Iron Man

Favreau, Jon. Iron Man. Paramount: 2008. ASIN: B001C08RHA.

Plot Summary:
Wealthy, playboy Tony Stark is the CEO of Stark Enterprises, a wildly successful weapons manufacturer. After a night of gambling and casual sex, Tony goes to Afghanistan on business. His convoy of Humvees is attacked and Tony is critically wounded. To save his life a surgeon implants a device in Tony's chest that keeps shrapnel from entering his heart. This device needs a power source, so Tony walks around attached to a car battery. Tony is held captive by terrorist who want him to build a specific Stark Enterprises missile that will give them dominance in the region. Not one to be pushed around, Tony pretends to build the missile, but is really building a suit of armor that will enable him to escape. This plan is successful and Tony makes it back to safety and America. The experience has produced a paradigm shift in Tony's attitude about weaponry. He no long wants to build and sell weapons. Obediah, his partner at Stark Enterprises completely disagrees and has a few secrets of his own. Tony builds a new, and better suit and Iron man is born.

Critical Evaluation:
The opening scene of this movie is one reason why teens join the military. The movie makes it look appealing as a convoy of Humvees travel down a road in Afghanistan with machine gunners positioned on top of the vehicles and AC/DC's Back in Black blaring. In an interesting twist, the soldiers are not Army or Marines, but airmen/airwomen from the Air Force. Everyone in the convoy is dead after a fierce attack leaving only the star of the movie, Robert Downey Jr., alive, so far textbook movie making. Surprisingly, there is actually a decent plot here and a great statement about America's weapons build up. The devastating effect of the weapons are not hidden or sugar-coated, innocent people have died and will continue to die. This movie was a summer release and has the appropriate action sequences including a huge fight scene as the climax. The movie makers leave plenty of room for a sequel or two.

Reader's Annotation:
A leopard can't physically change his spots, but a warrior can become a peace maker.

Genre:
Action/Science Fiction

Talking Points:
The effects of war
The business of war
Fortitude: having the strength to change your mind.

Interest Age:
7th +

Why I Included This:
I was looking for a teen movie on Netflix instant and this is what I found.