A promising start to the MCU

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2017)

Superhero films had become a bit lackluster around the time of this film's release. Of course, some would argue that superhero films are lackluster now, but after films like Spider-Man 3, some people had lost interest.
Then Marvel had announced its own Cinematic Universe starting with Iron Man. This film has utterly transformed Robert Downey Jr's career, who at the time was considered a druggie burnout. This film marks his return to form, portraying Tony Stark, a self-proclaimed genius billionaire playboy philanthropist. The remarkable thing about his performance as Tony Stark is that it seems effortless. His confidence and charisma is ever-present as he goes through the film.
Tony Stark, the successor to his father's business, Stark Industries has made his name selling innovative weapons. However, when he gets captured by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings and learn that they have been using his weapons to terrorise cities, he has a change of heart and manufactures a miniaturized Arc Reactor to keep himself alive after sustaining life threatening injuries and also to power his latest invention, the Iron Man suit.
His mentor and father's former partner Obidiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) strongly disapproves of the new direction Stark has made for the company and takes steps to remove him, in every sense of the word.
Plot synopsis aside, let's actually review this sucker.
The film has several strong points. For one, the character of Tony Stark exudes enough charm that you're always on his side. Sure, he's arrogant and conceited, but what's a character without flaws? Second, the special effects. For CGI that was made for a 2008 film, it still holds up. The MCU would continue to wow us with masterful effects so this was a great starting point. Also, the dialogue feels more natural as the characters are always talking over each other in conversation, as opposed to overly rehearsed and perfectly paced. It makes it seem a little more down to Earth, and yes, I'm aware that I'm making this point about a film in which a man flies around in a weaponized suit of armour.
Overall, it's a very well made film and showed to us that superhero films can be really great.