Iron Man

Une imbécilité sympathique qui, bien qu'elle ne tire pas de son siège la dynamique et la grandeur des X-Men ou de Spider-Man, divertit agréablement avec l'exhibition de Robert Downey (le film repose entièrement sur lui) et surprend avec un casting d'acteurs intéressant. Jeff Bridges en tant que méchant chauve et Gwen Paltrow en tant qu'assistante du super-héros, ça ne se voit pas tous les jours. Sinon, Iron Man est ennuyeusement inoffensif, familial, voire enfantin. Il aurait besoin de plus de cynisme et de recul adulte. (02/05/2008)

That intro in Afghanistan, along with the snide remarks on American foreign policy today, is a little off from the rest of the film, which is deep in the waters of comic-book hyperbole thanks to its flamboyance. Yet as much as I didn't want to believe it myself, the film ultimately works beautifully without Favreau pulling off any flashy action or uncompromisingly innovative ideas. The film is built on the actors (yes, Downey could have taken a drink with him into the film) and the fast pace that races through the simple dialogue, which is a joy to listen to thanks to life’s bon mots and (once again) the actors. The standard genre archetypes of heroes are unexpectedly subverted (who is it that gives Stark his heart after all?) and it still manages to be sympathetically intrusive in the circle of a family spectacle for an evening, all whilst winking at those who have already made some films. I have a feeling that nobody will take the title of "most pleasant surprise of the year" away from Iron Man. 4 ½. (18/09/2008)

Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. Without him, this film would really be just routine scrap metal, but thanks to Downey, Gwynneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges, it's a surprisingly catchy and likeable film. Of course, it's hard not to see Favreau et al. behind Downey with all those action scenes that lack decent ideas. Nevertheless, except for the ending, I had more fun with this stupid thing than I have had for a long time. Marvel should perhaps find better directors and better screenplays, but even the first X-Men feels a bit cumbersome... I’m happy to wait for Stark's next arrival. (04/05/2008)

Iron Man isn’t any dumb B-movie, but it lags a good couple of miles behind being a quality movie. The screenplay aren’t so awful, the genre, but the dialogs are simply terrible. I’m not expecting a second Shakespeare from this uncomplicated popcorn movie, but this is really too much. Some tongue in cheek could have saved it. But somehow they forgot about that option and all we get is a couple of family jokes, which just don’t do it. We get no proper action, effects don’t count (but aren’t bad, come to think of it) and so the whole thing rests on the wide shoulders of a “Rambo-like" Downey who operates more with his charisma than doing any acting (and basically he just plays himself anyhow). However, his charisma is so enormous that it manages to carry the whole movie from start to finish. As for Iron Man becoming a timeless classic like the Black Sabbath “version", or even a flagship of the genre, it’s unthinkable, although with a little imagination you can picture it happening. Someday. (04/05/2008)

A film for boys who still want to and can play. The villain is ruthless, the friend loyal, the secretary kind and faithful, and we all know where it's all heading. But this is exactly what I wanted and I got it served up so quickly and humorously that I hold my breath at the thought of a sequel. Moreover, Downey seems to have been born in a massive suit, and his lines, jeers, or subtle compliments to Pepper are exactly the kind of glosses that everyone wants to conjure up at some point, just a little late to the party. He's an incredible rich man who can fly and have the most beautiful girls. And I wish him all that, I don't envy him, and I am only fervently rooting for him. (31/05/2008)

Robert Downey Jr. is a dude. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark. I couldn’t imagine anybody else in this role. His charisma and wisecracks give the picture style and, without him, Iron Man would be half-assed and definitely a lot less entertaining. Favreau takes the entire movie in the right direction (no wonder, because it was him who got Downey involved in the project), not so serious, slightly fateful and also true to the comic book. The action scenes from ILM also worked really well, even though the battle sequence was Stark’s escape from captivity, which involved a minimum of special effects. Personally, for me Iron Man has greater magic than my former favorite Spider-Man, and that’s saying something. P.S.: The post-credits scene with the allusion to the Avengers is magical. (19/05/2008)

A fun popcorn fairy tale, totally comparable to Green Lantern in my view. No, I don't feel that Iron Man is significantly better. The whole thing stands and falls on the stardom of Robert, who almost killed Ally McBeal with his incompetence a few years ago, but he is very popular these days. Gwyneth is cute, but she's getting on in years after all, and Jeff is already in the "saying goodbye to his audience" category. It’s a straightforward film that is more satisfying when Stan Lee's cameo arrives. (01/05/2013)

A funny and entertaining gem that is several miles ahead of the awkward and clumsy Spiderman with its lightness and detachment. Robert Downey Jr. is incredibly sharp, his condo in Malibu beach is flawless, just like the black Rolls & Royce tearing up the roads. All of this wrapped in a dynamic action suit with the label “500 charges”. Unlike Spider-Man, Hulk or Hellboy, this guy will dig deep under your skin and make you want to see him in action again and again. He's not a good guy, not a classic do-gooder, and he indulges himself in luxury to the fullest. And that's exactly why he can afford to be so confident and smoothly move forward where most competitors play the good souls and saviors of humanity, while the whole usually grinds. The most entertaining and adult comic-book film of the past few years. Understandably made 300 million in the USA. Technically flawless. (25/09/2008)

Two years later, but yes, I've now seen Iron Man. There is no point in accusing the film of having a clichéd story - it won me over with the main character played by Downey. A sarcastic playboy, with a sense of dry humor and, in the second half of the film also a sense of justice, is great. Not as much as, say, Hellboy, but he is great. Perfect are the scenes between his Stark and Potts' Gwyneth Paltrow, when the screen sparkled, some might say too much. Add to that great effects and action scenes (the trip to Afghanistan and the return with the YF-22 Raptor lead the way) and a more or less standard (but decent for a villain) Jeff Bridges, who looks REALLY good... I'm giving it four pure stars. (20/07/2010)

Single use super hero. Downey and his charisma give the film far more than a cool effect while the story is a flight of fancy by an enthusiastic screenwriter with an American flag tattooed on his chest. A typical guilty pleasure product that doesn't bring much new to the table, but is so likeable and entertaining that you’ll always find your way to it in the end. And where neither a flimsy script nor spectacular action is enough, everything is supported by the demonic Jeff Bridges together with Downey and Gwyneth Paltrow, who is increasingly sexy as the years go by... The potential was a bit higher, as the excellent third movie shows :-) 80% (01/11/2013)

I've kept Iron Man in my drawer for a long time, but since I wanted to fill out the Marvel Universe, it was necessary to go back to almost the very beginning of this comic book franchise. After watching the first one, I was already up to speed and knew how Tony Stark got his glowing chest ornament, or how and why the suit itself came to be. All in all, this is a decently made action film with a likeable cast, nice special effects and a story that, while not as polished as the later Marvel films, still doesn't offend. In short, it's a relaxing film full of action, with a few jokes here and there, and the high ego of the main character, setting the stage for the sequels. (19/07/2016)

For me, an utter superhero fantasy (the superhero subgenre doesn't say much to me on its own) that shows how these double-identity movies stand on character. And just compared to the constantly troubled Peter Parker, who manages to find a bunch of faults even in the fact that he flies between skyscrapers and throws cars at people, Tony Stark is a very pleasant refresher. He also moralizes once or twice, and he doesn't relieve us of some of the pathos at the end either, but he does the rest with a grace that only the constantly high Robert Downey Jr. can give him. I liked the final destructive scene as well, and actually overall I was pleased except for a few crap things, like the virtual translator -) (08/05/2008)

Je ne comprends absolument pas l’engouement démesuré suscité par Iron Man. Cette adaptation de bande dessinée apparemment réussie a fortement attisé ma curiosité, mais tout ce que j’ai vu, c’est une merde américaine de plus jetée en pâture à des spectateurs avides d’action aux quatre coins de la planète. Et en matière d’action, c’était maigre, très maigre. Un début ennuyeux, un milieu ennuyeux, une fin pas trop mauvaise. Un récit américain sur l’épiphanie d’un type riche et arrogant qui décide de se battre en Afghanistan pour un avenir meilleur… Je ne comprends pas qu’un délire aussi insensé puisse intéresser qui que ce soit ! Je mets une étoile pour Gwyneth et Bridges. Downey, je l’ai vu dans de bien meilleurs rôles que ça. Pfff, je crois que c’est le pire des films que j’ai vus cette année ! J’espère vraiment qu’ils ne comptent pas ternir le personnage assez cool de Hulk avec Iron Man. (30/11/2008)

Generally, this is a bit of a problem with Marvel's comic book movies, which was also evident in the film "The Incredible Hulk" and ultimately even "Iron Man 2" only won because Mickey Rourke played the villain. These villains are simply a bit boring, too straightforward, too big scoundrels. "Iron Man 3" perfectly solved this and presented us with the best film with this hero, but "Iron Man" was definitely a great start. More: http://www.comics-blog.cz/2013/07/222-iron-man-2008-80.html (31/07/2013)

A very enjoyable cast and Downey's performance in particular make Iron Man a great entertainment that doesn't really surprise you with anything, but ranks worthily alongside its peers like Spider-Man and the X-Men. A completely unpretentious diversion. (19/09/2009)