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A Reel Life film section

Issue: Autumn 2008


Iron Man movie review


Be the Best You Can Be (Heavily Armed)

Tony Stark is a man who lives large. A child prodigy and son of a famous arms dealer, he is the brains and face of a massive American arms conglomerate. After a successful demonstration of his latest killing machines, he hops into his "fun-vee" with a team of young, fresh-faced American soldiers, and several fun-filled moments later he is captured in a hail of Stark-made ammunition.

He must use his ingenuity to rescue himself, and in experiencing the reality of war instead of just mongering it champagne glass in hand, he has an epiphany.

Movie poster, Iron Man; Festivale film review

Movie poster, Iron Man; Festivale film review

Fully Charged.

Now Stark has a different cause, and as he develops the metal powered suit design that he used to escape, he must also deflect the negative responses to his change of heart. Yes, in the ultimate irony, he gains a heart when it is threatened daily with shards of his own manufacture.

If one is looking for an actor to play a bigger-than-life party boy, Robert Downey Jr is hard to pass up. He plays the playboy without shyness and handles the techno jargon with equal aplomb.

It's hard to find any real depth in Iron Man, but as a piece of entertainment, it is written and performed 'straight', which is much more satisfying to watch that camped-up performances.

Do you really think that just because you have an idea?

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by Ali Kayn
Due for Australian release 1 May 2008
For credits and official site details, see below
Search Festivale for more work by the film-makers below.

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Just the facts:

Title: Iron Man (2008)
Written by: Mark Fergus (screenplay) & Hawk Ostby (screenplay) and Art Marcum (screenplay) & Matt Holloway (screenplay) Stan Lee (characters) & Don Heck (characters) & Larry Lieber (characters) &
Directed by: Jon Favreau
rating: M
running time: 126 mins

The Players: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow,

Official website:
IMDb entry

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