Decided I wanted to give these movies a second look after reading more comics over the years, to see how well they hold up overtime, and to see if my opinions have changed. So I’ve been going through the movies every day in order to rate them.
DAY 1 - Iron Man (2008)
First up was Iron Man (2008) obviously. This is still my favorite MCU film. It’s a great adaption of the source material, carefully sets up it’s universe and the plot is really good. RDJr was also a fantastic casting choice as we all know.
Stane isn’t the best adaption, but I don’t understand why people thought he was a weak villain. Jeff Bridges giving an understated menace is actually good, it comes across as conniving. I suppose after the menace of the Raimi Spider-Man villains, people expected that. But for the sake of Bridge’s performance, I think he actually played the part right and then some. Especially since many of the late-70s and 80s Iron Man villains started bending toward the corporate espionage route, which this films portrays.
This movie also has a fantastic adaption of Iron Man’s origin, which, besides the change from Vietnam to Afghanistan, is like the Raimi Spider-Man films a 1-to-1 adaption of the comic book.
The only flaws I have to give this film is sometimes weird editing and also the fact that some of the CGI hasn’t held up as good as I remembered. There are times it looks great, and other times it looks like they clearly superimposed the armor on RDJ’s arms. Lol.
In terms of comic book films, this is one of the greatest. And in terms of being an Iron Man comic fan, it’s a really good adaption.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
DAY 2 - The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Yeah I still don’t care much for this one. It felt like a response to embarrassment of the 2003 Hulk film, and still comes across that way. I don’t care for how the Hulk looks super grungy, I hate the color grading, and I dislike how they went with Hulk’s ultimate universe origin.
The heroicness of Banner was him saving someone else from being taken in by the gamma radiation. Instead, it’s a voluntary test here for radiation resistance, turning out to be about the super soldier serum. I hate the trope of turning powers into a weapon, I know it wasn’t used much during this movie, but it’s never been a trope I felt was ever done right.
In general, I feel like we don’t see the alternate personality of the Hulk shine through much in this movie. Bruce Banner is definitely at his best in this movie, however. Norton’s one-off portrayal is fantastic, he is sympathetic and very intelligent.
I am also not a fan of General Ross in this one. Unlike the comics, 90s cartoon, and even the 2003 film, Ross is not someone trying to detain the Hulk because he thinks it’s *right*, but because he’s covering up his own mistakes. He is more of a villain sure, but I feel like he was better as an anti-villain in the comic books. He is also just terrible to his daughter, which feels so contrary to his portrayal in all other adaptions.
The real villain that shines here is Blonski/Abomination. I like his growing lust for power. It’s the best part of the movie for me.
CGI hasn’t held up the best, but not surprised by that. I just cannot find myself enjoying this adaption. I am going to get flack for this, but I much prefer how Hulk was portrayed later in The Avengers.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
DAY 3 - Iron Man 2 (2010)
Curiously, there was a 1-year pause in releases for the MCU films, a rarity in the past 18 years. They should have done that more. This is the first film in this series where I have seen contentious views on it.
It introduced a lot to the MCU world building, like more stuff with SHIELD, the hint at Captain America, as well as the elusive Black Widow who was at her best in this release.
I don’t have much to say plot wise. It’s an OK plot. It’s an adaption of Justin Hammer’s storyline in the late 70s of Iron Man comics, while they combined the characters of Blacklash and Crimson Dynamo into the character of Whiplash. Both villains are entertaining, but Justin Hammer steals the show as a complete jerkwad.
I don’t care for Don Cheadle’s role as War Machine, he doesn’t come across as a military man to me like how the previous actor was in the first film. I also refuse to believe the kid Iron Man saves is Peter Parker, sorry, that was always a dumb fan theory/retcon.
Action wise, the finale is meh. The best set piece in the movie was the battle in Monaco against Whiplash. Otherwise, I wasn’t really feeling much tension in the last act like you did in Iron Man 1 where Tony is absolutely on his last legs against Iron Monger. Overall, OK flick. Inoffensive, though not as good as the first.
Rating: 3/5 stars
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I will continue posting updates, but what do you guys think?
