Well made, well acted and never campy.

Rating: 9/10 (3 May 2008)

Iron Man - Billionaire playboy/weapons designer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) suffers a mortal wound and has a change of heart (literally) after he is abducted by terrorists in Afghanistan. After seeing his own weapons used against him and innocents, Tony Stark creates several armor suits to escape his captors and become...Iron Man.
Now this is what I'm talking about! This movie is badass. I would have to see it a few times over, but I think it may have a notch over Spiderman 2. This movie made me feel like a 13 year old, watching the Spiderman movie with glee. Origin stories are boring unless you do them right, but it is terribly fun to watch Tony Stark transform himself technically and mentally into Iron Man. And there are several (very well done) action scenes, but it never feels over the top or too much. They always leave you wanting more, which is a good thing. It's such a great feeling every time he puts on the suit.
Robert Downey Jr. has done a commendable job. He is quirky, hilarious and entirely believable without ever stepping into the dangerous camp zone, as Marvel movies are prone to do. He has me believing that a man with more money than God and the coolest suit of armor ever could have problems. Everyone else turns in a good performance, and especially Jeff Bridges. I never got to see him do anything villainous before, but his performance as Obadiah Stane is quite chilling. Even Stan Lee's cameo is actually funny this time (I thought he left Marvel. huh.) Looking forward to Terrence Howard's extended part as War Machine, as he's kinda stinted in this one. It's mostly Robert Downey Jr.'s movie, and he sells it.
I've never been much of an Iron Man fan (I do like the Ultimate Universe comics involving him though) and only saw Robert Dwoney Jr. in Zodiac prior to this. I'll have to watch his other film. He's fantastic. See the film whether you're an Iron Man fan or if you're not. If you read comics, if you don't. It's a very GOOD FILM regardless, and easily accessible. I can't wait to see it again. It'll almost make you believe a man can fly. Or that a billionaire would actually put his own life in jeopardy for the rest of mankind.
btw, stick around for after the credits when you see it.
A-