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Iron Man

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Great action, lots of style, some iffy stuff.

updated 10.14.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The hero is initially captured by terrorists in Afghanistan, but another Middle Eastern character offers him aid, assistance, and moral guidance. Extensive discussion of the morality of weapons sales, as well as the nature and character of maintaining peace through possession of the biggest guns. Tony is carefree playboy who discovers a conscience and tries to do good.
  • Violence :

    Extensive, constant sci-fi action and war violence. Characters (including kids) are held at gunpoint; adult villagers are rounded up by bad guys and separated from their kids; wounded characters bleed; people perish in explosions or at the hands of weapons; Iron Man's armor shoots energy rays, micro-missiles, and, in an early version, flames -- all of which are used as weapons (the flame throwers result in some massive fireballs). Characters in high-tech power armor have impressive, super-powered fistfights.
  • Sex :

    Some making out and tumbling about in bed (partially clothed woman); a young woman wakes up in a bed covered only by a sheet, presumably after sex, and then walks around wearing just a man's shirt; stewardesses dance suggestively (a stripper pole is present but not used); much is made of Tony Stark's reputation as a playboy. Some flirting.
  • Language:

    Mild sexually suggestive language. Fairly infrequent use of words like "damn" and "hell." Generally, tame langage for PG-13.
  • Consumerism:

    Contextual references to Burger King, and characters drive Audi cars (both companies have promotional agreements with the film). Verizon cell phones. A montage includes several mock magazine covers with visible logos: Time, Newsweek, Wired, Rolling Stone, and others.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol is consumed frequently and with great joy; one character enjoys a cigar, albeit mostly as a prop.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Iron Man

Parents need to know that, thanks to lots of hype and non-stop marketing, kids will be clamoring to see this fast-paced, action-packed comic book-based adventure. But it's definitely more age-appropriate for teens than younger children. Although much of the violence is clearly meant to be based in the realm of sci-fi and fantasy -- and/or is shown at a distance -- there's lots of it, from massive explosions to children held at gunpoint to super-powered fistfights. Some of the violence is war themed, and some characters get hurt and/or die. While much is made of lead character Tony Stark's devil-may-care lifestyle of fun and frolic, viewers also see him turn away from the more irresponsible aspects of playboyhood. Language is minimal, and sexual content is more suggested than shown overall -- though there are a few eyebrow-raising moments.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the popularity of comic book movies. Do they speak to escapism or darker fantasies about power? Also, how does the fact that much of their violence is based in fantasy affect their impact? How is it different watching human characters get hurt than robots and other beings? Families can also discuss the fact that Iron Man may be a do-gooder, but he's no Boy Scout. Can a heroic character still be flawed? Does that make them more heroic or less?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Awesome movie, Alright for tweens and parents alike

    Iron Man is one of the best superhero films made. The storyline is great, depicting Tony Stark's transformation into Iron Man , and how he is forced to fight Iron Monger, who tried to have him killed. The violence is moderate. We see a torture scene where Tony Stark is dunked underwater, and another where his asistent nearly swallows a hot coal. There is also some blood; tony stark bleeds after being hit by a missle and is then operated on (we see a brief bloody wound), a villian has part of the skin on his head missing and we see his veins (not too graphic). In non-bloody scenes, we see iron Man killing multiple henchmen in two scenes, and we see Iron man and Iron monger figting during the finale. During Iron monger's death, we see him being electroquted (no blood, not graphic at all). There is a brief sex scene, where we see Tony making out with a reporter on a bed, and then falling off of it. Stark is fully clothed, and the woman has a shirt and panties. In the next scene, we see the woman naked in bed (the only thing we see his her bare back). We also hear talk about martinis, and see Stark drinking in one scene. Overall, an excellent and must see film, and in my opinion, Marvel's best film. Kids 12 and up should be OK, as long as they aren't scared by the scene where Stark is operated on. Iron Man is also iffy for 10-11. The biggest concern is the sex scene, which may leave parents having to have an awkward discussion with younger kids afterwards. The mesage is also good, showing how Stark, a millionaire playboy, discovers his true purpose in life. I give it 5 out of 5. It isn't as good as The Dark knight but comes extremely close to it.

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Montana
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 0.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    for 13 year olds

    I thought this movie was really awsome not appropriate fo kids under 13 though and it is really intense at parts

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 0.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    e.g. You should think twice before going with a tween!

    over all good movie but da sex scene wasnt needed

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Iron Man will deliver.

    Iron Man is an exhilarating action film from Robert Downey Jr. and has a good story and characters. everyone will enjoy it.

  5. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    AWSOME MOVIE

    Very good! but there may be parts that you should cover eyes on a kid younger than 7 because there is a whole lotta blood!

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