"Iron Man" directed by Jon Favreau [review]

Abstract

As is the Hollywood pattern nowadays (and as I often note as we head into our Southern-hemisphere Winter) this is the time of the year in which the American Summer Blockbusters hit our screens. First off the rank this season is Iron Man, a Marvel comic-books adaptation, starring (of all people) Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. Well, he sort-of plays the title role, in the sense that his character’s real name is Tony Stark, and the “Iron Man” of the title is actually Stark plus an enormous mechanised weapon-suit he wears, which both protects his real identity from the public gaze and allows him to fly, jump, smash his way through tall buildings at a single swipe and generally act like a high-tech superhero. If this sounds like your cup of tea, you’ll have a great time with this highly polished, explosive and wildly entertaining film.