Reitz Journalism

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment’s big screen adaptation or Marvel’s legendary superhero Iron Man was launched into theatres on May 2, 2008. Robert Downey Jr. stars as the Iron Man that is kidnapped and forced to use his genius for the betterment of evil. He rebels and frees himself from the kidnappers by building a bionic suit. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Tony’s wife-like assistant. The director, Jon Favreau, who directed Made, Zathura, and Elf shows his immense talent in his breakout role as a lead director in a big budget action film.

For you girls out there who are writhing at the idea of going to see another action movie with your man, fear not. This movie is packed with just the right amount of serious action for the boys and romance and heroism for the girls. When I walked into the theatre, I was throwing a fit. My boyfriends dragged me along to see another one of “his” movies. Then the opening scene began, and I was mesmerized.
For the guys out there, the action scenes in this movie are constant, and amazing. Not one action sequence in this film was poorly done. I was always on the edge of my seat, waiting on Iron Man to rush in and save the day.
I had no knowledge of the original comics, but from what I have since leaned, the movie followed the Marvel series very closely. For those of you who have no clue what the movie is about, as I did when I walked into the theatre, let me give you a rundown. Tony Stark, the operator of a multi-billion dollar weapons manufacturing company is kidnapped and told that in order to be released, he must recreate his most deadly weapon for his Middle Eastern captors. Instead, he uses his ingenuity to build a “RoboSuit” and escape. He goes through a series of escapades, and decides to redesign the suit in order to use it for the betterment of humanity. The following sequences involving the suit had me sitting on the edge of my seat with the intricacy shown in both graphics and technology.
The acting was some of the best I have ever seen from the staring actors have done. Paltrow did stunningly well, as Pepper, the ever present wife-like assistant to Tony. She played her part to the hilt, letting us all know that she was madly in love with her boss, long before Tony was willing to admit the feeling was mutual. Tony, played by Robert Downey Jr. was spectacular, and is in all likelihood my new favorite action hero. He did a wonderful job making me believe that he was a billionaire with a good heard and a sense of justice.
I would definitely give the action flick a 5 on the popcorn scales. It had me unwilling to leave my seat to get refills, and running to the bathroom desperate to relive myself for I fear of missing a moment of the stellar performance. By the time the credits were over, which I recommend watching until the end, I couldn’t wait until the inevitable sequel appears.