yourTime content, HWW relies upon information supplied by a number of sources. yourTime content is supplied on the basis that while HWW believes that all the information in it will be correct at time of publishing, it does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.
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