Avenger Assemble !!!

Growing up as an avid Marvel comics reader (and member of FOOM) I'd never have thought that there would ever be an Iron Man movie. Why so? Well, the movie-making computer and camera technology required to make a man fly about in an Iron rocket suit just didn't exist, and let's face it Iron Man/Tony Stark was kinda boring compared to Captain America, Thor, Spidey, Hawkeye and the Hulk.


So what of the new movie? I Loved it. Director Jon Favreau and his team of writers and technicians have done a wonderful job distilling decades of Iron Man comic history into a sharp two hour origin story. It's got to be the ultimate 'Boys Toys' movie: Fast Cars, Humvees, Tanks, Fighter Jets, Missiles, astonishing computer gadgets and a rocket powered flying suit (or three)! The sort of stuff that would give Jeremy Clarkson wet dreams.

The cast is well chosen. Robert Downey Jr is perfect as Tony Stark, the heavy drinking, womanising, playboy genius weapons inventor who gains a conscience. And he's ably supported by Gwyneth Paltrow as his smart PA, 'Pepper' Potts. Strong acting aside, the film wouldn't have worked without a good realisation of the title character. The technical design of the evolving Iron Man suits is well thought out. Favreau and his writers skillfully weave a mix of science and science fiction to make the impossible believable.

To sum up, the film is 90% great; If I'm being picky I say it could have done with a better villain (e.g. The Mandarin) and it tails off a bit towards the end with the 'I've got a bigger suit and a deeper voice than you' battle. But forget these minor weaknesses - Iron Man is very good blockbusting entertainment, and I suspect the inevitable sequel will be very good Hulkbusting entertainment! Oh, and yes, this Marvel movie has the best Stan Lee cameo yet! 'Make Mine Marvel'.

p.s. For Avengers geeks: Don't, like I did, leave until after the end credits. Doh!