Heavy boots of lead, fills his victims full of dread

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2016)

Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark in the role he was born to play and one of the reasons why the MCU has grown so big, so quickly. This was the summer blockbuster of 2008 and is highly regarded by some as a catalyst for the MCU's recent success. Staying relatively true to the comic books this film spins a story which doesn't talk down to it's audiences, it doesn't ask for compassion or excuses, it just is.
After a weapon's demonstration of the new "Jericho" missile Tony Stark is captured by the Ten Rings, an Afghan terrorist cell. Whilst being captured Stark sustains injuries leaving missile shrapnel on a voyage towards his heart and death. Imprisoned in a cave with him is Dr. Ho Yinsen (Shaun Toub) who builds a small electromagnet to help keep the shrapnel away from Stark's heart. Fearing death and injustice Stark starts to build a weaponised suit which he intends to use to escape his captors. It works and it inspires him to build a proper version of the suit rather than one made from bits and bobs found in the cave. Thus Iron Man is born, from the imagination of a billionaire playboy genius and as a result of death and injustice. The film follows Stark as he deals with life as the Iron Man, looking at his personal life and his business Looking at how the US Military fears his tech but also craves it, much like the Ten Rings terrorist cell who fear it but want their own version. Everyone wants a piece of Iron Man but only Tony Stark can wield it properly.
This film is great, really really great in fact. It's mostly an origin story looking at how Stark became Iron Man but it's delivered with a fine mix of action, humour and CGI. There is plenty of time to learn about the backstory of Stark without having to see it all unfold on screen and Favreau directing skills deliver this brilliantly. The acting in the film is great too, like I said at the start of this review, Robert Downey Jr was born for this film, I can't think of another movie he's been in where I've been as bowled back by his performance. Downey manages to convince the audience that a philandering billionaire playboy can also have a heart and conscience without needing to completely overhaul himself into something else. The rest of the cast are equally believable from Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson and not forgetting Paul Bettany as the voice of Jarvis. Let's talk about CGI, obviously this film has CGI in it but it's believable throughout, at no point did I stop to think "that's looks cheesy" or "I can see that isn't real". All the CGI is tasteful and adds to the journey of the film. As the plot unfolds you simply can't get enough of what's happening on screen and by the end of it you'll be disappointed to see the credits on- screen.
I'll happily give this film 8 out of 10. Although I'm writing this review from 8 years after the film (has it really been 8 years?!) I can honestly say that at the time I hoped this would spawn a lot more good, honest, fun Marvel movies (and it did!) :)