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Review #640 of 365
Movie Review of Iron Man (2008) [PG-13] 126 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.00
Where Viewed: Harkins Ciné Capri at Northfield 18, Denver, CO
When Seen: 1 May 2008
Time: 8:00 pm
DVD Release Date: 30 September 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
After Credits: Yes there is something after the credits. See the Spoiler if you missed it.
Soundtrack: Download now from 
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Directed by: Jon Favreau (Zathura)
Screenplay by: Mark Fergus (Children of Men) • Hawk Ostby (Children of Men) • Art Marcum (Shadow of Fear), and Matt Holloway (debut) With characters by: Stan Lee, Don Heck, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Robert Downey, Jr. (Zodiac) • Terrence Howard (Awake) • Jeff Bridges (Surf's Up) • Gwyneth Paltrow (Running with Scissors) • Leslie Bibb (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) • Shaun Toub (The Kite Runner)
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Click to see photos from the Premiere of Iron Man
Click to read the spoiler points for Iron Man
Iron Man…harkens…back to that of the original Spider-man I…AWESOME blockbuster movie…
Starting things off, there's the semi-tragic, billionaire playboy Tony Stark being portrayed by the semi-tragic, millionaire once playboy Robert Downey, Jr. who finds himself in the hands of non-nationalistic, nomadic militants who possess the only thing he could ever fear—his own weapons of mass destruction. As the descendant of the founder of Stark Industries which makes the weapons that theoretically have been keeping the world in check, the kid who graduated from M.I.T. at age 16 has made a name for himself since by taking his father's aging workhorse of a company into the tech age or so we're informed by a video introduction set up for the gala honoring him with the Apogee Award. In typical fashion, he's not there to receive it, he's at the craps table blowing a ridiculous amount of money as per his gold-pressed platinum ego. Hours later, however, captured by these nomadic rebels, and with only a car battery-powered electromagnet keeping shrapnel out of his heart and a genius, multi-lingual physician/scientist Yinsen (Shaun Toub), by his side, he's been given weeks to build from scratch for the rebel ruler a duplicate of his latest and most effective weapon called the Jericho Missile.
When it becomes more and more evident that escape is the only option, his ingenious mind conceives a robotic exoskeleton with iron plating that would give him the ultimate defensive weapon and method of escape. It would, as does his heart's defense system, however require a new small scale, ultra power source modeled after 'failed' technology he dabbled in years ago called an arc generator. So, with the helpful assistance of Yinsen he builds first the power supply and then the iron suit under the watchful eye of the rebels who figure out too late that he's not building their desired missile system after all. These events and some tragedy involved in his escape return to his home in Malibu a changed man who no longer seeks to oversee a company that builds weapons for other people to use on each other while he profits handsomely back in the safety and luxury of his zillion dollar fortress-like home, rather he's now bent on ridding the world of his worst weapons and forging peace. While realizing he's got the ability to build something truly special and change the world, he's naïve not to notice that forces in the world around him would not be so eager to kill their cash cow, or would they? Such are the questions and twists in this exceptionally thrilling and exhilarating storyline.
Serving alongside him through thick and thin are his military liaison and closet thing he has to a pal, Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), his long-time personal assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his deceased father's best friend, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Like him personally or not, Robert Downey, Jr. delivers a truly exceptional and decidedly gifted performance, possibly the best and most complicated of his career, surprisingly enough. Recalling that he's a rugged 43 not the 33 of Tobey Maguire, Mr. Downey, Jr. proves again that 40 is the new 30 sporting a fit physique and at first curious and later dashing goatee. But, in this performance, for the evolution of the tragic hero to be effective, there has to be a realistic and credible catharsis. One could hope that this has manifested itself in the actor as well as he projects it in the character for fans of RD, Jr. deserve to see him emerge from his negative headline-ridden past into the mature, forward-thinking, persona we see in Iron Man. Jeff Bridges brings wisdom to his character that would spoil too much to discuss here (see the spoiler if you wish). Terrence Howard is a bit side-kick-ish, but adds class as he always does to his roles. It was fun to see Gwyneth Paltrow step up the comedic elements of the film of which there are many as she's been bogged down in ultr-serious roles for a while.
…pure adrenalin-coaxing entertainment…also…a potent political allegory
Alternate Posters
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Iron Man (2008)
Cast Members
Robert Downey, Jr.
• Terrence Howard • Jeff BridgesGwyneth Paltrow
• Leslie Bibb • Shaun ToubDirector
Jon Favreau
Writers
Mark Fergus
• Hawk Ostby • Art Marcum (), and Matt Holloway
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