Now that we have the basic history of how the MCU came into existence it’s time to get to the nitty gritty and talk about the movies themselves. In no particular order I’ll mostly be talking about the major plot points, how the films still hold up from my perspective, what they borrowed and changed from their comic book source material and summarizing the major ramifications for the overall universe. So now we start with the one hero that started it all, Tony Stark aka Iron Man. For those who are unaware of how the main universe version of Tony Stark was introduced, here’s a link to Linakra’s review of Tales of Suspense #39.
http://atopthefourthwall.com/tales-of-suspense-39/
In quick summation Iron Man is about Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr who is kidnapped by a terrorist group called the 10 rings while demonstrating his newest weapons in Iraq. While he was abducted his chest and heart are pierced by shrapnel from one of his missiles in a nice big irony blast that was sold to the 10 rings under the table by his VP, Obadiah Staine played by Jeff Bridges. Once in captivity Tony is ordered to recreate his latest missile for the terrorists, while he agrees to do it he actually works with another prisoner named Ho Yensin played by Shawn Toub who managed to finish making the prototype Iron Man suit at the cost of his life. Tony escapes, destroys the weapons the terrorists have, makes it back to the states and immediately shuts down all weapons development at Stark Industries.
He then goes to change his life and legacy, to create the first of the Iron Man suits and destroy all of his weapons that the 10 rings have which the dude most certainly does not abide by. So Staine salvages the remains of the prototype armor to create his own version called the Iron Monger which he plans to mass produce and create the next big arms race. Once Tony defeats Staine and removes his weapons he reveals his identity as Iron Man to the public which elicits a visit from Nick Fury played by Samuel L Jackson who has a proposition for Tony, the Avengers initiative.
As you can tell there were some major changes from the original comic to the movie, for example the war was moved from Vietnam to the Middle East, thankfully removing Wong Chu and his improv wrestling ring. Tony is no longer talking about transistors and doesn’t have to be inside of the suit 24/7 though he still has to keep the arc reactor in his chest. He also starts off as a pretty blatant war profiteer and kind of an obnoxious asshole, keeping the original concept of his character intact. That being make the audience sympathize with someone who should be hated, mostly due to how he develops and learns from his time in captivity.
For this movie being the one that had to be the foundation for the entire universe it had to knock it out of the park and believe me it accomplishes that and then some. Tony has a very believable arc, from hedonistic asshole to a hero trying to take responsibility and redemption for the damage his weapons and the Stark name has caused. Sure it's the Moses story but well, Joseph Campbell monomyth, blah, blah, blah but hey why fix what isn't broke? He sees first hand how his weapons have done far more harm then good and how those he once trusted were basically blowing smoke up his ass to keep the business of war going. Most likely if not for this change in his life Tony would have more then likely developed S.O.P or something just as ridiculous.
But then reality came calling and now he seeks redemption and is actually taking responsibility for his genius, not just using it to make the biggest bombs and fastest guns but actually making something to make the world a better place. As for the movie overall, yes this still holds up 10 years after it was released. The writing is textbook brilliant, the casting, on the nose. Now I've never read any Iron Man comics but when I hear Tony Stark I immediately think Robert Downey Jr. Its a character/actor match up that's on par with Mark Hamill and the Joker, Kevin Conroy and Batman, Nolan North and Deadpool, Patrick Warburton and Brock Samson, Johnny Depp and Jack Sparrow and Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams I honestly can't imagine anyone else playing these characters.
The effects look great, the Iron Man sequences look like they are actually there on screen and the emotional moments hit their mark. Though I do have some nitpicks with it. Mostly I felt that the first act with Tony being held captive went on just a tad too long and, while this is more in hindsight then the film itself, why was Terrence Howard replaced with Don Cheadle? Was it a scheduling conflict, contract renegotiation or did the studio think that Don was better suited for the role then Terrence? Now don't get me wrong I have nothing against Don Cheadle I've seen Hotel Rwanda I know he's a great actor but I just want to know why.
Though it's honestly funny looking back on this movie 10 years afterwords since this was seen at the time as just another Marvel movie nobody could have predicted what this movie started. Not just for Marvel but Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry as a whole. Sure we had that one S.H.I.E.L.D guy Coulson dropping hints, but I bet that nobody could have predicted seeing Fury after the end credits making Tony the offer and for that matter that they were actually going through with it. For those who don't remember back then, end credit stingers barely paid off, now imagine everyones surprise when this movie not only kept this promise but went far beyond that. And go through with it they did as we'll see next time on the March to Infinity with the big, green Goliath himself, The Incredible Hulk!
Special thanks to my Patreon backer Jesse for his support.
Iron Man is owned by Paramount Studios, Marvel Studios and Fairview Entertainment Based off the original comic by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, Don Heck and Jack "The King" Kirby.
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