Iron Man 2

[Saya]

Iron Man 2 pic:

http://i44.tinypic.com/jkzlsg.jpg

[megladon8]

Excited as hell.

Favorite Marvel character.

Best lead superhero casting since, well, maybe even Christopher Reeve as Superman.

[Skitch]

I didn't know they started filming already. Awesome.

[Dukefrukem]

is War Machine confirmed for this movie?

[Ezee E]

is War Machine confirmed for this movie?
Don Cheadle.

[Dukefrukem]

Don Cheadle.

Wow. I must have missed that.

[Sycophant]

Hi, Meg. I have a foot.

[megladon8]

Hi, Meg. I have a foot.


...?

[megladon8]

Hi, Meg. I have a foot.


Is this going to be explained?

[Dukefrukem]

Iron Man 2 pic:

http://i44.tinypic.com/jkzlsg.jpg

jesus have more suits. Isn't each one of those like a billion dollars or somethig?

[megladon8]

I don't think he's too worried about money.

[Acapelli]

that's nothing compared to how many he has in the comics

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2899/invincibleironman10kryp.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=invincibleironman 10kryp.jpg)

[number8]

Seriously. He has an entire warehouse full of different models.

[lovejuice]

Seriously. He has an entire warehouse full of different models.
so which one he uses for a hot night with Gwyneth Paltrow?

i swear i'm usually not this pervert.

[Dukefrukem]

I never read the Iron Man comic.

[number8]

From Jon Favreau's Twitter just 7 minutes ago:


Scarlett's first day on set in the Black Widow outfit. You've never heard a crew get so quiet so fast.

[D_Davis]

fap, fap, fap

[Watashi]

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/zz7798ef7d.jpg

Badass.

And can we get a separate Iron Man 2 thread

[Watashi]

yay!

[Sycophant]

Hi, Meg. I have a foot.

Requesting this post be moved into the IM2 thread.

[megladon8]

My neg-rep finger is getting itchy.

[Spinal]

Requesting this post be moved into the IM2 thread.

I am your humble servant. Even though I have no idea what these posts mean either.

[Sycophant]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/Pete_rocking_Out20.jpg

YOU RULE!

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/zz7798ef7d.jpg

Badass.

And can we get a separate Iron Man 2 thread

I was just gonna post this. Beat me to it.

[lovejuice]

Hi, Meg. I have a foot.
can i venture a guess? it's a reference to holmes's "the game's afoot."

[megladon8]

What are those domino-looking things around his arms and legs?

Are they markers for CGI? Like those blue-ball suits they put on characters that are going to be totally CGI'd over?

[number8]

What are those domino-looking things around his arms and legs?

Are they markers for CGI? Like those blue-ball suits they put on characters that are going to be totally CGI'd over?

Flasks.

[Saya]

http://i41.tinypic.com/15y9dgn.jpg

[megladon8]

I want those boots.

And that coat.

[MadMan]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/joel_harmon/Pete_rocking_Out20.jpg

YOU RULE!This picture never gets old. Ever :lol:

This movie's gonna rock harder than the first one did. I can't wait.

[megladon8]

This movie's gonna rock harder than the first one did. I can't wait.


I can't help but doubt this.

I have a sneaking suspicion it might end up terrible.

Of course I hope it doesn't, and if it's even as good as the first one, I'll be happy.

[Sycophant]

I will not pay money to see this film.

[megladon8]

I will not pay money to see this film.


Why?

Did you hate the first one? I forget...

[Sycophant]

Why?

Did you hate the first one? I forget...

Yeah, I didn't like the first one (hate's too strong--I liked it more than The Dark Knight), don't care for Jon Favreau as a director, and have spent too much money and time on comic book movies that have left me underwhelmed.

[megladon8]

Yeah, I didn't like the first one (hate's too strong--I liked it more than The Dark Knight), don't care for Jon Favreau as a director, and have spent too much money and time on comic book movies that have left me underwhelmed.


Well, makes sense why you're not rushing to see it :)

[Watashi]

I keep forgetting people actually pay to see movies around here.

[EvilShoe]

I keep forgetting people actually pay to see movies around here.
Blowhard.

I keep forgetting Scarlett Johansson is in this. If this trend continues, I will be very upset during my theater visit.

[Dukefrukem]

"Favreau has ordered movie star Mickey Rourke to lose some weight in preparation for his upcoming role as Russian Villain Whiplash in Iron Man 2. "

[MadMan]

I keep forgetting people actually pay to see movies around here.Heh. For me, its simply me actually going to the theater to see movies anymore. My current job though will ensure that actually happens.

[Watashi]

First look at Rourke as Whiplash.

http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2009/06/09/rourkex-large.jpg

:eek:

[megladon8]

That's...different than expected.

[Fezzik]

That's...different than expected.

That's probably (hopefully?) Whiplash's prototype suit. I wonder if they'll go all the way and let the whips harden into vaulting poles like in the comics.

[number8]

That's probably (hopefully?) Whiplash's prototype suit.

Pretty sure that's the case. I remember Rourke talking about being inside a suit and how heavy it was.

[Skitch]

Iron Man Beyond Thunderdome?

[Ezee E]

Iron Man Beyond Thunderdome?
Precisely.

[Ivan Drago]

Is Sam Rockwell still gonna be in this too? Or did he drop out?

[megladon8]

Is Sam Rockwell still gonna be in this too? Or did he drop out?

Yeah he's in it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Is Sam Rockwell still gonna be in this too? Or did he drop out?

I had no idea he was going to be in it.

My interest just shot up 17%.

[ledfloyd]

why does iron man have such lame villains? he's a great character with some awful villains. at least the third should be good with the mandarin.

[number8]

The Mandarin... who is probably not going to be mandarin.

[megladon8]

why does iron man have such lame villains? he's a great character with some awful villains. at least the third should be good with the mandarin.


It's because until recently Iron Man has always been a second-or-third tier Marvel character. He was never a huge seller, never a big favorite, and so they didn't give him great villains to battle.

He happens to be my favorite character in the Marvel universe, and I certainly agree with you - most of his villains are pretty lame.

And while it would never happen, I think the Extremis storyline could make a great movie.

[Qrazy]

Doctor Doom is a good villian. He's primarily Fantastic Four but he also dabbles in Iron Man territory.

[ledfloyd]

It's because until recently Iron Man has always been a second-or-third tier Marvel character. He was never a huge seller, never a big favorite, and so they didn't give him great villains to battle.

He happens to be my favorite character in the Marvel universe, and I certainly agree with you - most of his villains are pretty lame.

And while it would never happen, I think the Extremis storyline could make a great movie.
he's definitely one of the most interesting marvel characters.

i'm not sure about the extremis storyline. it's kinda cool, but i think it would look ridiculous on the screen.

[number8]

Doctor Doom is a good villian. He's primarily Fantastic Four but he also dabbles in Iron Man territory.

Doctor Doom dabbles in everyone's territory, because he's a top villain in the Marvel universe. To use him as an example of a good Iron Man villain is like using The Joker as an example of a good Wonder Woman villain.

[Qrazy]

Doctor Doom dabbles in everyone's territory, because he's a top villain in the Marvel universe. To use him as an example of a good Iron Man villain is like using The Joker as an example of a good Wonder Woman villain.

Yeah well I'd rather see Doom in an Ironman movie than in a Fantastic Four movie so there.

[megladon8]

he's definitely one of the most interesting marvel characters.

i'm not sure about the extremis storyline. it's kinda cool, but i think it would look ridiculous on the screen.


What would look ridiculous about it?

The suit attaching itself to his body? The crazy infected guy tearing down cities?

[number8]

Yeah well I'd rather see Doom in an Ironman movie than in a Fantastic Four movie so there.

Meh. Doom is absolutely the perfect ideological villain to Mr. Fantastic. I wouldn't have it any other way. Although admittedly, none of the reasons why made it to the movies.

[Qrazy]

Meh. Doom is absolutely the perfect ideological villain to Mr. Fantastic. I wouldn't have it any other way. Although admittedly, none of the reasons why made it to the movies.

Let me clarify, I would prefer this because I found the first Ironman film decent and the first Fantastic Four shitty... so I would prefer it because I figure maybe Doom could be in a mildly decent film.

[number8]

In that case let's have a Doom movie! With a Mr. Fantastic cameo!

[Qrazy]

In that case let's have a Doom movie! With a Mr. Fantastic cameo!

I'm game. Actually come to think of it that could be an untapped market of awesome. I mean we have tons of anti-hero or 'bad guy' cinema, and a ton of comic book movies, why don't they start making some supervillian films?

[Skitch]

I'm game. Actually come to think of it that could be an untapped market of awesome. I mean we have tons of anti-hero or 'bad guy' cinema, and a ton of comic book movies, why don't they start making some supervillian films?

X-Men Origins: Magneto?

[Ezee E]

Doom is like Apocalypse to me. I don't think either would work.

[number8]

Doom is like Apocalypse to me. I don't think either would work.

I'm not sure what that means.

Out of all Marvel villains, Doom's origin would make the best movie.

[ledfloyd]

What would look ridiculous about it?

The suit attaching itself to his body? The crazy infected guy tearing down cities?
i was just thinking it would be hard to make the suit work and seem believable.

[Dukefrukem]

cool set pics (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/iron_man/iron_man_2/news/?a=8143)

[Skitch]

Isn't that Cameron's Avatar location? The green screen with the train boxes?

[Watashi]

Comic Con Footage (semi-poor quality) (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.indi vidual&videoid=61214893)

[megladon8]

Neat. Looks like they cranked Stark's cocky playboy characteristics up to 10000000000.

Like the Whiplash effects a lot. Hope the characterization is good as well.

War Machine looks badass.

[number8]

Full disclosure. I hate the War Machine character.

[number8]

Full disclosure. I hate the War Machine character.

I don't mean Jim Rhodes himself, of course. But the idea of "IRON MAN... BUT 1000X GUNS! BADASSSSS!" had always been silly to me.

[Watashi]

Heh. Instead of being pissed over the leak footage, Jon Favreau finds it exciting and is all for it.

[Ivan Drago]

Whiplash, Black Widow, AND War Machine?

Which villain gets the least screentime? ("The Venom Treatment" as I like to call it)

[megladon8]

Whiplash, Black Widow, AND War Machine?

Which villain gets the least screentime? ("The Venom Treatment" as I like to call it)


War Machine isn't a villain.

And Black Widow often shifts allegiences.

So the villain is Whiplash, with some villainy thrown in by Black Widow as well.

[Ivan Drago]

War Machine isn't a villain.

And Black Widow often shifts allegiences.

So the villain is Whiplash, with some villainy thrown in by Black Widow as well.

Oh, okay. I apologize - I've never read the comics, so I probably should've looked up more info on them before jumping to conclusions.

[megladon8]

Oh, okay. I apologize - I've never read the comics, so I probably should've looked up more info on them before jumping to conclusions.


No need to apologize, dude.

Not everyone's as much of a dork as I am. I'd be clueless about anything relating to sports. I don't even understand the game of football.

[number8]

Interesting shift, however. 3 heroes and only 1 villain.

Although I'm very sure that we will see an Iron Man/War Machine fight.

[megladon8]

Although I'm very sure that we will see an Iron Man/War Machine fight.



And it will make the bee's knees shake with glee.

[Acapelli]

I don't mean Jim Rhodes himself, of course. But the idea of "IRON MAN... BUT 1000X GUNS! BADASSSSS!" had always been silly to me.
can't really say anything about the character's past, but i really like the new war machine series

[number8]

can't really say anything about the character's past, but i really like the new war machine series

:|

Really? It's just, like, pages and pages of him brutally killing terrorists with heavy artillery.

[megladon8]

:|

Really? It's just, like, pages and pages of him brutally killing terrorists with heavy artillery.


That's what I feel when reading some Garth Ennis stuff.

That book "Fury" is one of the most inept things I've ever read.

[number8]

Fury is deliberately comedic, though -- a satirical take on Nick Fury, who despite fan protest is logically not that different from Ennis' warmongering take. The guy slows his aging just so he can keep fighting war after war throughout the past century.

The new War Machine series is dead serious.

[megladon8]

I know it was deliberately comedic.

It was still a piece of shit and a waste of $9.

[number8]

Haha you bought it.

[B-side]

Meh. I guess I should be excited to watch Sam Rockwell and Robert Downey Jr. play themselves for 2 hours, but I'm not. Rourke is the selling point for me, and I don't know if he'll be enough to make me pay.

[Dukefrukem]

Whiplash looks stupid

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42495

[number8]

He looks great with the CG in place.

[Adam]

Hey now! Garry Shandling is in this piece, too? Don't call it a comeback!

[Watashi]

For the few of us (ie: me, meg, and 8) that care:

http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/zz5f0b0da2.jpg

[megladon8]

So, so awesome.

I can't wait for this.

[Acapelli]

i care very much

but i think thor might be my most anticipated comic book movie at this point

[Skitch]

Holy shit that poster has me pumped.

[Dukefrukem]

meh

[Fezzik]

That poster rocks my socks.

May can't get here fast enough.

[Grouchy]

That's what I call a teaser. Awesome.

[Sxottlan]

Excellent poster!

[Morris Schæffer]

i care very much

but i think thor might be my most anticipated comic book movie at this point

Same here. Call it the Branagh factor. :)

This poster is decent.

[Rowland]

Jeff Bridges on the first Iron Man:

It only seems a matter of time these days before studios come calling for actors, however legendary, to take part in the trendy wave of superhero vehicles that are dominating the marketplace. For Bridges, the movie was “Iron Man” in 2007, and having just finished principle photography on the sequel to “TRON,” he felt like it would be a smooth transition.

For a moment, it was anything but.

“They had no script, man,” Bridges exclaims. “They had an outline. We would show up for big scenes every day and we wouldn’t know what we were going to say. We would have to go into our trailer and work on this scene and call up writers on the phone, ‘You got any ideas?’ Meanwhile the crew is tapping their foot on the stage waiting for us to come on.”

Bridges, director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. would literally act out sequences during primitive rehearsals, Downey taking on Bridges’s role and vice versa, to find and essentially improvise their way to full scenes, the actor recounts. Bridges says that the entire production was probably saved by the improv prowess of the film’s director and star.

“You’ve got the suits from Marvel in the trailer with us saying, ‘No, you wouldn’t say that,’” Bridges remembers. “You would think with a $200 million movie you’d have the shit together, but it was just the opposite. And the reason for that is because they get ahead of themselves. They have a release date before the script, ‘Oh, we’ll have the script before that time,’ and they don’t have their shit together.

“Jon dealt with it so well,” Bridges continues. “It freaked me out. I was very anxious. I like to be prepared. I like to know my lines, man, that’s my school. Very prepared. That was very irritating, and then I just made this adjustment. It happens in movies a lot where something’s rubbing against your fur and it’s not feeling right, but it’s just the way it is. You can spend a lot of energy bitching about that or you can figure out how you’re going to do it, how you’re going to play this hand you’ve been dealt. What you can control is how you perceive things and your thinking about it. So I said, ‘Oh, what we’re doing here, we’re making a $200 million student film. We’re all just fuckin’ around! We’re playin’. Oh, great!’ That took all the pressure off. ‘Oh, just jam, man, just play.’ And it turned out great!”

Rest of the interview. (http://incontention.com/?p=18384)

[KK2.0]

Nice poster!

I've never read the comics though, to me it's like "whoa! War-Machine from marvel vs capcom is in it!!" :D

[megladon8]

Nice poster!

I've never read the comics though, to me it's like "whoa! War-Machine from marvel vs capcom is in it!!" :D


Iron Man is my very favorite Marvel character, always has been, but I admit his comic repertoire is thin. There are some brilliant works, but pretty much until Civil War (and subsequently the first Iron Man movie) he was a second-tier character in the universe.

I quite liked the "Extremis" arc, written by Warren Ellis.

I'd love for someone like Ed Brubaker or Brian Michael Bendis to give him a great, long run.

[Acapelli]

invincible iron man is pretty much the best capes comic atm

world's most wanted was great comics and stark disassembled looks to be just as good

[Sycophant]

Jeff Bridges on the first Iron Man:

Thanks for this. Way interesting. I'm no fan of the Iron Man film or Favreau as a director, but it's to his credit that the film turned out as it did under the circumstances.

I thought the Marvel suits were jumping the gun with their film line-ups.

[number8]

There's actually a feature on the Blu-ray that showed the rehearsals with Bridges, Downey and Favreau. It was very obvious that they didn't have a completed script and were just riffing.

[Ezee E]

There's actually a feature on the Blu-ray that showed the rehearsals with Bridges, Downey and Favreau. It was very obvious that they didn't have a completed script and were just riffing.
"How about we have you come in on a segway. That'd be awesome."

"Let's do it!"

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/IM2whiplashposter.jpg

[Sycophant]

A steampunk Prince of Persia sequel? So soon?

[megladon8]

I hope I'm not alone in think we need more steampunk movies.

[Dukefrukem]

A steampunk Prince of Persia sequel? So soon?

You're so right...

[Skitch]

I hope I'm not alone in think we need more steampunk movies.

Hell no your not, sir.

[Sycophant]

I'll probably live up to expectations here and say to steampunk: "Eh."

[Grouchy]

I hope I'm not alone in think we need more steampunk movies.
You're not alone.

[megladon8]

A trailer for the trailer! (http://www.collider.com/2009/12/15/entertainment-tonight-gives-a-sneak-peek-at-the-iron-man-2-trailer/) :lol:

[Henry Gale]

Here it is. (http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/)

Not even a huge fan of the first, but that right there is probably one of the most exciting trailers I've ever seen.

[megladon8]

Yeeeesssssssss.

[Watashi]

I think McLovin said it best...

"I have a boner"

[number8]

Well, all right then.

[Barty]

This is the one movie that can break Dark Knight's opening weekend record.

[Ezee E]

Very nice.

[Dukefrukem]

I didn't think I was going to be impressed with this trailer but... was pretty cool

[Fezzik]

:pritch::pritch:

[KK2.0]

Scarlett Johansson redhead >>>>>>>>> special fx

[Yxklyx]

The trailer did nothing for me. Not looking forward to this. Liked the first one well enough.

[Dukefrukem]

The trailer did nothing for me. Not looking forward to this. Liked the first one well enough.

It didn't do much for me either, but it looks better than the first movie.

[Morris Schæffer]

I'll watch it, but it doesn't look especially memorable. Mind, wasn't a huge fan of the original either. I thought it was unexciting, anti-climactic, predictable, salvaged by the memorably acerbic, flamboyant Downey Jr.

It looks like solid fun however.

[MadMan]

That trailer was fairly badass, actually. Plus the cast for the sequel also sells me on it big time, especially since Cheadle is an upgrade over Howard. Throwing in Rourke and Scarlett is a plus, too.

[bac0n]

Um. Damn! And I didn't even like the first one! No wait, I did. A lot.

[Spun Lepton]

Iron Man -- Trailer made me think, "meh." Saw the movie on DVD. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

Iron Man 2 -- Trailer makes me think, "meh." Perhaps history will repeat itself.

[Dukefrukem]

5 min of footage with AC/DC video (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43768)

[number8]

New footage my dick. That's just an AC/DC live performance cut with the trailer.

[Dukefrukem]

Yeh I didn't watch it until I got home from work and was pretty disappointed. That's how AiCN presented it.

[angrycinephile]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/ironmannews.php?id=9014

I really don't understand the whole AC/DC thing. So they're going to squeeze 15 AC/DC songs into Iron Man 2 plus releasing a special AC/DC/Iron Man 2 greatest hits. Also, releasing special music video/trailers with footage from the film mixed with live performances.

What kind of fucked up product placement is that? Are we going to have to endure Iron Man mowing down enemies set to T.N.T. now?

Oh, heaven forbid.

[Morris Schæffer]

I thought the score to Iron Man absolutely stank.

[megladon8]

The score to the first movie sucked as music on its own, but it served its purpose in the film - nothing more, nothing less.

But yeah, it was a letdown for me because I love Iron Man so much, I really wanted him to have a good strong theme song.

[Henry Gale]

It's Maximum Overdrive for the 21st century!

[Malickfan]

It'd be cool if they used AC/DC's Walk All Over You.

That song kicks ass and gets no respect on the radio.

[MadMan]

It's Maximum Overdrive for the 21st century!Hah, I love that awful, cheesy movie. So goddamn stupid, yet gloriously so.

[Derek]

:|

It'd be cooler if they didn't use any AC/DC, but there's no better way to pander to the 35-45 crowd than to throw a little AC/DC or Van Halen their way.

[Skitch]

I wish it were Van Halen. I hate AC/DC. Probably the only person on the planet.

[Dukefrukem]

I wish it were Van Halen. I hate AC/DC. Probably the only person on the planet.

yup

[number8]

First movie's soundtrack was guitar riffs by Tom Morello and a theme song by Sabbath. That is so obviously better.

[Grouchy]

I wish it were Van Halen. I hate AC/DC. Probably the only person on the planet.
I hope so, at least.

[Skitch]

Anyone else want to tell me I'm wrong about disliking AC/DC? Anyone? I haven't heard it enough in the real world, surely there's more bandwagoneers here.

[Ezee E]

Hell's Bells people...

[Sycophant]

Anyone else want to tell me I'm wrong about disliking AC/DC? Anyone? I haven't heard it enough in the real world, surely there's more bandwagoneers here.

Yo dawg, I heard you like fighting on the Internet, so I put a somethingsomethingsomething.

[megladon8]

I hate AC/DC myself.

I would tell you what song I hate the most, but I don't know, because they all sound exactly the same.

[Dukefrukem]

you guys are nuts, one of the best songs ever written;

81VPZ9_r2PE

[Dukefrukem]

which btw, sounds nothing like this

7YUuyzQDmjY

[Skitch]

Ahhhhhh....much better. :)

[MadMan]

Sure most of AC/DC's songs sound the same, but who cares? They freakin' know how to rock.

[Watashi]

New trailer (http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/03/07/iron-man-movie-trailer-2-2/)

[number8]

Rocks.

[Malickfan]

I want that suitcase.

[Dukefrukem]

Yeh that trailer is much more awesome.

[EyesWideOpen]

Really good trailer!

[angrycinephile]

Looks dope.

Yay Sam Rockwell.

[megladon8]

Baller.

[Wryan]

I like AC/DC because they turn elemental simplicity into fun rock songs. Plus Bon Scott had an incredible voice.

[Morris Schæffer]

Better than the previous trailer. The Monaco sequence looks rather fantastic.

[number8]

I am strangely wishing this has less action than the first one, but I doubt I'm going to get that by the looks of it. Oh well, War Machine.

[Ezee E]

I am strangely wishing this has less action than the first one, but I doubt I'm going to get that by the looks of it. Oh well, War Machine.
Despite a lot of people not knowing anything about War Machine (myself included), everyone loves the design of it, and is pumped for that reason alone.

[megladon8]

I am strangely wishing this has less action than the first one, but I doubt I'm going to get that by the looks of it. Oh well, War Machine.


But it's not like the first one was very action heavy to begin with.

Are you saying you'd like an almost entirely dialogue/character-driven Iron Man film? I'd certainly be on board, but it'll never happen.

[D_Davis]

Anyone else want to tell me I'm wrong about disliking AC/DC? Anyone? I haven't heard it enough in the real world, surely there's more bandwagoneers here.

I can't stand AC/DC.

One of my least favorite bands that I actually hear every once in awhile.

[Skitch]

I can't stand AC/DC.

One of my least favorite bands that I actually hear every once in awhile.

Awesome. I think they have two songs I like, and I loathe the rest. The only time I really enjoyed them was in The Dukes of Hazzard flick, but that probably has more to do with the Dukes and my childhood and one badass Charger than anything else. :)

[Grouchy]

Bwahahah orgasmic.

[dreamdead]

Needs more Rockwell, Johansson, and Paltrow. Needs less random "hotties" at the Stark Expo.

[Ezee E]

I'm fine with it showing the hotties because I'll know nothing about the movie when I actually see it.

[number8]

I just watched this 3 times in a row.

yv5dB7Nxroc

[Spun Lepton]

Just watched the second trailer. That sold me.

[megladon8]

Just watched the second trailer. That sold me.


Guys in robot suits fighting robots.

Electronic whips.

Scarlett Johansson in skin-tight leather.

Robert Downey Jr. playing his charmingly cocky self.

What's not to love?

[Rowland]

Between Rourke's hair and his line about making God bleed, I spent most of the trailer flashing back to Predator.

[Ezee E]

The special effects on Rourke make me think Omega Red could really work now.

[Morris Schæffer]

Guys in robot suits fighting robots.

Electronic whips.

Scarlett Johansson in skin-tight leather.

Robert Downey Jr. playing his charmingly cocky self.

What's not to love?

Point one could be boring (see Transformers 1 and 2). Indeed, that scene looks like a relentlessly unimaginative bit of shoot'em-up action. Point 3 might deliver a quick and cheap thrill, but possibly little else if the character isn't also kinda interesting. The electronic whips do look really neat, which leaves Downey Jr. who, for me, is the main reason to see this.

[[ETM]]

Good thing Stark's short. That whip blow on the race car should have cut off his legs below the knee.

[KK2.0]

I just watched this 3 times in a row.

yv5dB7Nxroc[/youtube]

i caught a glimpse of the future and all trailers are cut like this :P

[Watashi]

So people don't post in the other thread.

[Henry Gale]

I pretty much forgot this came out everywhere except for North America and a few other places (Japan, China, Germany) on Friday. It still made itself $100 million without those countries and the prediction for its domestic open (even from competing studios) is that it'll make itself a little over $150 million next weekend, coming close to Dark Knight's record.

Money!

Anyone here seen it yet?

[megladon8]

I pretty much forgot this came out everywhere except for North America and a few other places (Japan, China, Germany) on Friday. It still made itself $100 million without those countries and the prediction for its domestic open (even from competing studios) is that it'll make itself a little over $150 million next weekend, coming close to Dark Knight's record.

Money!

Anyone here seen it yet?


SpaceOddity saw it. Said it was OK, but not as good as the first.

[Melville]

SpaceOddity saw it. Said it was OK, but not as good as the first.
Hm. She told me it was crap. I don't think she's really the intended audience though.

[Ivan Drago]

Saw this at midnight last night and thought it was awesome. I went in with low expectations considering the mixed reviews.

Also...Greatest. Prop. Ever.

[Grouchy]

Can't believe I'm one of the first to see this. I'm usually one of the last here to see anything.

I also didn't like it as much as the first one, but, all things considered, I had a blast. Mickey Rourke is great, but his character has about ten lines in the whole movie, all of the "make God bleed" type. He's a scaled down villain and he doesn't really get a chance to shine. I think that's because, frankly, the movie is more of a screwball comedy with fights than a superhero action film, and that's not a negative criticism, that's the whole Iron Man charm. Rourke simply isn't up to scratch because everyone else (including Rockwell's Justin Hammer) is a lot more talkative than he is. That's the timing most of the scenes are set to. I also began to feel more clearly that these new Marvel movies work better as building chapters to the Avengers than as movies on their own right.

But, frankly, Iron Man 2 is all we could expect out of a sequel. The movie follows the formula of the first one closely and adds more characters, more technology and more Tony Stark antics. We couldn't expect it to top the first one and it never does, but it's a helluva lot of fun. Great music, great stars, great smackdowns.

[number8]

Can't believe I'm one of the first to see this. I'm usually one of the last here to see anything.

Well, it did open in your country one week earlier than us in the US.

[Grouchy]

Well, it did open in your country one week earlier than us in the US.
Hah, I didn't know that. I assumed it was an international release.

[EvilShoe]

Didn't care much for it.

First hour's alright, quality goes down after that.

Samuel L. Jackson's so lame in this, and the movie ultimately feels like a trailer for The Avengers. Yay, more Nick Fury.

[Watashi]

I loved it.

Then again, I loved the first one. It's pretty much more of the same.

[Wryan]

I myself can't wait for the last one...

Iron Man III: EVERBODY GETS A SUIT
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/091120-oprah-car-giveaway-hmed.hlarge.jpg
YOU GET A SUIT!....YOU GET A SUIT!....YOU GET A SUIT!

Seriously, it's pretty much the same movie. It's good entertainment. I'm having fun. I thought Rourke was great. I have no desire to own these movies, though.

[megladon8]

I haven't seen this one yet, but I found Favreau's line about the first movie - that it's "what you'd get if Robert Altman did a superhero movie" - quite apt.

[Boner M]

I hate how Altman is constantly invoked as a shorthand for 'we improvised the dialogue in a few scenes'.

[megladon8]

I hate how Altman is constantly invoked as a shorthand for 'we improvised the dialogue in a few scenes'.


That's not what I mean at all.

[Wryan]

That's not what I mean at all.

Wasn't Favreau doing the invoking?

[Qrazy]

Sounds like Favreau has never seen an Altman film.

[Raiders]

This was fairly lame. Scarlett Johansson was pointless, Sam Jackson laughably bad and his character a complete plot tool, and the whole back-story for Rourke's character confusing and just strange. Downey was charismatic, yeah yeah. It was a rather lazy film, all told. As much a set-up for the big Avengers film as anything else.

[Winston*]

This movie would've been better if it was a completely different movie where Sam Rockwell and Robert Downey Jr. play estranged siblings.

That Tom Cruise movie they showed the trailer for before the movie in my showing looks so bad.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

In honor of the release of Iron Man 2, Matt Zoller Seitz shared some less-than-complimentary thoughts on the state of the superhero genre. Very interesting read.

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/iron_man_2/index.html?story=/ent/movies/film_salon/2010/05/06/superhero_movies_bankrupt_genr e

[Ezee E]

Exciting action scenes this time, but lazy in between, especially when it came to how pointless Scarlett Johannson was to the story. Sam Jackson was playing as "Sam Jackson" and did it badly.

Sigh, I want to like it, but it's just trying to be the first with more, and it doesn't come close.

[Ezee E]

This Avengers movie better be pretty awesome by the way. They're basically making 2-3 movies as lead-ins to it.

Regarding Iron Man Limited role in The Avengers you think? Or maybe just a cameo?

[Watashi]

This Avengers movie better be pretty awesome by the way. They're basically making 2-3 movies as lead-ins to it.

Regarding Iron Man Limited role in The Avengers you think? Or maybe just a cameo?

Iron Man is one of the main Avengers, so no.

[Watashi]

I don't see how Sam Jackson playing Sam Jackson is laughably bad. If anything, blame Ultimate Nick Fury for modeling after him.

[Winston*]

What happened to that scene in the trailer where Paltrow kisses the Iron Man helmet and throws it out the airplane? Odd thing to cut.

[Sxottlan]

I enjoyed this a bit more than I thought I would given the reviews. Still a half step down from the first, but lots of fun.


What happened to that scene in the trailer where Paltrow kisses the Iron Man helmet and throws it out the airplane? Odd thing to cut.

Seemed like a scene shot just for the trailer. Or else it was scripted early and they wanted to cut that part, so they just re-shot it.

[transmogrifier]

I haven't seen this one yet, but I found Favreau's line about the first movie - that it's "what you'd get if Robert Altman did a superhero movie" - quite apt.

I think Popeye is what you get if Robert Altman did a superhero movie.

[lovejuice]

In honor of the release of Iron Man 2, Matt Zoller Seitz shared some less-than-complimentary thoughts on the state of the superhero genre. Very interesting read.

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/iron_man_2/index.html?story=/ent/movies/film_salon/2010/05/06/superhero_movies_bankrupt_genr e

i am not a big fan of super-hero movies in any way, but this article loses me when he compares them to zombie, a genre that i consider even more backrupt.

[megladon8]

So is it pretty clear in watching Iron Man 2 that there were scripting problems from day 1?

[Ezee E]

So is it pretty clear in watching Iron Man 2 that there were scripting problems from day 1?
I'd say its like X-Men 3 in that they scripted it as they went along, matching things to action sequences in mind.

Scarlett Johannson especially. Although her fight scene is pretty great.

[Sven]

I haven't seen this one yet, but I found Favreau's line about the first movie - that it's "what you'd get if Robert Altman did a superhero movie" - quite apt.

I just saw this. Personally, I cannot fathom how one can see Iron Man and think "Altman". I think Qrazy is right.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I think there are some Altman-esque techniques in Iron Man, but they are hardly pronounced enough to really warrant a strong comparison. I think, more accurately, he employs Altman techniques that have been fazed into normal filmmaking and acting over the years. It's almost as if you were the film's use of editing somehow makes it a film made in a Griffith style... it's just not accurate (I can't even decide if most modern editing is more Griffith or more Soviet, probably a hybred of both... editing is not my strong point). I think Favreau was probably referring largely to the use and delivery of dialogue, but even that makes for a weak comparison. If anything, it's more in the vein of classic screwball comedies, or the work of Howard Hawks. It's not perfect either, but it's certainly closer to the effect achieved.

[megladon8]

Altman often aped and showed obvious adoration for the "Golden Age Hollywood" films, most notably screwball comedies and detective films.

I found Iron Man (and what I've seen so far of Iron Man 2) had - as a few people have mentioned - a lot of influence from Altman's star-studded tributes to films of the '30s and '40s.

[Watashi]

Screwball comedies of the 30's and 40's are an apt comparison. The banter between Stark and Potts certainly reminded me as much. I would loved to see a straight Iron Man adaptation with no action, villain, or set-pieces and just Stark playing off his supporting cast for the entire runtime.

[Russ]

I would loved to see a straight Iron Man adaptation with no action, villain, or set-pieces and just Stark playing off his supporting cast for the entire runtime.
I actually think this is a great idea.

[Ezee E]

Screwball comedies of the 30's and 40's are an apt comparison. The banter between Stark and Potts certainly reminded me as much. I would loved to see a straight Iron Man adaptation with no action, villain, or set-pieces and just Stark playing off his supporting cast for the entire runtime.
That basically is Iron Man 2. Only it has a few intermissions of action sequences.

[Watashi]

That basically is Iron Man 2. Only it has a few intermissions of action sequences.
Which is why I liked it. :)

[Ezee E]

Which is why I liked it. :)
I'd say that would be appropriate for #1, but in #2, I don't think the banter works. Don Cheadle is pretty boring compared to Terence Howard. And the Paltrow/Downey arguing is more annoying this time around.

And the action sequences in the first were pretty crappy. It's like they did a 180 here.

[Watashi]

I loved Hammer's monologue about the "ex-wife" and the even-though-you-saw-it-coming-it's-still-awesome of its resolution.

It reminded me of Oldman's similar monologue in The Fifth Element.

[lovejuice]

A big Nay.

And I want to like it too. The first 30 minutes are awesome. After that is just one mess after the other. It reminds me of Number 8's cartoon: how the first movie is nothing but Stark cleaning up his cooperate mess. This one is worse. I don't even know what's hanging by the thread here.

And I hate how the movie is built around Jackson's character. I don't know who the hell Nick Fury is, and how his story is related to the movie.

To say Rourke is underemployed is an understatement. I like the visual --- the electric whips -- but the showdown is an anti-climax more than anything.

[Henry Gale]

I'll guess I'll be the first to say I loved it and definitely put it above the original.

I think the first one is a completely solid action movie with Downey keeping things exciting at the center while the rest of it goes through the typical motions of the genre without finding many interesting traits beyond those. I never found the plot to find anything truly compelling to do outside of the action setpieces, and Bridges' villain arc and the finale involving him doesn't go out with the bang it should. I think it's fun, but pretty overrated.

With Iron Man 2 though, somehow pulling a Spider-Man 3 with a whole cast of new characters (and even actors in Cheadle's case) along with many finite story threads manage to inject a great amount of scope and reliance on more than just Stark's charm in every scene to pad the bigger picture. The action (though there's far less of it) is as good as I expect to experience from a summer blockbuster, the dialogue constantly hits just the right tone and kept me smiling and laughing throughout (especially if it involved Rockwell's Hammer), and the general energy of the movie makes itself something pretty damn close to what I hoped a movie for this character would have been like back before the first was released.

So far, it definitely falls into the comic-book-movie "rule" for me that if the first is alright, the second will be even better (Spider-Man, X-Men, Nolan's Batman), but that the third one will be a mess (works for X and Spidey, Batman needs to prove itself to be the exception). Hopefully with Avengers coming two years from now and the general response to this sequel being less enthusiastic, the pattern can be broken in some way, and the gap to Iron Man 3 can find itself to be a film as good as most people felt the first was, and as amazingly entertaining as I found Iron Man 2 to be.

***½

[SirNewt]

"The kind of sardonic commentary that might have been possible at the time of, say, Paul Verhoeven's "Robocop" has been devoured by our self-knowing pop culture and reprocessed into ambient, empty, unfulfillable desire, which is all a movie like "Iron Man 2" can give you.

Please note: I didn't say it wasn't fun."

- ANDREW O'HEHIR

I'd say this is pretty apt. I enjoyed the movie but if you look anywhere beyond the surface it's rotten to the core.

[dreamdead]

I wish this would have been better, as the banter between Tony and Pepper (and, very briefly, the two of them with Natasha) suggests a airy level of humor that is genuinely fun to witness. However, too often the film pauses for the action beats that just aren't all that exciting. So many good actors in this film, but they can never lift it beyond the heights of a summer action film. That, in the end, is a flaw with the script, which is just too uninteresting in theme and content to grant the actors something more to work with.

Although Scarlett Johansson is appropriate for the sexy factor, I would have been intrigued by Emily Blunt's portrayal of the role.

[Raiders]

Although Scarlett Johansson is appropriate for the sexy factor, Emily Blunt is even more appropriate.

Tweaked it a bit.

[megladon8]

*crosses fingers that we get to see Emily Blunt in Catwoman gear in 2 years*

[dreamdead]

Tweaked it a bit.

True enough. I like her as an actress, and she hasn't become the stereotypical figure in action films that Johansson has been, so it would have been more a risk, and thus more interesting.

[Watashi]

I'd do them both. At the same time.

Just sayin'.

[SirNewt]

That, in the end, is a flaw with the script, which is just too uninteresting in theme and content to grant the actors something more to work with.

Yeah, It's too bad too because I think they really had something there with Whiplash. Was I supposed to be rooting for him cause I was. I don't really buy that the Russian defector was the profiteer and Stark's dad was just a well meaning absent minded professor.

[Raiders]

Yeah, It's too bad too because I think they really had something there with Whiplash. Was I supposed to be rooting for him cause I was. I don't really buy that the Russian defector was the profiteer and Stark's dad was just a well meaning absent minded professor.

Yeah, that backstory was bizarre but intriguing and then Sam Jackson's eye-patched Plot Device comes in and uses his all-seeing eye to sweep that under the rug. Joy.

[Fezzik]

I'd say that would be appropriate for #1, but in #2, I don't think the banter works. Don Cheadle is pretty boring compared to Terence Howard. And the Paltrow/Downey arguing is more annoying this time around.

And the action sequences in the first were pretty crappy. It's like they did a 180 here.

I actually think Cheadle was a big improvement on Howard. I can't even explain why, I just feel the character had more weight this time. Cheadle's delivery had a lot to do with it.

I will freely admit that when he says the line "you're not man enough to wear this suit" (or whatever it was. cant remember the exact line) I smiled big. that same exchange took place in the comics during the 'Demon in a Bottle' story arc.

I liked the movie a lot, but please, can someone tell Samuel L Jackson that just because Ultimates Nick Fury looks like him does NOT mean he sounds or talks like him?

I hated Jackson in this.

Everyone else I thought was pretty great: Downey (of course), Paltrow (liked her beefed up role) and Cheadle (as mentioned) made a great heroic triumvirate.

Rourke was awesome as Whiplash. Great accent, and he didn't overplay it at all. I agree that he needs more work, pronto.

Rockwell had me in stitches. He played up the "socially awkward nerd who lucked out and got rich, but still can't get anyone to laugh at his jokes" thing SO freaking well. And like Watashi, the "ex-wife" monologue made me giggle inside and out.

Johannson was fine for what she was needed for, though I wanted to see more of the Romanov character. That's not her fault, though. Her fight scene was pretty awesome.

I did NOT like the scene where...

Tony discovers the new element

The entire thing, from its set up, reasoning and execution just felt shoehorned in and rushed.

For some reason, the one line that I keep remembering is:

"Wow, that tastes like coconut."

:)

[Derek]

Yeah, that backstory was bizarre but intriguing and then Sam Jackson's eye-patched Plot Device comes in and uses his all-seeing eye to sweep that under the rug. Joy.

Come on, man. There's no time for thematic depth when there's a spinoff which needs some hype generated.

[Sycophant]

Hoping someone stitches together all the Sam Rockwell scenes and puts them on YouTube.

[Grouchy]

Regarding the Russian defector thingy...

I thought that, while the plot sort of implied that Stark's father had fucked the inventor over, the script didn't have the balls to make it more clear or to show Tony having a reaction to such a discovery. And yes, I was also rooting for Whiplash. Weren't we all?

[SirNewt]

Come on, man. There's no time for thematic depth when there's a spinoff which needs some hype generated.

Yeah I don't think I've seen a movie so thoroughly whore itself out as ad-space for another movie.

[Skitch]

I approved.

[Lazlo]

I was disappointed and a lot of my points have already been made. But, at the risk of nitpicking, the whole racing sequence did a lot to take me out of the movie for just a little while. I would have been fine with Whiplash surprise-attacking just Stark's car. But the race would have been red-flagged within five seconds of that first red car getting slashed. The drivers would have been told over the radio to stop where they were as soon as they could. There's NO WAY cars would have still been whipping around the track as if nothing had happened. Maybe it's just me as a racing geek who had a problem with this but to me that was a pretty big gap to leap. Sure cars blowing up is cool and all but even in this heightened techno-fantasy world I can't believe that the safety standards of major racing like that would just be thrown out the window.

/racinggeekout

[Derek]

It made no sense that Whiplash seemed to know Stark was going to race (otherwise, why would he have had the jump suit) even though it seemed to be a last second decision. It really didn't seem like much thought was put into that sequence at all.

[Wryan]

Eh, he was gifted a ticket by a mysterious organization for an event at which Stark would be present. Whiplash ain't gonna show up as a guest in a nice suit. Kind of the standard "Fourth crewman from the left is a secret assassin!" sorta thing. Maybe Stark jumping into the car was just a stroke of good luck and made things easier for Vanko--who had planned something more difficult? Dunno.

EDIT: The point is that I think we can all agree that Paul Bettany's work in this was flawless.

[Ezee E]

EDIT: The point is that I think we can all agree that Paul Bettany's work in this was flawless.

YES!

[number8]

I love Bettany's story that when he recorded Jarvis for the first movie, he had no idea what it was for. He just did it because Favreau asked him.

[MadMan]

The first one is much better, and is far more entertaining, but needless to say I enjoyed the sequel only slightly less. I agree that Jackson felt utterly pointless, but the rest of the cast did a great job-Rourke and Rockwell especially. Also I too prefer Cheadle over Howard, although the role honestly is still relatively small in comparrison to Paltrow's Pepper-I think she has the character down relatively well, and I liked the tension between her and Tony. Although I wonder if it will continue on in the third movie.
Oh and I'm not sure why I heard from some people that this movie didn't have enough action, when in fact it did. Hurray for War Machine and Iron Man killing and destroying multiple evil destructive robots, plus the final battle which was a bit anti-climatic, but still was decent.

[megladon8]

Disappointing.

Wasn't bad, just. Hmm...I'm having a hard time really putting my finger on what exactly I didn't like about this one.

I guess it's that, narratively, it's a mess. And thematically it doesn't do or say much of anything. It's just action for action's sake and didn't have much weight to it at all, and without that weight, even the smug-charm of Stark and his supporting cast wasn't as bedazzling.

[Mal]

I was neither disappointed nor excited about this movie. I felt as though it mostly worked but it ultimately failed because the attitude and entertainment the first film had was just a tad lacking here, in comparison. If any one thing failed, it was Favreau's inability to make decent action... also, the middle sequence at Tony's Birthday and Monte Carlo... likely, because of their blah action, dragged the film down a bit. Otherwise, it's not a bad way to spend your time at the movies.

5/10

[Morris Schæffer]

Disappointing.

Wasn't bad, just. Hmm...I'm having a hard time really putting my finger on what exactly I didn't like about this one.

I guess it's that, narratively, it's a mess. And thematically it doesn't do or say much of anything. It's just action for action's sake and didn't have much weight to it at all, and without that weight, even the smug-charm of Stark and his supporting cast wasn't as bedazzling.

I will see this next week Meg. I do believe you loved the original whereas I thought it was merely okay (apart from Downey Jr. who was great). But I've gotta ask, this sequel looks so much like the original in terms of tone, story etc... What was so great about the original in terms of narrative, thematics? I thought it was utterly straightforward and unsurprising. Was is the origin tale which managed to mask all these deficits whereas the sequel sort of takes the hero nowhere interesting?

[megladon8]

I will see this next week Meg. I do believe you loved the original whereas I thought it was merely okay (apart from Downey Jr. who was great). But I've gotta ask, this sequel looks so much like the original in terms of tone, story etc... What was so great about the original in terms of narrative, thematics? I thought it was utterly straightforward and unsurprising. Was is the origin tale which managed to mask all these deficits whereas the sequel sort of takes the hero nowhere interesting?


I watched the first Iron Man last night with the fam and it definitely confirms that it (the first) is much better.

To begin, the first movie has a lot more heart (not to mention the the repeated theme of the heart) which really did it a lot of good. The second movie has none of this at all. Even though there was actually more on the line during the action scenes of the second movie, I didn't care nearly as much about the outcome because it established no emotional connection between the characters and the audience.

Second, the first movie is much funnier. Dialogue is much more clever. I find the comparison to screwball comedies quite apt, whereas in the second movie, the script doesn't have this fresh, fun feel. Theroux's script is all over the place - he doesn't know on who or what to focus, so both Mickey Rourke's Vanko and Sam Rockwell's Hammer are underdeveloped and uncharismatic as villains.

I was never bothered by the action in the first movie the way others were, and I saw no real difference between that of the first and the second. So if you didn't like the action scenes in the first movie, I'd say there's a pretty strong chance you won't like them in the second. It's more of the same.

Finally, the movie takes us nowhere new. This is probably what bothered me the most. By the end of Iron Man 2, everything is exactly how it was at the beginning (or at the end of the first movie, if you will). The universe hasn't evolved at all - it has hinted at things to come, for sure, but that's just not enough. It feels like a bridge between Iron Man and the next Marvel movies.

[MadMan]

After some thought, one could (and more than one person probably has) noted that you could make the argument that Iron Man 2 mirrors America before Sept. 11 and then shows the response afterwards. In this case, Tony Stark believes he's invicible, and so throws a huge party-America in the 90s, when there was peace and prosperity. However, Ivan attacks him on the racetrack, completely ambushing him, and therefore representing how America got suckerpunched on 9-11. The only reason I don't go down this line of thinking is simply because there are some flaws throughout, and I don't really think the Iron Man movies are that political.

[megladon8]

After some thought, one could (and more than one person probably has) noted that you could make the argument that Iron Man 2 mirrors America before Sept. 11 and then shows the response afterwards. In this case, Tony Stark believes he's invicible, and so throws a huge party-America in the 90s, when there was peace and prosperity. However, Ivan attacks him on the racetrack, completely ambushing him, and therefore representing how America got suckerpunched on 9-11. The only reason I don't go down this line of thinking is simply because there are some flaws throughout, and I don't really think the Iron Man movies are that political.


The first Iron Man was super-political.

[Ezee E]

After some thought, one could (and more than one person probably has) noted that you could make the argument that Iron Man 2 mirrors America before Sept. 11 and then shows the response afterwards. In this case, Tony Stark believes he's invicible, and so throws a huge party-America in the 90s, when there was peace and prosperity. However, Ivan attacks him on the racetrack, completely ambushing him, and therefore representing how America got suckerpunched on 9-11. The only reason I don't go down this line of thinking is simply because there are some flaws throughout, and I don't really think the Iron Man movies are that political.
Good analysis. You should've gone more into it instead of backtracking.

[Watashi]

Iron Man 2 is only political in terms of the government trying to separate Stark from his creation (or his "body").

I actually like how Tony doesn't have this huge character arc in the film and always stays the same arrogant selfish eccentric genius from the beginning. I think the audience was totally suppose to sympathize with Ivan because he is not the real villain. The real villain of the Iron Man mythos has always been Tony Stark's ego. The people who set out to harm him only exploit this fact. He's never really going to learn from his mistakes and people will only have to adapt to his crazy lifestyle in order to make his "arc" complete. This is what separates him from someone like Batman who is constantly needed to be reminded on why he fights.

[megladon8]

Iron Man 2 has plenty of politics in it. It's just that the movie is such a damn mess it makes most of it incomprehensible.

[DavidSeven]

Insubstantial stuff. Poor drama, no emotional weight, unimaginative filmmaking, and over-reliance on CGI. Basically, all the hallmarks of the modern day blockbuster. Downey Jr. and a few others manage to keep things afloat with their playfulness. Like others hinted at, it'd be a cooler movie if it was just Tony Stark doing a Cary Grant schtick with a bunch of Hollywood stars. The most boring part of Iron Man is Iron Man.

Side note: not much variety at the theaters these days if you have to pick something with commercial appeal. It's basically a choice between one of three comic-book adaptations, Nick Spark-ish melodramas and horror remakes targeted at tweens, and Robin Hood. Yeesh.

[MadMan]

The first Iron Man was super-political.Well, that is true, and maybe that's why it works better than the second movie.


Good analysis. You should've gone more into it instead of backtracking.Thanks, although I've always been reluctant to combine politics and movies, unless its really necessary. Maybe I dive more into it, but I really need to watch the first movie again-I haven't seen it since I 2008, when it was in theaters.

So far I've enjoyed much of what I've seen from this year. But then I'm one of those people who doesn't care about originality, as long as the movie's good.

Wats you actually pointed out why I like Iron Man/Tony Stark more than boring Bruce Wayne/Batman. Plus, he's more entertaining, and it helps that he's funny. Also War Machine>Robin, although Alfred>both.

[megladon8]

Again, I think there was tons of politics engraved in Iron Man 2, it was just such a shoddily put together movie that none of it seems all that apparent.

Even the passing of the company to Pepper is based in modern discussion of womens' "place" in the business world.

And I'll be second to say that I, too, really liked your analysis, MadMan.

[Raiders]

Well, yeah it is political, though with all due respect to MadMan I don't think the specific 9/11 parallel works but I'm more than happy to accept it meant something to him. The obvious to me is the critique of the military-industrial complex which really ever since the term has been coined has only gotten more and more out of hand. The film has little to actually say about anything other than to poke fun and Gary Shandling's senator is an uber-lame creation. Not to mention that it makes the equation that really, Hammer's war profiteering is only bad because he is incompetent and part of the complex whereas the "private" Tony Stark is successful and not part of the complex so he is good, despite the fact that his company no doubt profits off of his singular victories in the "war" and battles.

[number8]

Libertarianism, yo.

[Barty]

Libertarianism, yo.

Indeed.

Stark's speech to the Senator is 100% correct. The government by taking his property wants to make him a slave.

[Derek]

Even the passing of the company to Pepper is based in modern discussion of womens' "place" in the business world.

If by modern, you mean 30 years ago when 9 to 5 came out, I'd agree. :)

[megladon8]

If by modern, you mean 30 years ago when 9 to 5 came out, I'd agree. :)


No, it's completely relevant still, with statistics showing that a large number of women in the work force are still paid significantly less than the men who work beside (or in some cases even below) them.

Plus, there's the stereotype that a successful business woman has to be a cold, heartless bitch. Which I kind of agree with in general terms, but it's not just women. Many successful business men are cold, heartless assholes as well. Just kind of goes with the cut-throat nature of the business world.