Well, we’re going to jump into movie rollercoaster with the one that started the MCU off. After taking out some hefty loans to start their own studio up, Marvel was criticized by a large amount of fans for both using Iron Man to jump-start the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as for opting to go with Robert Downey Jr. to play Tony Stark. Someone who is guilty of both taking the good things in life for granted, and overindulging in what their station in life offered.
I guess it must have been quite surprising to some that the actor could pull that off…
Marvel comes out swinging, and proves that not only will Iron Man be able to carry their cinematic vision, but also that Robert Downey Jr. has the legs to keep it running, no actually he has the repulsors to keep them flying.
And, as someone who will admit they are guilty of watching, and re-watching all of the Marvel films more than they should, I definitely do not give this movie enough credit. I don’t know if it is because they have put out so much content over the last decade that I lost it in the mix, or that I’ve grouped this movie into the first handful, that had some success, but also spent some time trying to find their way.
This movie is a homerun in every way. The casting. The story. The tone. The way Marvel never goes over-the-top like most comic-adaptations previous had. The way they mix in the humor with serious moments and set the tone for their cinematic vision for years to come. The way Tony starts the movie off, drinking what I’ll assume is scotch on the rocks, while winning a car full of soldiers over with hubris, comedy, and simple magnetism and charm.
It’s a movie that makes you care, and makes you believe in the story it’s trying to tell. In a short span you come to care about Tony, Pepper, Happy, Rhodey. You feel the friendship Yinsen forges with Tony in the cave, and it gives weight to the sacrifice he makes.
It’s so difficult for me to move forward and pick a high, or low, point in a movie that is done so well, but I’m going to try.
