Iron Man (Favreau) 2008

The first of (currently) twenty one films that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off a grand story arc that has taken over ten years to tell. It spans films, television series, and comic books and a cast of thousands both in front of and behind the camera.

Iron Man was our introduction to Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, the fast-talking, womanizing businessman who is kidnapped by Middle Eastern terrorists that want him to build them a new weapon to use against their Western foes. Stark uses the materials they provide him to build his first Iron Man suit and lead an escape from captivity.

​We get to see the progression of the Iron Man suit throughout the film from a crude first model developed in a Syrian cave to the version we know from the trailers and posters we've seen over the last decade. The film also presents the early hints at a developing, yet complex, relationship between Tony and his assistant, Pepper Potts.

As an introduction to a central character in the entire series of films, this works very well, giving us a look into Tony as the playboy (including greeting the Stan Lee cameo by calling him "Hef") but also showing that while he can be a loose cannon at times, he ultimately wants to do the right thing. We will continue to see this conflict through many more films, but this first installment serves to set up that story line.

The film was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2009 (Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects) but failed to win in either category.

​​8 out of 10

Next: The Incredible Hulk

Get Ready for Endgame

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