A really nice surprise!

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2008)

I am not a fan of Iron man as a comic, but know a bit about the character, so when I heard they were doing a film I was not really that bothered about it. When the trailers came out i was not that impressed, so even considered giving the film a miss....
However I gave the film a go and was really glad I did.
The story is a great origin story, we get to see why Tony(Downey Jr) needs to become Iron man and see how he changes as a man. We get to see him develop the suit and see how he changes from selfish weapons designer, into a selfless hero. It has funny moments, quite a few serious ones, a dash of romance and a healthy dose of action, which enables this film to appeal to a large audience, as there is something in there for everyone. It also has great re-watch potential.
Downey Jr, plays Tony Stark really well, he adds a flare to the character and also at times brings real weight to the role, he also has a very dry wit, which makes you laugh, but can then switch to serious and makes you feel for the character and what his mission is.
The supporting actors were also good, from Jeff Bridges, plays a great villain, who you can believe and Gwyneth Paltrow, plays an effective personal assistant/love interest.
It is a self contained movie but also manages to set up sub plots, so there is still room for all the characters to grow in the sequels if they wish.
The good thing about the film is that it gives nods to the fan boys/girls but not overly so, so comic fans will get a blast from the movie but non comic fans can also enjoy it too and are not left out of the loop. So it is a film which appeals to all.
In terms of effects In the trailers I saw some bad CG but in the finished film the The effects are outstanding. You can see that all of the budget is on the screen and effects that looked bad in the trailers look great in the finished product. This combined with some good action sequences, make Iron man a very good action movie.
To Summarise: The film has great acting, a great story with good effects and action, this is a must see for all and I can not wait for the sequel.