Iron Man (2008) Movie Review

Synopsis:

Playboy billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) uses Stark Industries to build and sell advanced weaponry. After a weapons demonstration, terrorists capture him. Seeing what his weapons are capable of in the wrong hands, he builds a suit of armor to escape and becomes Iron Man.

Review:

Iron Man is often referred to as the movie that ‘kickstarted’ the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).

Iron Man had some popularity in the comics. Despite this, he wasn't as recognizable compared to Spider-Man or Wolverine.

Having Iron Man on the big screen for the first time could have either been a success or a failure for Marvel Studios. This also included director Jon Favreau.

It was clear that Downey Jr. had the charisma and depth required to portray Tony Stark.

Combined with quality CGI effects and action, the film was a success.

Iron Man also includes good performances from the supporting actors. These help to complement Robert's character arc well throughout.

One of them is Tony’s friend Rhodey, portrayed by Terrence Howard (later replaced by Don Cheadle). Yet another is Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts.

Each character serves a purpose in furthering the narrative.

One other notable actor in the movie is Jeff Bridges. He portrays Obadiah Stane, this film’s central antagonist.

Throughout, Bridges' on-screen presence is strong throughout.

This is despite the film not offering many opportunities to explore Obadiah's motivations in more depth.

As a whole, Iron Man's antagonists have little development or intriguing motivations.

Despite this, the film's positives are its consistent storytelling and impactful action sequences.

This film's visual effects bring the Iron Man armor to life through believable CGI. This is further complemented by its imaginative sound design.

Each time it moves, it produces a recognizable metallic sound effect. As a result, this enhances the immersion.

Pacing is another aspect of Iron Man that succeeds. As a result, it complements Tony’s character arc throughout the film.

Taking the time to evolve him from a self-centered playboy to a more empathetic human being makes him more relatable.

One instance in which the pacing falters is in the film’s final act. It lacks the fast-paced action and consistent storytelling of the first half.

Conclusion:

Iron Man was a global success for Marvel Studios, making the character a household name.

This is despite the film's underdeveloped antagonists and a weaker final act. Its success also allowed the studio to explore future projects.

These films would allow Marvel to expand the universe and introduce new characters.

Sam's Action Reaction score:

Characters - 8/10

Story - 8/10

Action - 7.5/10

CGI and visuals - 8/10

Soundtrack - 7.5/10

Overall score: 7.8 out of 10