Iron Man

UK Release: 2nd May 2008

Watched on TV: Sunday 7th August 2011

Rating: 12A

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Runtime: 2hrs 6mins

Tagline: Heroes aren’t born. They’re built.

IMDb Plot Summary: When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

My YouTube Review:

My Review: Right, I must say from the off that I’m not usually one for comic type films, even though I love sci-fi, the whole explosions and running around thing doesn’t do much for me. I much prefer sci-fi films like Inception or Source Code where you have to think and get involved rather than the ‘popcorn’ movies where you just watch and enjoy the action. 

This said Iron Man was similar in that it had many of the conventions of this genre but it also had a tongue-in-cheek feel that made it more interesting.

The set-up was quite funny with Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark being taken in army vehicles across the deserts of Afghanistan. There is a laid-back atmosphere as we’re introduced to this rich, self-absorbed and arrogant man. Things quickly change when the truck in front of them explodes and as he runs for cover Stark notices that his name is on the explosives. This then sets in motion the rest of the film as Stark attempts to move away from his double-dealing business partner, played by Jeff Bridges.

I can’t imagine anyone else playing Tony Stark but Robert Downey Jr. Anyone else (particuarly a young, blonde, muscular action-hero type) would have ruined the role. Downey Jr. embodies the role and as a great dramatic actor - see Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus - gives the film depths that would have otherwise sunk the entire franchise. Even Pepper Potts, Starks personal assistant, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, was decently written with ten times more depth than any standard action hero love interest from films such as Transformers, who are just there to look pretty. 

After getting the casting spot on, the makers also seemed to get the tone right. There have been countless comic-book-turned-movies released and this film seemed to play on that. Throwing in what the audience expects but with a sense of them knowing what they’re doing. The locations, cinematography and special effects were all done really well, but for me it is the characters and the story that either works or doesn’t. No amount of CGI in a film will cover up the fact that the writing sucks. But thankfully Iron Man seemed to pull it off, making me smile as the credits rolled. I might even check out the sequel...

Score: 7/10