Iron Man (2008)

I'll begin by saying that I never followed any comic character affiliated with The Avengers unless they interacted with the X-Men. So I really don't know too much about those characters, but that still is more than anyone in the general public would know regardless. So I guess that didn't make me have any expectations about this movie. And usually that's a good thing so I don't get hyped up and end up hating it.

This movie tells the origin of Iron Man in the current time in history. To me, that makes the tech involved a little more believable. But let's start at the characters, because I felt that's the strongest part of the movie. Robert Downey Jr. does an excellent job of making the audience like a character that is a genius, alcoholic lothario. I have not appreciated his acting this much since Weird Science. He delivers his one-liners with ease and really does look like Tony Stark from the comics. As for as his supporting cast goes, this is the first time I actually liked Paltrow's work, Jeff Bridges did excellent being bald, and Leslie Bibb was hot. Terrence Howard played Rhodey well, thus making me get over the fact that the role wasn't cast for a black actor with a more husky voice.

Now the suit itself is sexy. I'll even say the version 1.0 is; but it makes you wonder how his captors don't put a guard inside the room to monitor him as he assembles it. Anyway, the use of his robot buddies to make the Iron Man suit most are familiar with is actually able to hold my attention for reasons even outside the "wow, that's cool" factor. Staying true to the comic, the repulsors are the main form of attack. However unless i missed something, i dunno how an alloy used on satellites can withstand military projectiles. I mean, don't satellites get damaged a ton just with a little space garbage? Whatever.

Anyway, the final battle is not against a major supervillian (at least I dont think), but then again, I dunno who the archnemesis of Iron Man is. And even the battle itself isn't that spectacular. This movie is more about getting us to like the character of Tony Stark than showcase the battle abilities of the Iron Man suit. And I think Favreau did a good job of getting the audience to like Stark, thus ensuring people will go to a sequel. And there's bound to be a whole lotta of bad muthafuckers going to the sequel. I bet I'll be one of them.

Overall: 0 watch checks and recommend it for both non-comic book people and nerds.