Iron Man: The Big Marvel Re-Watch

I'm attempting a great big Marvel movie re-watch ahead of the release of Captain America Civil War on 29th April. A summary and brief review of each of the 12 instalments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be posted each Thursday and Tuesday.

The first outing for the hero and the studio.

Iron Man (2008)

Oozing style. The perfect casting choice.

Plot Summary

Tony Stark the self declared genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist and son of legendary inventor Howard Stark, the original creator of the Stark weapons contractors, is sent to Iraq behind enemy lines to give a weapons demonstration. His unit led by Lt. Col. James Rhodes, is attacked by enemy combatants, a terrorist cell linked to the Ten Rings of the Mandarin. He survives barely with a chest full of shrapnel edging closer and closer to his heart. He straps up a car battery to his heart, to hold the shrapnel at bay. Then goes on to miniaturise it only to discover this battery can power something else. He then builds his first Iron Man suit and escapes. He has a literal change of heart too after seeing his weapons effects first hand. He decides to stop making weapons and goes into tech. The man put in charge of his company has other ideas. The pair then work against each other perfecting their Iron-Man and Iron-Monger suits in an epic throw down. 

Iron Man Mark I

Review

As an avid Marvel comics reader, I was super cautious that this could flop hard. An unknown hero and a questionable actor, fresh out of rehab. I loved RDJ in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but I didn't see him as the Tony Stark type. How wrong could I be. The guy now lives for the role and seems to be Tony Stark in real life. The cast as a whole is faultless. The villain possibly a little one note, and pointless in the greater scheme of things but it's safe to safe Marvel studios was saving a lot of it's bigger villains for after the Avengers get together.

There is great humour, laced throughout the well-written script. Plenty of thought and time was put into making this a solid little stand alone film. The CGI effects are seamless and still hold up 8 years later. Breathtaking visuals paired with the finer points of this people piece. The relationships between Tony, Pepper, Rhodey and Happy aren't lost amongst the action here.

While not a perfect film, it's a solid little stand alone that leaves you wanting more. It somehow lived up to the hype, and teased more of what was to come. If anything I've ruined this film for myself by over-watching it by now, two films a year is simply not enough for someone who goes to the comic shop for the next chapter of my favourite stories each week.

The End Credit Scene

When Tony arrives home after the battle, Nick Fury is waiting for him and wants to recruit him for his Avengers initiative.

Iron Man rating: 7/10

A good start. A likeable cast. Brilliant visuals. A good first step for Marvel Studios.