Long before the Avengers assembled on the silver screen and the Marvel Cinematic Universe became a multi-billion dollar franchise, Iron Man was alone at the helm. The first of a 23-movie cinematic saga.
In fact, it has been exactly 12 years since Robert Downey Jr first donned the high-tech Iron Man suit on May 1, 2008. This was also before superhero flicks became all the rage.
In many ways, the Jon Favreau-directed Iron Man set the tone for all the superhero films to come. There was quite nothing like the film when Iron Man first came out. It was as adrenaline-pumping as it was funny, as slick and cool as it was suspenseful.
And though Iron Man would eventually lead the way for Marvel to claim its place as one of the highest grossing movie franchises of all time, filmmakers weren't always so sure about how the film would fare.
In fact, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige once said in an interview he wasn't even sure that Iron Man would make it into the theatres, especially since it was a B-list character.
Iron Man, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, went on to gross more than half a billion dollars worldwide, making it the eighth highest-grossing movie of 2008.
The film had a number of hurdles set against it. It was Marvel's first self-financed film and in the beginning, they had a hard time trying to get a writer on board. Producers also weren’t sure how the film would fare, especially with the murky reputation of its lead actor, Downey Jr, who was coming out of rehab and was a frequent and notorious figure in the tabloids. Still, Favreau insisted on him with a certainty that swayed the rest of the Marvel crew.
But despite everything, Downey delivered a timeless performance as Tony Stark. As exciting as Iron Man was as a superhero movie, it is the fact that the story touches upon universal themes that resonated with its audience. There was the exploration of the burden that comes with a fraught father-son relationship, and the peeling back of the ugly layers of the narcissism. It showed a flawed and self-occupied character going through an introspective journey in order to better himself.
The year 2008 may not seem so long ago, but it has been a lifetime for the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe and the superhero-movie genre. It may be a $22.5 billion (Dh82.6 billion) franchise now, but perhaps its best movie is still its first and least assured. Mainly due to the odds that were stacked against it and the retrospective knowledge of how Iron Man would draw contrails in the sky with for other superheroes to follow.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
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The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
Dunki
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
Company%20Profile
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Vikram%20Vedha
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5