The ending justifies why I love the comic book genre. No, I’m not talking about the end of the movie, but the scene after the credits. That piece was meant to get the fanboys extremely excited, and boy did it ever do the job. That alone was worth the price of admission and I see where this new direction by Marvel Comics is headed. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Iron Man, starring Robert Downey, Jr. as billionaire industrialist and genius inventor Tony Stark, is a movie about redemption, both figuratively and literally.

Director Jon Favreau successfully dissipates the stench left behind from Daredevil, where he played the role of Matt Murdock’s best friend “Foggy” Nelson, and comes up smelling like a rose with the Armored Avenger. He redeems himself by making one of the best superhero films that ranks up there with Spider-Man 2, Superman and Batman Begins.

Robert Downey, Jr., a brilliant but troubled actor, proves why he is one of the best as he portrays a brilliant but spoiled, playboy-industrialist. His performance raises the bar in showcasing a depth and complexity that is translated successfully from the comic pages to the big screen. He redeems himself in the public eye with his dedication to making Tony Stark true to his character. It also helps that Downey, Jr. is an avid comic book reader and put his stamp on the script as well.

Marvel Comics has had a string of hits and misses as of late, with the Spider-Man and X-Men becoming franchise favourites, while Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Hulk and Ghost Rider receiving mixed results. That has changed with this movie as Marvel Studios puts forth a spectacular production for its first-financed film. Having the company that continues to create and develop these characters only makes sense. Doing it this way allows for Marvel to really play with its universe and have other characters interact with each other without having to worry about licenses and movie rights. Redemption for Marvel’s movie franchises begins right now.

Iron Man hits all the right notes with its superb cast, excellent storytelling and complexities of the characters portrayed in the movie with some amazing special effects by Industrial Light & Magic thrown into the mix. Even more surprising is the humour thrown into the fray that didn’t feel forced at all, largely thanks to Downey, Jr. making it feel natural.

Tony Stark is a brilliant billionaire industrialist and genius inventor. His company, Stark Industries, is the foremost company in weapons’ armament and development, allowing Stark to reap the riches from his creations. Obviously, this makes him a target as a terrorist group called the Ten Rings captures Tony Stark in Afghanistan. They order him to build a powerful missile for them, but instead he builds a powerful, exoskeleton armour to help him escape. But his three months of captivity opened his eyes around him, especially at the fact that it’s his own designs that are crating the world’s problems instead of solving it. Upon his return to America, he plans on changing this, much to the chagrin of his business partner, Obadiah Stane. In order to combat the necessary evils of his company, he improves upon his armour and becomes the technologically advanced superhero Iron Man.

The movie doesn’t miss a beat and includes all the necessary elements to crafting a powerful tale. On the surface level, Tony Stark is a superficial, spoiled playboy who is famous for his womanizing ways. It’s all about material goods, fame, power and riches for him. But he is a character with many layers that’s buried deep within. Downey, Jr. unlocks these layers and really showcases Stark as a complex, three-dimensional man. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his personal assistant and the sexy Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard plays jet pilot James Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane. All of them are cast perfectly in their respective roles and really help deliver convincing performances.

Even though the film takes Iron man’s origin from 1963 and substitutes the war in Afghanistan for the Vietnam War, the heart of the story remains intact… literally. Stark’s injury caused from exploding shrapnel is the cause for him to really look at his own mortality and the creation of the Iron Man armour. It is a treat to see Jack Kirby’s original gray suit come to life on the big screen, or at least a close facsimile of it.

Obadiah Stane is a very interesting choice to use as the first villain but it’s one to makes complete sense as one who doesn’t want to give up the good life from war-profiteering. And it’s not an Iron Man battle without going against an equally armoured-clad villain, in this case the Iron Monger. Interestingly enough, there were enough seeds planted for some great sequels including one that involves long-time foe the Mandarin (the whole Ten Rings name didn’t escape my attention).

Of course who can forget the obligatory Stan Lee cameo. Talk about a fast way to make a buck.

It’s very evident that Favreau modeled this movie after Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Just as that film not only rebooted a franchise but a whole new universe, Iron Man does the same in a similar manner. It’s funny how these two heroes—Batman and Iron Man—are really two sides of the same coin. Both are born into wealth, have technologically-advanced companies, are billionaire-industrialists, moonlight as playboys, have impressive toys at their disposal, and masquerade as superheroes. More importantly, both tell a human story of complicated heroes living in a complicated world. Their means of making it better is anything but normal.

But while both movies are equally good, Iron Man edges it out and it all comes back to what was seen after the closing credits. It indicates that Iron Man’s universe isn’t an isolated one at all, and there lies the real fun. Warner Brothers better take a cue from this movie because the whole Marvel Studios is heading in the right direction with ol’ Shellhead leading the way.


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Other Comic Book Movies
DC Comics
Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) || Batman (1943) || Batman: The Movie (1966) || Batman (1989) || Batman Returns || Batman Forever || Batman & Robin || Batman Begins || Batman: Mask of the Phantasm || Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero || Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman || The Batman Superman Movie || Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker || Catwoman || Constantine || Steel (1997) || Superman: The Movie || Superman II || Superman II: The Donner Cut || Superman III || Superman IV: The Quest for Peace || Superman Returns || Superman: Brainiac Attacks || Superman: Doomsday

Marvel Comics
Daredevil || Doctor Strange (2007) || Fantastic Four (2005) || Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer || Ghost Rider (2007) || Hulk (2003) || The Invincible Iron Man (2007) || The Punisher (2004) || Spider-Man || Spider-Man 2 || Spider-Man 3 || Ultimate Avengers: The Movie || Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther || X-Men || X2: X-Men United || X-Men: The Last Stand

Independent Comic Books
The Mask of Zorro || Men in Black || Popeye || Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles || Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze || TMNT || Transformers: The Movie (1986) || Transformers (2007)


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And the 2008 Funny Pages Write-Off still continues with this review. It's going to be a great summer.



Recommended: Yes

Movie Mood: Action Movie