Iron Man - Film Review

Forget the by-some-freak-of-nature abilities of Superman and Spiderman. Ignore the deliberate and unappealing dorkiness of Peter Parker (in the movie version) and the gloomy darkness of Batman. Here's a man who knows how to play hard, and works as hard to gain his 'powers'.

Meet Tony Stark.



Tony Stark spends his life manufacturing weapons until one day his weapons are used against him. Held hostage by a group of terrorists, he is forced to build for them a weapon of mass destruction. Pretending to do so, Stark builds Iron Man instead!

Robert Downey Jr. shines with his portrayal of Stark and projects a likeable bond with his personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), which is pleasantly surprising. The fact that Gwyneth's backless gown scene is secondary to the movie's enjoyment is in itself also a pleasant surprise.

Watching Stark's titanium alloy machine as he perfects his invention is delightful as it illustrates the diligence of a researcher finding his way through trial-and-error. Coupled with witty lines and crisp timing, there is no room for boredom throughout the movie.

The next thing you realize, you'll be kicking yourself in the rear for not staying until the end of the credits to watch a hint of a sequel.

Stark (left): "I don't want to see this on your Myspace page!"