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Bookmark this pageIron Man (2008)
Director: Jon Favreau
Synopsis
The latest Marvel comic book to receive a big screen adaptation, this one stars Robert Downey Jr. as the titular tycoon-cum-superhero.
Movie review
From Time Out London
Playboy weapons magnate Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is a greased amalgam of Howard Hughes, Hugh Hefner and C-3PO, complete with an enviable battery of glib banter and a goatee you could set your watch by. On a routine sales trip to the Middle East, his Humvee is ambushed by a terrorist cell and he is dragged away to a cave, where he is forced to reproduce one of his high-powered missiles with some scrap metal and a soldering iron.Instead, Stark uses those materials to construct a suit of robotic body armour and flee from the extremists’ clutches. This channels his epiphany – perhaps long overdue – that profiteering from weapons is far from the Promethean zenith of overarching compassion he once thought it was. He returns a changed man and, with the help of his svelte assistant ‘Pepper’ (Gwyneth Paltrow) and best mate Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), builds a shiny suit of armour with which he plans to put an end to warfare for good.
All this liberal hand-wringing comes much to the chagrin of the sinisterly named Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), Stark’s devious benefactor, who doesn’t shine to his peacenik jabbering one bit. Stane sports both a bald pate and a beard, a red flag combination in comic-book land if ever there was one.
Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau has proved with his past directorial efforts, including buddy comedy ‘Made’, Christmas film ‘Elf’ and kids’ fantasy ‘Zathura’, that he has a keen eye for character and can spin a decent yarn. Sadly, these two qualities are rarely apparent here, replaced instead by quick-fix one-liners and predictable set-piece gags. Like Iron Man’s suit, Favreau’s film feels like it has been meticulously assembled rather than lovingly formed. It’s little more than an elongated, episodic and sporadically charming introduction to the life of this mechanised millionaire superhero, light on both CGI and moral quandaries, and possessing neither the zip and sparkle of a ‘Spider-Man’ nor the brooding existential subtexts of ‘Batman Begins’.
Author: David Jenkins
Time Out London Issue 1967: April 30 - May 6
User reviews of this film
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- James said...
- Posted on Sep 01 2009 10:19 This is the best movie i've seen since I was... 9.
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- L X said...
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Posted on May 29 2009 13:54
This film is A M A Z I N G
If you haven't got it on DVD already, get buying! - Report as inappropriate
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- Seph Dennis said...
- Posted on Jan 02 2009 18:52 As a life long iron man fan, i feel this film did the comic justice, as i'm certain my fellow "iron-fans" will agree. The SFX and attention to detail are astounding. Easily the best marvel comic film to date. I'm aware it's a critic's job to attempt to pan films, but this review was abismal. Even people who were not previously fans of Mr. Tony Stark's adventures with his pretty nifty suit now adore iron man. A MUST SEE FILM! bad review up there from a bad critic.
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- qldsg kqwesa said...
- Posted on Nov 10 2008 06:50 eujrz hloe kxuthnjz ukqbw gickv usaqwhn gspj
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- reckoner said...
- Posted on Nov 03 2008 11:30 Watching Iron Man made me feel like I did when I was a small kid, when every movie I saw at the cinema was the best film I'd ever seen. It's a class act, from the opening scene to the last line, it even changed my opinion of Gwyneth Paltrow. I've always loathed her (and her inexplicable husband), but I now realise that, unlike many other actors, including the irresistible Downey Junior, she can actually play different characters, and with great charm. This is an extremely satisfying watch in every way. If I were making the sequel, I'd be feeling the heavy weight of responsibility to do this film justice, but the first effort has left me with unbridled optimism. Good work, Mr. Favreau. Mikey wins!
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- monica said...
- Posted on Jul 15 2008 16:03 Everyone has their opinions, that's for sure, but Ironman was a hit in my book. I saw it twice. LOVED it. My only criticism...how did Obadiah learn to work his suit so fast? huh? overall, I think it was realistic, wonderful, funny - I never followed Ironman in the comic book, but I asked a few buffs about the general story and the movie was dead on - good job!
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- rv john said...
- Posted on Jun 28 2008 12:35 this is best movie i ever saw it is very andveturous as well as interesting. keep on rocking
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- stuie said...
- Posted on Jun 20 2008 12:02 This is a terrific film. RDJ is great and the effects are top notch.
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- Mike said...
- Posted on Jun 16 2008 19:40 Just to keep it short, I enjoyed the movie, not as good as Batman Begins say, but better than most of the comic movies that I have seen, with a bit more character development and backstory. The one thing that I felt was lacking was that it needed more fight sequences! More chances to see the suit systems in action. But then they are no doubt saving that up for the sequel. I can't wait!
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- louie said...
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Posted on Jun 15 2008 11:58
whoever wrote that review should be sacked, i thought this was one of the greatest superhero movies for a long time,
an a must watch for any comic fan. - Report as inappropriate
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- rajesh said...
- Posted on Jun 14 2008 13:33 must see movie!! a marvel!! need i say ,more
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- bloy said...
- Posted on Jun 14 2008 10:31 Great fun, intro (how he becomes iron man) is a little long but Downey is great. Left pretty satisfied looking forward to next one.
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- Frankiee said...
- Posted on Jun 11 2008 19:19 THIS IS AWESOME!! it was real good and as well as Louise below i thought it would be a real male film but it was great! And robert downy jr was hitting the sezy notes spot on!
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- wrestler 18 said...
- Posted on Jun 08 2008 17:49 Absouletly rubbish. Fantasy film. Never gonna watch this movie ever again.No real story line. Do not see this movie!
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- Wolfy Girl said...
- Posted on Jun 05 2008 21:50 I've seen it 3 times now! XD I really want to go again, lol
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Cast & crew
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Leslie Bibb, Sayed Badreya, Clark Gregg, Tim Guinee full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Rated: 12A
Duration: 126 mins
UK Release: May 2 2008
US Release: May 2 2008
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