Iron Man

Iron Man (2008)

Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr. & Jeff Bridges

Iron Man was the first big film in a summer full of blockbusters. Earning more than $300 Million at the box office, the super hero flick garnered plenty of praise from both critics and audiences.

Acting: (8) Much ado was made over Robert Downey's portrayal of Tony Stark. Downey's wit and bravado are a welcome change to Marvel's typical heroes. This movie was the perfect vehicle to re-introduce Downey's enormous talent to a wide scale audience. His performance was matched by Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane. Everything about Bridges' look says villian. This summer was all about raising the standards for acting in comic book films.

Effects: (8.5) This film features plenty of high velocity sequences as well as your standard explosions and futuristic tech gear. However, it doesn't go over board with the effects. Favreau features just enough nerd eye candy to please the fanboys, but wisely choose to use the characters as the main engine for the film's story. In this case, less is more.

Plot: (7.5) Basically your standard "Origins" film. The ordinary man finds his calling and identifies his power while a former friend reveals himself to be his greatest enemy. This plot probably hits a bit too close to home for Peter Parker and Clark Kent, but it none the less succedes in drawing the audience in and making them care about Stark and his affliction.

Entertainment: (7.5) Downey is worth the price of admission, but I wasn't as blown away as the hype machine told me that I would be. It's certainly a fine example of the genre, but not quite a classic.

Overall: 7.5