One of the better comic book movies...

Rating: 9/10 (1 May 2008)

Generally I am quite a big fan of comic book movies, sure I've never read a comic book in my life and in truth I am not the best judge on the translation from page to screen. But I can tell a good movie, and I can safely say there are both brilliant comic book movies, X-Men 2, Spiderman 2, Batman Begins, and some downright awful comic book movies, Batman and Robin, Ghost Rider, Elektra. Iron Man isn't as well known to me, I knew of Batman, Spiderman, the X-Men mainly through the TV series, I never saw the cartoon of Iron Man and so knew very little of the origin story. I went in today expecting something decent, pretty much another Daredevil or Fantastic Four, good but strictly mediocre. Thankfully Iron Man was so much more, and the reason because of this was it actually focused on storyline and had a heart. Superhero movies nowadays have a tendency to rely on cool characters and nothing else, yes Ghost Rider I am looking firmly at you. Iron Man is different, while the character is great, the action sequences stunning and the special effects immaculate, the storyline and heart are there. Robert Downey Jr does miracles in the role of Tony Stark, being one of the most well rounded superhero characters I have ever seen. But the script does the performance justice. Iron Man is by far one of the better comic book movies I have seen and has left me desperate for an Iron Man 2.
As I said Robert Downey Jr is superb in the lead role, and to be honest he is the very best thing in this movie. Tony Stark is always likable even when he is at his nastiest. Stark is a man living under the shadow of his father, desperate to impress, even if that means by selling dangerous weapons. He's so caught up in his glamorous lifestyle that he forgets the consequences of what he is doing. Stark is a different superhero, and Downey Jr is a different actor for a superhero. But it pays off, its this different take on superheroes that makes the film such a huge success. Gwyneth Paltrow puts all those other pitiful superhero heroines to shame. Paltrow has brilliant dialogue and spits them out with ease, she's funny, original but also realistic. Her relationship with Stark works perfectly. Terence Howard in my eyes is the weakest of the cast members, I just never felt he did that good a job. There's a hilarious moment with him on a plane, but apart from that the role just seems a tad pointless. Jeff Bridges on the other hand is truly brilliant. I won't spoil his character, although it's blatantly obvious from when you first see him. It's a different role for Bridges but he is more than capable.
So what of the action sequences for Iron Man? Well they are spectacular, but if I'm honest they aren't the best things in the movie. While I love a good action sequence, and a superhero movie must have at least one memorable action moment (something the first Fantastic Four movie lacked). However, Iron Man seems to lose pace at times in the action, hence why this doesn't get a 10/10. The big final brawl is amazing, and definitely one of the highlights, the fight in Afghanistan is brilliant as well, but the disappointing jet fight just didn't do it for me. Thankfully the humour of the movie comes thick and fast, and the origin story is thankfully refreshing and not a case of seen it all before. There are at least three moments where I burst out loud laughing, one involving a fire extinguisher, had me laughing for about five minutes afterwards. The storyline also works particularly well, what it lacks in surprises it makes up for with sheer intensity. Its a great little storyline with a nice ending, and not underwhelming as many critics claim it is.
So overall Iron Man is a killer kick off to the Summer blockbuster season. Not underwhelming as Spiderman 3 was and not disappointing and lacklustre like Mission Impossible was last year. This is one of best superhero movies to date, and had The Dark Knight not been coming out this year, and almost guaranteed to jump all over Iron Man, then I would state this will be the best superhero movie of 2008.