Hey, everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
you know, its been more than 10 years for the still going series of MCU, whether you love it as a dream come true for adapting from numerous comics and storylines, or just a massive exploitation from Disney that haters like to make war in the community like to make hate posts with DC's power than Marvel, which the latter really made me pinch of anger that they're taking way too seriously...!! But i digress, what better way to talking about the long ongoing series? Well, we gotta go back in time with the very first film which i remember seeing this film when i was a like, a teen i think, with my mom and dad.
"Iron Man" is a 2008 superhero film and the very first "Marvel Cinematic Universe" film that was directed by Jon Favreau (aka my favorite director/actor/person in movie industry), produced by Avi Arad and Kevin Feige (Duh) and written (on screenplay) by Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.
The idea of our favorite man in the iron suit was begin all the way back in the 90's, Marvel Studio are planned to make a movie of Iron Man, but had a hard time to picking any distributors, it started with Universal Studios got the right in 1990 as a low budget film, but no idea how they're gonna do that as a low budget, they hand over to 20th Century Fox and Nicolas Cage was expressed to playing as Tony Stark (Heh, can you imagine if Tony overreact when his Mark 3 armor is completely damaged that he's falling in hilarious screaming?), but Tom Cruise was also expressed to play the main hero, but it went out of control with so many writing block when Fox handed over to New Line Cinema, leaving the project became hopeless once it reached to millennium. Thankfully in 2005, the project was rebooted it was eventually got improved during the development with the help of Jon Favreau. Weird note, this film was distributed by Paramount Pictures when it was first released, but as time went on at 2013, Disney bought Marvel Studios to obtaining all the rights of MCU.
When the film was released, it was well-received both critics and audience for its action, the characters from acting and the writing. In fact, it was nominated from Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. And the box-office was a major hit with over $585.8 million, making it not only a success, but it also helped to not only making sequels, but also brought us more heroes like Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and more more heroes and the rest as they say, was history.
So, with all that said, will this movie still holds up as a best film to start MCU, or is this film pretty much foreshadowed by the later films?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
For a very first MCU film, you think that the story is gonna be basic and kinda creative film for one of my favorite hero? Well, its like that, but a unique plot development.
The movie begins with a bang where we introduce Anthony "Tony" Stark, who's a genius, billionaire, playboy and a next gen from his late father Howard in Stark Industries. After his father's death, Tony took the torch to continuing an advanced technology company, but he moved ahead to the military to inventing a powerful weapon called "Jericho", which is mainly using it on the war in Afghanistan, but while on his Humvee with the soldiers, he ended up exploded himself from his own invention, leaving him wounded on his chest very badly (especially he has a electromagnet battery implanted on his heart for his life) and being held in prison from the group of terrorist called "Ten Rings", leaving him being stuck in prison with a captive partner Yinsen, but he was offered by the leader of Terrorist, Raza, to give his invention to the group for freedom, despite Tony and Yin have their secret plan, after an hours, Tony invented his very first Iron Man armor, known as "Mark I", after Yinsen sacrificed himself to letting Tony start to powering up, Tony broke free with his armor to beat'em down and flew away (but briefly that he crash landed on desert, but at least he'll do that again). Eventually, he was rescued by the military to bring back in Malibu, California to reuniting with Lieutenant James Rhodes, his assistant/lover Pepper Potts and his unlikely assistant/partner since his later father Obadiah Stane, but he announced to shut down his manufacturing weapons for... Personal reason, since he's secretly interested to creating his iron suit since his escape from prison, but he had to deal with Ten Rings for stealing his inventions, its up to Tony as "Iron Man" (though he never gave his nickname) to stop the exchanging weapons and probably find out who too his stuff away to the terrorist when he was captive.
Despite the simplicity that its based on the comic elements like his beginning to an armor battle (though il tell that moment later), but i find it fascinating for not just based on comic elements, but also the business struggle based on being captured in prison since the war in Afghanistan, with cancelling military weaponry to focus on new invention like iron suit that we all know (well, either that or until Iron Man 3). Plus, having Tony's origin to dealing with terrorist to getting his weapons is a pretty good idea, but rather rushed at the time, because, like any superhero films, it mainly focuses on action, understandable, but at least it focuses on story of our main hero's development, for the most part.
I also like to point out that Favreau that despite for the writing to follow the plot, but also let the actors doing improvisation, its due to the fact that the writing is unfinished while making a movie, in other words, it was rushed to let the actors to improvising while the script is unfinished before following the plot and the action, which despite it sounds fun for improvising, but it caused a lot of stress for the writing issue in order to make a good dialogue.
Even though its obviously simple to be adapted with certain elements from the comics that we all know, aside from a small lacking story to focusing on action, at least the story and writing are fun, specially with some humor moments (even if its mixed at the time). Despite the movie had a writing issue to focus on improvisation what Favreau suggested based on the writing block.
The Presentation
Since this film is made over 10 years ago, you think this film isn't aged well with $140 million? Well, surprisingly, it looks pretty good for 2008 film.
For starter, it was originally plan to filming in East Coast on USA, similar in the comic, but Favreau suggested into the opposite coast, mainly on West Coast as a perfect view to film like Malibu, California, especially for presenting Tony Star's home from expensive to construction room for his invention. Even though the rooms are done from the set in Playa Vista, Los Angeles, California and the exterior shot is filmed and digitized in Point Dume. As for the Afghanistan, they don't film in real Afghanistan (due to, you know... War...), instead, they made another set, but larger as 150-to-200-yard (140–180 m) in the prison set, a Lone Pine in the scene where Stark got captured and at exterior, they filmed in Olancha's Sand Dunes.
As for the effects and the suits, its pretty good to see as a very first MCU film, the quality looks pretty impressive with the help of Industrial Light & Magic for the effects of the computer for designing the new iron armor, the energy blasts and some creative weapons and others. As for the suits, they look pretty cool too, the first one "Mark I" is basically the bulky armor made from scraps, but thankfully, instead of using a magnet, he uses flamethrowers, a missile and a rocket boots (though temporary), then there's "Mark II", its obviously using it as a test for a flight, it looks pretty good, but like the first armor, it was used once before changing to we all know and love "Mark III", this armor has everything (though not as much until his later armors he made a lot in the future), a energy blasts, another missile inclusions, a flare, advance flight and a mini-guns, along with red and gold appearance to be classy like in the comic. And finally, there's Stane's Iron Monger, wow, i've never though that this thing is larger and possibly scarier based on its size and the weapons with missile (because of course) and a chain-gun. Now, most suits are done with animatronics, but the most common in action scenes, is that they're obviously done with motion capture, especially RDJ wears an Iron Man's armor parts and motion capture suit (Maybe he likes to wearing Iron Man's helmet).
Speaking of actions, what about the actions scenes? Well, they're pretty fascinating to watch too, from montage of building armors like MK I and MK II, the suiting up scene, the flight chase between Iron Man and F-22 Raptor (which is possibly the most challenging one for this scene for the physics of flying and even putting cameras flown in the air for the air and again, a flying physical.) and of course, the fight scenes from Iron Man MK I's break free, Iron Man MK III blasting at terrorist to preventing borrowing his Jericho (along with pretty good execution to having no music) to Armor battle between Iron Man and Iron Monger.
Here's an interesting Easter Egg moment, in the scene where Tony is having a struggle to taking off his armor, you can briefly see a prototype of Captain America's shield, which it was obviously hinted to making "Captain America: The first Avenger".
The film's presentation, while some quality could a little bit dated at the time, but it still looks impressive for the quality, the effects and the action scenes.
The Characters
Since the movie had a writing issue during the film's development, you think the characters in the movie might have a zero development? Well, they're actually some writing involve and like i said before, doing improvisation, they actually pretty good.
First is our main protagonist, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr), as we all know, he's a genius inventor, billionaire and playboy owner of Stark Industries after his late father and of course after being captive, he takes his genius invention to building his iron armor as "Iron Man" that we all know and love. When i was young, i find him very unique for being a rich man to a hero in iron suit, but as i grew up, i think it safe to say that i love Iron Man, its not just MCU, but also checking further Iron Man, mainly in the comics for storylines, his invention and several others. Anyway, in this movie, he started as a successful owner of his industries for enjoying to make millions from business and gambling (in fact, the filming in Caesars Palace was last filming before concluded to post-production) and love to hanging out with the ladies, basically a likable rich owner A-Hole, but after the capture, his life got changed that despite he still being famous rich-man, but also having his authentic emotional journey. Of course, RDJ did a amazing work of his performance for being likable douchebag owner to life-changing owner to become a hero against the terrorist in order to shutting down his weaponry, not to mention with he's almost like having fun with his role, either the writing or improvised (like the scene where he sat on the floor in press conference or speech about Jericho, they're all came up by RDJ's improvisation), i think he did a great work of his role.
Next we have James "Rhodey" Rhodes (played by Terrence Howard), he's Stark's best bud and liaison between Stark Industries and USAF (US Air Force), even though he haven't used as much, but at least he can help Start for plot conveniences, ranging for helping Tony to bring back to California after he escape and even agree to keep Start a secret behind the suit (although, this could give us a hint that he's inspiration from Tony to become like him as War Machine, which it wouldn't happen until Iron Man 2). Here's another interesting not, not only he's dong an acting, but he's also learn to piloting a jets and helicopters, this is thanks to his visit at Nellis Air Force Base in order to demonstrating the flight with chopper and the fighter jet. And another fun fact is that he and his dad are a fans of Iron Man back in his childhood and he's also a fan of RDJ thanks to his film appearance called "Weird Science", sounds like a dream come true to see RDJ for real and also been in this movie, but then again, seeing Howard in War Machine wouldn't happen until the second installment. But in fairness, he's also did a pretty good job of his role of Toney's best pal.
After that, we have the antagonist, Obadiah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges), he's Stark's friend (or so we thought) and a second-in-command of Stark Industries. I find him to be a fascinating villain that at first, he used to be a good friend with Howard Stark to his son Tony, but when Tony is calling for shutting down his weaponry based manufacture, that made him reach the boiling point that he wants not only wants the weapon back, but also want to put Tony down. Damn, he wants the weapon back by trying to put Tony down in misery after the shutdown announcement? Talk about overly obsessed of advanced weaponry with terrorists (which is exactly what he did for injunction to giving weapons away to Ten Rings) and wanting to taking over Stark Industries the way it used to be. But of course, Jeff Bridges did a pretty good work of his role, even though he was originally to have more appearance in the movie, but some was cut to focus more on Tony, kinda sucks, but hey, Jeff did a pretty good job as both desperate frenemy and a monstrous appearance of Iron Monger.
And we have Pepper Potts (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), She's Stark's not only assistant and a love interest. I find her not bad, she's just a typical female assistant to our main hero, though what i heard, she was meant to be a beautiful one, but its more a relationship between her and Tony are reminiscent to 1940s comedy, i find it somewhat understandable and i she did a nice work of her role, though im not consider her as "beautiful assistant" based on her age or whatnot, its just a female sidekick that il let it pass, but in fairness, she did a nice job of her role.
As for the rest of the characters, they're quite fascinating too and some that i liked, like Yinsen (played by Shaun Toub) who's a Tony's fellow captive to helping our main hero to becoming Iron Man that we all know and love, Raza (played by Faran Tahir) who's a ruthless leader of Ten Rings (though the whole Ten Rings wouldn't happen until Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), J.A.R.V.I.S. (voiced by Paul Bettany) who's Stark's personal A.I. for help something in the house or even being an assistant in iron suit with a gentleman personality, Phil Coulson (played by Clark Gregg) is the main agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (although he does becoming he main protagonist in the show "Agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D.") and we have Harold "Happy" Hogan (played by the director Jon Favreau himself), who works as both bodyguard and chauffeur to Stark and its quite nice to see my favorite director also doing acting, and i think he did a fine work as both actor and director.
And of course, yes, like any films before Endgame, Stan Lee is in this movie, this time, he's in the red carpet with the ladies, which Tony mistakenly calling Stan Lee to Hugh Hefner (Ouch!).
The characters are quite unique for the development, the likable and improvisation timing, not to mention, they did a fun and good job of their roles, then again, due to the writing issue, a lot of which are improvised, which it sucks, but they got used to it (for the most parts).
SPOILER ALERT for anyone who haven' t seen the movie or don't mind.
Things about to get as always in my reviews that i always called, interesting, especially for the final straw for Stane in attempt to going rampage as Iron Monger.
After shot down Raza by his members from Stane's order (which it turns out he hired the Ten Rings in order to kill Tony all along), he build up his own armor known as Iron Monger (including stealing Stark's arc reactor (which is like a battery on his heart to keep his life safe) as a final piece for his armor), Stark is in a wake-up call that he had to stop his so-called "friend" or "mentor" as Iron Man. As a result, both of them took a fight in night street in Malibu California, including Iron Monger being pretty strong that he could easily defeat Iron Man, but Tony made a strategy plan. After nearly flying off the sound barrier of Earth and landed on the roof above the big arc reactor (which is like a big electric generator, but why is this thing has purpose, its for Tony to make a new energy battery, but i digress), while hiding as he can, Tony calls Pepper to overcharging the reactor to make a blast. Then after damaging the electric view and got damaged by Iron Monger, Obadiah is going to kill Tony with his missiles, with not time to wait, Tony yelled that its time to hit the button to blast the energy, the energy is blasting off the sky, despite Tony survived it, Stane gets electrocuted from the blast in defeat by falling all the way down to the reactor, instantly killing himself in a satisfying way for secretly betraying our main hero, along with destroying the entire reactor. In the end, the reporters came in the asking about the entity named "Iron Man" in press conference, as a result Tony Stark admitted that he's Iron Man all along, and everyone was surprised that he's happy to revealing his identity (for better or for worse, or maybe secret identity is overrated for him).
The final act is quite of interesting twist and a pretty cool boss battle between Iron Man and Iron Monger, and especially Tony quickly broke his silence that he is a rich superhero for the whole time. Even though the ending is kinda rushed but il just shrugged off for his conclusion.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Iron Man is a pretty good film to start the MCU franchise, with pretty good story based on comic elements, the presentation looks pretty nice, the action scenes are fun to watch, and the characters are likable and some passable, unless we counted the acting are fun to watch.
Sure, even though the film is dated as we looking at it today, but looking back now, i still like this movie to open MCU as long-running franchise that we all loved, for better or for worse. Sure, the writing had some issue for being unfinished to do the improvisation, but i think some of them like RDJ did a fun work for his idea following the writing issue.
Is this a highly recommended film? Well, i think so, this is the film that you should check it out with your friends and family, even though its not a perfect start, but i enjoyed this film a lot, as a fan of Marvel that got my interest of Iron Man.
For my rating, il give this movie a 9/10.
So this ends of my movie review after my long hiatus, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on https://ko-fi.com/blackevil.
Also, i wanna make a huge thanks to some of you for voting on my poll for picking this movie, i was interesting to looking back since i watched this film since i went into a cinema when i was young. So once again, thank you so much for a support.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
