Quick-witted, titillating and powerful Iron Man has to be Marvel's best delivery.  I went in expecting another overly hyped pretentious blockbuster; though to my appeasing surprise, this one overly sustained my attention from beginning to end.  Unlikely rolled Robert Downey Jr. has soared to an all-new accomplishment with this cleaned-up super act.  He's always been a gifted actor; here, he's superb.  Reminded how funny he dishes glib dialog, he portrays the inventive Stark: Gucci stylish, charmingly degrading and alluringly rich to boot -- a most potent formula for our LA setting.  While poignantly counter-set in the war-stricken deserts of the East, mostly I was taken by Downey Jr.'s uncanny aptitude and heavyweight conviction or his screen presence.  I welcomed his authentic underlayer and amused with passing smart-ass comments of lechery aimed at the Hollywood wanna-be beauties.  The theatre audience concurred as we shared laughs.  Apropos, Paltrow is yet the classy kind, shining her always-impressive acting caliber -- if her Elle model type doesn't distract you.  While I haven't preferred her in previous though respectable roles, I eagerly enjoyed her relaxed and breezy character, Potts of poetic poise and lovely amiability.  Jeff Bridges... well, how can one not admire the man?!  I use to wait on him when I worked as a waiter in Westwood.  It's pleasing to see him selling alcohol again; nobody holds a bucket glass better, while smirking his savoring lips.  His character, Stane indulges us with that signature charismatic salesmanship -- with an immerging dark spin as the film's nemesis.  It's a diabolical treat and the perfect move for Bridges as an actor -- and to see him portraying a deranged villain, spot on!  If you favored Terrance Howard in Crash and/or Pride, again he brings his powerful artistry -- more like an extended cameo.  Nonetheless, his soul-wrenching acting style often leads me into flowing tears of inspiration.  I enjoy him a lot -- even as underplayed here (still fitted the film's $180 mill. bill).
Oh; criticism?  Yea, one little one: I could have done without AC/CD as the opening soundtrack; maybe its just me... though I suppose the song suits the popular demographic.  It's k; the song didn't last for long, nor blast further into any of its 80's lyrics heard at a karaoke bar.  Sor' Angus. 

Overall the film sheds its armor of the trite plastique, and generously supplies us refreshment to go with the popcorn and riches for the heart.  The stunning sounds, engaging visuals and flowing plot further delights for ah's, wow's and lol's.  I got a thrill seeing Iron Man plausibly flying over my Brentwood home -- and favorably viewed at the Hollywood Dome.

friendly snail:

his name's slider.
he's a snail
and particularly found
of a local resident, named samuel --
for samuel cultivates the most impressive garden
full of healthy rose bushes.
the rose leaves are slider's favorite.

while the resident naturally disapproves
of slider's presence on his rose bushes,
still he enjoys his company
over a glass of wine,
listening to music
and smelling the roses together.
slider tells the best jokes too.

then a day came that samuel noticed
that he had not seen slider for quite some time.
he thought possibly slider was busy in his other duties and obligations --or on vacation.
more time when by as samuel started to worry.
rather than thinking the worst --
like maybe slider had eaten some snail bate,
he prayed for slider's return.

currently samuel still prays,
while missing the lil' bahgahr.
alone he sips his wine with a second open glass,
listens to slider's fave songs
and smells the roses.