Iron Man (2008)

Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, wunderkind engineer, industrialist, and playboy (though not necessarily in that order) who has revolutionized the weapons-making conglomerate founded by his Howard Hughes-like father. The witty, womanizing warmonger is captured by an Afghani warlord but after he narrowly (if ingeniously) escapes, he vows to turn the tables on those who foment death and destruction rather than to continue to profit by it. (Sensitive families should be aware of several scenes that promote drinking alcohol and a quick scene where he propositions a female journalist, who is next seen jumping him in bed. In addition, one scene on his private jet -- quite vapidly extended in the deleted scenes -- shows three female flight attendants cavorting around a stripper's pole before each woman takes a man away for concupiscent purposes.) Each iteration of the Iron Man suit (from first to third) is a tour-de-force of Stark's facile imagination and technological genius. The military-industrial complex begs to differ with him, however, as Stark gradually discovers to what lengths his opposition is prepared to go. Iron Man is a truly awesome science-fiction and action movie -- with a message and a repentant antihero turned hero to boot. Iron Man is as elegant as clockwork (without a speck of unnecessary gearwork) and impressed me from start to end. Stick through the credits for one final scene at the end. Enjoy! 5 stars.