Movie: Iron Man

Studio:	Paramount Pictures
Release:	May 2, 2008
Genre:	Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
MPAA Rating:	PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content.

My Yahoo! Movies Rating:

Overall Grade:	B
Story:	B
Acting	B
Direction:	B
Visuals:	B

Credit the movies "Chances Are" and "Heart and Souls" for making me love Robert Downey, Jr. He is the reason I made a point to see this movie.

To be truthful, I thought it would suck, since I didn't think Ironman is one of the most popular Marvel superheroes - although it should have a solid fan base. There has also been too many superhero movies lately that it's hard to get excited by the release of yet another one. Finally, Downey seemed awkward or didn't fit well into the role based on what the trailer showed.

Surprisingly, this movie rocked! It's one of those cases where the movie is actually better than the trailer and not the other way around.

The writers did a good job at Stark's character development. They actually made me like Iron Man/Tony Stark. The secondary characters were interesting although there is little space for them to grow. This movie, befitting of the main character's ego, is all about Tony Stark. This has got to be the superhero movie that spent the least amount of time showcasing its main antagonist (Obadiah) or leading lady (Pepper).

Robert Downey, Jr. was wonderful as Tony Stark. He owned the character. He was not that great when in the suit. There were times when he looked awkward as Iron Man, like he was just pretending to be Iron Man instead of being Iron Man.

Jeff Bridges was great, I didn't know being a bald meanie fitted him well.

I don't know much about how Pepper should be, but Gwyneth Paltrow did a good job of not allowing her star status to dominate a scene since she played Pepper as a quiet, subtle, if sometimes unassuming person.

Terrence Howard was adorable as Stark's somewhat unappreciated friend... loved his reaction when he realized Stark was the unidentified bogey.

Shaun Toub portrayed Yinsen admirably, which is why it's sad that the character dies. It never occurred to me till now that Yinsen sounds like a Chinese name ... and that's because the original stories show him to be .... tadah! .... Chinese.

It surprised me to see Paul Bettany's name in the credits ... apparently he was the voice behind the computer named J.A.R.V.I.S.

Stan Lee makes another cameo looking like Hugh Hefner. Which was a hoot.

I was puzzled to see Jon Favreau playing a minor character that is more or less what I'd call an "extra", till I realized he was the director.

Favreau impressed me with this movie. He has shown that he knows what the moviegoer looks for in a superhero movie. Notice that I qualified it to "superhero movie". He he he! Try as I might, I find it hard to like "Zathura". I do like "Elf".

It was disturbing to think that the movie sends the wrong message to kids when it comes to the importance of wearing safety gear ... Stark slammed into a wall while testing his propulsion boots and didn't show any indication that he was hurt.

The visuals were good, starting with the cool hot-rod red armor. Loved the holographic computer most ... especially when you could actually throw what you have deleted into the trash bin! How's that for fun?

To top it all, Samuel Jackson appears as Nick Fury after all the credits (pity if you left the cinema while the credits were rolling), asking Stark if he knows about the Avengers Initiative.

I immediatly started having flashbacks of the Ultimate Avengers animated movie. One has to wonder what Marvel plans to do by putting in that scene ... is this related to a possible Iron Man sequel? Or perhaps an Avengers movie?

Hmmm ... anyway, congratulations to Marvel Entertainment for having a hit for its first self-produced film ... and kudos to Favreau for giving us a rocking movie.