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Ironman

2/4/2009, reviewed by Eli Evans

Although as a kid I had little exposure to Marvel (or DC) comics, I used to draw my own character called "Eagle Man." I had never heard of Iron Man, so I didn't really have any interest in seeing the movie, but when I saw a preview, I realized that Iron Man was basically my superhero with a much cooler storyline and an Achilles heel I never imagined. Tony Stark is a wealthy weapons manufacturer and while showing off his latest missile in the Middle East, his convoy is attacked; he is wounded and captured by terrorists, who demand he build them a missile. Knowing that their promise to let him go when he finishes is a lie, he decides instead to build a powerful armored suit and after three months manages to escape. When he arrives home he decides to shut down his weapons manufacturing division and publically refocuses his company on energy (Ark reactor) technology. This decision will have drastic financial consequences, and escalates tension between Tony and his right-hand man Obadiah Stane, who has been selling weapons to both the US military and its enemies.

Over the next few months, Stark privately develops and tests a new version of his armored suit, complete with slick weapons and flight system. Meanwhile, Stane shows his true colors, building a competing armored suit, and completing his betrayal by stealing Tony's power supply. The movie climaxes with a huge battle between the two, and ends with Tony revealing to the world, "I am Iron Man."

Morality-wise, Tony Stark has no problem sleeping around (this is not focused on), but when he makes a decision to make his life count, he is willing to stick with it, no matter what the personal cost. Overall this is not a deep film; just a flick with lots of special effects and action. There are no really surprising plot twists, but the story, writing, and acting works well enough for it to be plenty of fun.

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