Obviously, my post below should have begun; "I couldn't DIS-agree more with this review". Sorry, it's kind of late; I'm tired; didn't bother to check for typos.

I couldn't agree more with this review. Iron Man was, arguably, the finest installment of any of the Marvel Comics movies. (I offer this opinion as a middle aged guy who was pretty much obsessed with the Marvel Universe -- including Iron Man -- for most of his teen years).

Downey, jr.! Delightful in the role of Tony Stark. His role was humourous,yet oddly heart breaking. The relationship with Pepper Potts (Paltrow) was handledpitch-perfect.

The flick's first reel involving the caves, the terrorists and Mr. Stark's inventiveness was riveting. His last talk with an unexpected Muslim friend put a lump in my throat, and ensuing "conversion" of the womanizing industrialist was actually unexpectedly affecting.

I would have liked a super villain who was a bit more developed, but even there I was only mildly disappointed.

Every one I know who saw Iron Man loved it. I have to say the reviewer here is in the minority. And rightly so.

Director Favreau finds in Downey an actor capable of conveying the complexities of an alcoholic whose womanizing and abuse of wealth ultimately takes a rear seat to an awakened sense of personal responsibility. The plot plunges him into a hell he's taken part in perpetuating, and a near death experience that leaves him with a sense of purpose that puts his talents to righteous use and overrides his previous hedonistic proclivities.
Whereas the depiction of Stark's shameless character flaws are neccisarily exhibited and to the point in presentation, they illustrate his character development, and are niether glorified, nor gratuitously exaggerated. That his Iron Man persona ultimately comes across stiff and remorseless owes more to Iron Man's comic-book origins, the function of the character's intentional anonymity when in the armor, and it's physical contribution to Stark's affectation of inhuman mannerisms to dishearten his enemies. It's the way the character was written.

Once again Hollywood is preaching to a captive audience.
The world has only an appetite for the things that it is consumed in violence, lust, sexual depravity, bloodshed,
broken relationships and unfaithfulness. Well did Jesus say
"as it was inthe days of Lot."
I am 64 and when I was a boy we could only view the Marvel Comic masters in comic book style - there was no TV. My father forbad the introduction of these books into our household knowing full well the influence they would have on young minds. Hollywood is the world's "sewer pit" of violence and
blasphemy, hpwever, be npt dismayed God will judge.