Critics often praiseThe Dark Knightas 2008 ’s best superhero movie , but Jon Favreau’sIron Mandeserves almost as much acclaim for successfully launching theMarvel Cinematic Universewhile stand up on its own two feet as a about - utter blockbuster . After two sequel , the firstIron Manmovie still stand up as Tony Stark ’s best MCU solo outing .

FromThe MummytoThe Amazing Spider - Man 2,nearly every subsequent attempt to launch a cinematic universehas fallen monotone on its face . Jon Favreau has say that instead of advisedly test to set up a huge multi - movie universe , his end withIron Manwas simply to make a movie worth see , and he succeeded . If there were never any sequel , Iron Manwould still be hailed as an all - sentence great of the comic Quran movie genre .

It Gave Tony Stark His Most Complete Arc

In the years sinceIron Man ’s release turn Marvel into an unstoppable hit factory , Tony Stark has been featured in eight extra MCU blockbuster . Each one contributed toa nine - movie case arcturning Tony from a billionaire military - industrialist playboy to a hero who would gayly make the ultimate ritual killing in pursuit of doing the veracious thing . But the same arc that was dragged out for nine movies was channel attractively in the firstIron Manfilm alone .

At the commencement of the film , Tony is middling deplorable , profit off of the then - on-going War on Terror and gambling away the proceeds in lavish casino without a tutelage in the world . By the end of the picture , after his father figure has endeavor to get him execute by terrorists , Tony has emerged from imprisonment and become a bona fide superhero who ’s ready to die to foreclose unnecessary casualties .

Robert Downey Jr.’s First Performance As Tony Stark Was Revelatory

It ’s heavy to believe now that this use has made him the most sought - after histrion in the world , but the cast of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was considered to be a huge risk whenIron Manwas first in development .

His first performance as the character was revelatory . His subsequent appearances give fans more of what they ’d come to expect , which was great , but nothing compares to his refreshing , revelatory foundation .

The Non-Linear Opening Act Sets The Stage Spectacularly

The first deed ofIron Manhas a non - analogue construction that sets the stage spectacularly . It opens with Tony riding with a military convoy through Afghanistan . The convoy is attack and Tony is blow up with a dud take over his own company ’s logo before being abducted by terrorists .

Then the movie cuts back to a few 24-hour interval in the beginning , with Tony indulging in his lifestyle of surplusage , gamble away his riches in Vegas . This brilliantly sets up the tarradiddle and hooks viewers in immediately .

Obadiah Stane Is Still One Of The MCU’s Best Villains

While the MCU has beencriticized for take a “ villain problem,”its first antagonist , bet by the fiendishly charming Jeff Bridges , was fairly great . Obadiah Stane was a don chassis to Tony Stark after his own father ’s untimely death .

So the divine revelation that   Obadiah just wanted to usurp   Tony as the boss of Stark Industries and was willing to rent terrorists to kill him to do so was devilishly effectual .

The Mostly Improvised Dialogue Gave The Movie A Unique Energy

This makesIron Manperhaps the only Hollywood blockbuster to have modeled its production process afterCurb Your Enthusiasm , and it present the picture show a unique free energy that made it stand out in a crowd of same - previous Tinseltown product .

It Has Some Surprisingly Dark Moments

The Iron Man comics have plenty of dark moments , like research Tony ’s drunkenness in “ Demon in a Bottle , ” but the first picture was the only one that remained faithful to this .

When Disney acquired Marvel Studios , Iron Man ’s handsome - screenland adventures became lightheaded and more family - well-disposed in quality . By contrast , the first movie ’s depiction of terrorist act and war are shockingly dark .

Terrence Howard Was A Better Rhodey Than Don Cheadle

Although Don Cheadle is doubtless a hunky-dory actor , Terrence Howard made for a better Rhodey in the firstIron Manmovie . He reportedly walked away from the sequels because Marvel give a huge chunk of the pay he was foretell to Robert Downey Jr.

Howard had been inbuilt in getting Downey cast in the first place because they were pals . This real - lifetime friendly relationship madethe on - screen friendly relationship of Tony and Rhodeyfeel more tangible inIron Manthan it did in the sleep of the Infinity Saga .

The Science Of The Suit Was Relatively Believable

By the remainder of the Infinity Saga , Tony Stark had cook up nanites , so his suit just grew around him . If his helmet got rip off , another one look within second base .

In the first pic , the causa was n’t entirely electronic computer - generated . Tony had n’t yet worked out the kinks , so the tech was weak . The suit felt real , and that gave real stakes to the action as it could misfunction at any second .

Iron Man’s Origin Story Was Modernized Brilliantly

Iron Man first debut in Marvel Comics in the other ‘ 60s , so his origin story needed an update for his magnanimous - screen origination in 2008 . And it managed this without losing its fidelity to the spirit of the cartoon strip . Tony Stark ’s shape of the military - industrial complex provide Jon Favreau with the perfect fomite to comment on the War on Terror .

None of the subsequent Marvel moving-picture show have intercept into the political climate like this . It brought an unusual layer of substance to a comic book megahit .

It Has The Perfect Ending

The ending ofIron Manis just perfect . Tony Stark is told by S.H.I.E.L.D. to deal up his superhero antics by go in front of a pressure conference and saying Iron Man is his bodyguard . However , he goes out there , his high-handedness make the good of him , and he ca n’t assist declare , “ I am Iron Man . ”

It was the perfect path to both terminate this picture and set up the bombastic franchise . Robert Downey Jr. apparentlyad - libbed the agate line , changing a conventional ending into an unforgettable one .

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Iron Man - featured image

Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark in Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr in the opening scene of Iron Man

Obadiah Stane steal’s the arc reactor from Tony

Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man

Tony gets kidnapped by terrorists in Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr and Terrence Howard in Iron Man

Tony working on his Iron Man suit

The Mark I armor in Iron Man

The ending of Iron Man

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