This is the first part in a 21 part series reviewing the Marvel Cinematic Universe films in chronological order. This series will not be a summary of each film, rather, an impressions series detailing my thoughts on each. Watching along would be helpful in understanding each review, but is not required. Written reviews will be posted daily, with video reviews being added over each weekend.
Written Review:
Iron Man is the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Jon Favreau and produced outside of the Disney company by Paramount. Released in 2008, Iron Man is as simple an origin story possible with unique underlying themes presented to near perfection. If anything draws attention to the film, it’s the message it attempts to convey. While messy at points, one can forgive these flaws as the core of the film is a sturdy foundation alone.
As the leading film in a series of box office hits, this one isn’t too bad. In fact, it’s really quite good. Iron Man manages to draw a strong line between pandering humor and genuine superhero drama so perfectly that its closest parallel in media is that of a cartoon or animated series a la Batman. Nothing feels quite real, but it doesn’t feel fake either. Characters have the goals analogous to some in reality, but the means of doing so are blown out of proportion to such an extent that drawing a line between reality and fiction would be arbitrary at best.
Certainly, the strongest piece of the film is RDJ’s acting. Washed up and lost in the industry, RDJ uses this film as a comeback of sorts, allowing him to exert his comedic and dramatic personalities under the same character. The highlights of the film draw exclusively from his precise control of the scene and the chemistry he maintains with the actors on screen. If anything, the film lies exclusively behind the back of Stark as a character, and the rest of the cast is merely an ensemble to reflect the ideas of Stark back at him. Pepper reflects his humanity, while Obadiah reflects Stark’s skeletons in the closet. To give an actor such weight in a film is a risk, but Robert Downey Jr. handles that task and then some, delivering one of the greatest performances in the genre to date.
One strong credit I give to the film is the tying of the Iron Man origin story to modern socio-political issues at the time of release. Generally, the Iron Man story is contained, but the film extends Stark Industries into a leg of the Military Industrial Complex, actively supporting war in pursuit of profit. Tony isn’t just a genius, rather, he’s an oblivious egotist who unknowingly supports the United State’s intervention into armed conflict that is universally looked upon with distaste. Companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are the real-life parallels to the stark company, actively benefiting on the industrialization of the military. In this, the tech that created Iron Man isn’t free of sin. Yes, Tony Stark is a visionary, but the audience must recognize that the machine he created is directly related to armed conflict and the economy behind it.
In fact, I’ve begun to mentally associate Iron Man with the exploitation genre of filmmaking, to an extent at least. Historically, scientists were used for their intellect as corporations and governments abused advances for their own gain. The famous Oppenheimer quote following The Manhattan Project illustrates this best, “I am become death, destroyer of worlds.” Inventors like Stark have their creations abused, with little power to do anything in response. The idea of giving the scientist the chance to physically exert force against those profiting from the negative use of their ideas is an interesting concept, one Iron Man makes the basis of its plot. Stark against Obadiah parallels the conflict between the Engineer and those profiting from the weaponization of scientific development. If the scientists at Northrop had rocket launchers and the desire to see their tech applied for useful innovation rather than cruel warfare, Iron Man would be this reality.
That’s definitely the most interesting aspect of the film. Iron Man is a superhero fighting for a world better than the one we currently have. Captain America fights Nazi’s, and that’s good because we really hate Nazi’s but Iron Man is up against a villain with real-world proponents. The Military Industrial Complex has supporters and detractors from both sides of the aisle, making Iron Man’s goal one with a strong grey area. If you take Tony Stark to be the “good guy,” then you must also recognize that his opposition is not restrained by the opening and ending credits of the film as any other supervillain would be. They’re real, and they do the exact things Obadiah did in the film for extreme profit.
If anything, the villain in this film isn’t Jeff Bridge’s character Obadiah Stane, rather, Stane represents the horrors of war created not by the opposing factions but those supplying the weapons themselves. Engineering contractors selling of arms to both the United States and their enemies overseas is a reality many choose to ignore, creating moral conflict for Tony Stark. The final scene where good science (Iron Man) and bad science (Iron Monger) fight each other is rather telling imagery, where Iron Man is smaller but smarter, utilizing his intellect and engineering skills to destroy those trying to capitalize on the deaths of many.
Visually the film is rather bland, but that can certainly be attributed to the down to earth directing style. Favreau grounds this film in realism by approaching the character’s origin within the bounds of our reality. Where the newer films in the MCU place emphasis on alien technology and science fiction, the story here could actually happen. All of the science is dependent on human technology, and would logically be the next step in innovation if the world had a Tony Stark. The only real stretch of modern tech is the arc reactor, but in a world where Einstein was reborn again as Tony Stark, nuclear reactors the size of a Hostess Ding-Dong may, in fact, be a reality. Tony runs a business, is placed in peril overseas, builds his first suit out of scrap metal, is a victim to investors and the board, and is up against many of the problems modern scientists face today.
Iron Man shows off the strengths of Marvel films, that being the relationship superheroes can have to reality. Choosing to create superheroes in our world rather than trying to create a world of their own gives them limits, insecurities, weaknesses, and allows them to be more interesting as a result. We know that Tony is at fault here for his childish ignorance, and we know that in reality, the practices displayed by Stark Industries are widespread and lucrative. The realization that he is an enemy of the world rather than a rich benefactor resonates in the audience because it unveils a truth many are unwilling to accept without the veil of fantasy revealing it.
Iron Man one of the best films the cinematic universe has to offer. With strong performances from the leading cast and a story that lifts beyond the screen and into the politics of the modern world, the film sets the gold standard early for truly impressive superhero movies.
I give Iron Man an 8/10. Not perfect, but really good.
Ryan Dorman is a Columnist and the Content Director for the Boardwalk Times. He can be found on Twitter at @OpentheDorman, and as a host of the Boardwalk Talk podcast on iTunes.
