In a suit of armor!
The Story:
Multi-billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is in Afghanistan demonstrating his newest weapon for the military when his convoy is attacked and Stark is injured. Ordered to build a weapon for terrorists, Stark designs an armor that can be worn as a weapon. It also happens to be able to save his life after his injuries. However, when Stark finds out who is behind the terrorist organization, it's a betrayal that cuts even deeper than any injury he suffers from.
Wow.
I love this movie.
Jon Favreau signs on as director for the first film from Marvel Studios, and he hit a home run. Any fear that Marvel was getting in over their heads was put to rest, relatively, by the performance of the first of the "Phase One" of the movies.
Surrounding Downey were excellent casting choices such as Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Lt. Colonel James Rhodes (Terence Howard). These pieces are vital to the mythos of Tony Stark, and they serve the movie well here. Filling out the unheralded role as Jarvis, Paul Bettany provides the voice of Tony's armor. It's an interesting twist on the comics, and one that works very well for the movie. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the screen debut of one of the most endearing characters in the Marvel Universe: Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg). I'm not sure if it was fleshed out from the beginning, but it was hard not to like the little guy. : )
As for the villain, Jeff Bridges plays the weasel Obadiah Stane perfectly. Going into the film, comic fans knew what was to be expected, but I'm sure it came as a surprise to many non-fans.
Downey brings a cocky swagger to the role that just nails everything the comic book character symbolized, and brings it into the real world. I'm very pleased that they've left the alcoholic subplot out of the movies, and I hope they keep it out. That was a period that was influential in the book, but is really a minor footnote in the grand scheme of things.
Tony needs to be challenged mentally, physically and intellectually. Leave the booze on the sideline.
It's not the perfect superhero movie, but five years later...
It's pretty darn close.
Final Grade: A. I'm raising it up from the A- simply because it is such a good film that still holds up, and really works for the foundation of the universe.
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Yes, yes...yes! So much so that I now have a cool briefcase containing this and many other films on Blu Ray.
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