It Does Try But The Blockbuster Agenda Gets In The Way

Rating: 6/10 (31 July 2013)

I've little interest in Marvel comic books and how they tie in with cinema blockbusters but wasn't unimpressed with this version of IRON MAN . The story starts with Tony Stark a weapons industrialist visiting Afghanistan and being captured by insurgents so right away you've got a topical theme that ties in with the real world . Robert Downey Jnr is very well cast as Stark who starts of as a philistine but the performance by Downey does give a subtle feeling of redemption as he battles against The Ten Rings , an international terrorist organisation who have access to Stark's super-weapons and Stark as Iron Man battles to defeat them
As good as the film is since it tries to be topical and has an emphasis on character I feel I can't give it a higher than average mark down to the agenda of making it a loud , noisy , flashy Summer blockbuster featuring explosions and special effects . The climax featuring Iron Man fighting traitor Stane might appeal to some cinema fans but I became instantly bored by the spectacle and much enjoyed the smaller , serious character drive parts of the movie