TBR: Iron Man
Released in one of the greatest years for the comic book genre, 2008's 'Iron Man' is certainly one of the best installments of the MCU. Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback would never have been successful without his casting as the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, Tony Stark. As a man who identified so much with his character, he was perfect for the role. His snarky remarks and witty humor make him a lovable character that quickly became a fan favorite.
Even his interactions with Jarvis, his highly advanced computerized A.I., capture the attention of the audience. Not to mention the other great characters in the film such as Pepper Potts. She is a wonderful friend and eventual love interest for Tony. Another delightful character is Terrance Howard's Colonel James Rhodes (later played by Don Cheadle). He is a great addition to the list of people that have to help Stark stay out of trouble. Even the director, Jon Favreau, was a memorable character as Hogan.
Our hero's story would not have been nearly as impactful if it weren't for the villainous Obadiah Stane, portrayed by Jeff Bridges. The character exemplified a true evil mastermind as he pulled every string necessary to gain power over Tony's head. Bridges' performance was yet another home run of his career. Who could have predicted that 'The Dude' from 'The Big Lebowski' would become such a powerful Marvel villain?
The movie even gave us a chance to see the Iron Monger suit in action. The massive grey suit brought yet another level of fear to Stane. Such a climactic final battle left the audience incredibly excited for the future of the MCU. Only a month after the release of 'Iron Man', fans got even more of a tease for the future when 'The Incredible Hulk' featured Tony Stark in a post credit scene. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was kick started in the best way possible by this thrilling first installment of the franchise. 'Iron Man' will certainly continue to be a classic film of the genre.
