Marvel Movie Madness! Part 31: Iron Man 2

Then you will like TDKR no matter how bad it is then?

Jul 20 - 12:14 PM

and i'll add that yes, there is a chance it could be as good or better than TDK but it is unlikely

Jul 20 - 12:20 PM

Wow well let's just say I really disagree. After the absolute glowing reviews it's hard for a sequel to match that.

Most don't.

That said I still think this movie has gotten an unfair shake at things.

This movie follow out the logical consequences of the first movie (I mean you didn't really think having radioactive material in your chest is a good thing?)

I hardly thought it forgetable but yeah it doesn't set you on fire like the first one but then it's easily a 80% movie still when it's all said and done.

Never mind the mad props this movie should get for the demon in a bottle subarc.

Jul 18 - 04:39 PM

Norman Dostal

the terrible fight betwn downey and the black guy at the house is HORRIBLE and completely unbelievable-no one would behave that way and no one dies during teh battle-ridiculous-very average film

Jul 18 - 07:40 PM

you are welcome to your opinion but I thought it quite well done.

Was it perfect? No but I've already conceded that and I am sorry who exactly was supposed to die?

Jul 18 - 08:27 PM

Manuel Granados

I actually thought the alcoholism part was very poorly done. I didn't want it to be like "Leaving Las Vegas" or anything, but I felt it as if Tony Stark had said "Oh well I have a disease that will kill me, I'll drink myself to death instead". I don't know, I found it very poorly thought even if very well executed by RDJ (who has a lot of experience in that area so he might as well get it right lol). For me IM2 is one of those movies that if it's on TV I'll watch it, but I'll change the channel back and forth in the second act.

Jul 19 - 12:15 AM

if you had millions, could do whatever you want and knew you were dying do you really think you most wouldn't act just like Stark did?

Remember too that the character is so narcissistic that his ego rides shotgun. He does whatever he feels like that's always been a part of the lore and that I felt was very true to the subplot.

Was it too short? Yeah I would have liked it to be seeming in the background for IM3 but I also wasn't unsatisfied.

Jul 19 - 05:10 AM

Lenny Monroe

The part where they were fighting in the house felt rushed and tacked on. It never came off as a believeable rivalry between friends, but more of a shoe-in so Cheadle's character could escape with the War Machine suit.

Jul 19 - 04:50 PM

Ryan Nolan

What was to plot of this movie? Stark's chronic ailment from having the arch-reactor in his chest? That is that the cornerstone of a good movie, the plot is the reason this movie was so boring. Talky is fine, even in an action movie, as long as there is something worthwhile to talk about.

Jul 19 - 10:14 AM

if you missed the plot i would suggest rewatching the movie

Jul 19 - 10:20 AM

Ryan Nolan

The government trying to acquire Stark's tech isn't a great plot either.

Jul 19 - 02:19 PM

Korey Winicky

I agree with Drach FULL heartedly. this movie has its flaws but it's not as bad as everyone says. the whole movie was about brash actions. Tony out of no where to race. drinking himself in a stuper and giving up his company (Which both fell under i hafta find replacements.) the whole talk between him and Nick Fury towards the end "You just let him walk out of their with your suit?" and the relunctant " i didnt let him" was clue to that he DIDN'T necasarily PLAN for the suit to be taken but when Rhodes did what he did, he wasnt gunna stop him. maybe the fight was some type of TRAINING for Rhodes? yes there are holes and some things were not WELL executed but just cause you dont think someone would act that way dont write it off. he's a narsassitic prick...who ultimately sees this and kinda hates himself and his father. he would live his life on some BUCKET list... he's drink himself into a stuper....

Jul 19 - 06:35 PM

Korey Winicky

Jul 19 - 06:35 PM

This movie was mediocre at best. It didn't advance the relationship with pepper and tony until the end, Taylor swift took up too much screen time, the fighting between IM and war machine was completely pointless and terribly done, Mickey Rourke could have done more, and the final battle was short and awful. I hated this movie when i left the theater and i hate it now.

Jul 20 - 12:19 PM

my bad, i meant scarlet johansen, i get those two confused

Jul 20 - 12:22 PM

Drew Gerke

I think this movie gets a bad rap sometimes fr no reason. It was definitely entertaining and filled with action. Of course it wasnt as good as Iron Man, but there was never a thought that it would be. There are maybe 4 or 5 sequels in the history of film that were better than the first. I liked Iron Man 2. LOVED Iron Man.

Jul 18 - 04:43 PM

Chris Skoufis

Fun movie.But isn't anywhere near as good as the first.Here's to hoping the third is better!

Jul 18 - 04:46 PM

Rowan Chevalier

I really enjoyed this movie. I don't understand why a lot of people suddenly get so critical of this one. People get SO much more nit-picky for sequels, regardless of whether or not its deserved. I hate to say "Just shut up, eat your popcorn and enjoy" but that is exactly what I do with this film, and its served me well. Sorry they can't ALL be The Dark Knight.

Jul 18 - 04:47 PM

Matanuki .

And not everyone can be a mindless drone. No one is gonna just "sit and enjoy". It's the filmmakers' jobs to entertain the audience, not the audience's job to entertain themselves. Let's stop with the copout arguments, shall we?

Jul 19 - 08:25 AM

rizzy h

Can we PLEASE . . . . . for the love of all that is holy . . . stop saying "They can't ALL be Dark Knight"? . . . . i think we've had enough people talk about their disappointment with that film on this very website to know that TDK is in no way the end-all comic book film many fans make it out to be . . . and i agree with Matanuki. . . . i had plenty of favorites before TDK, and i will continue to value every subsequent action movie based purely on its ability to keep me entertained. Yet, for every movie that succeeded at being nothing more than just a really fun time i had at the multiplex (Thor, Fast 5) there are plenty that TRIED to be nothing more than just mindless fun, only to end up failing to entertain me in the slightest (Green Lantern, IM 2)

Jul 19 - 01:37 PM

Cory B

Again I must say, anyone who says this movie spent too much effort setting up the Avengers needs to watch the first movie again. Seriously, after act 1 SHIELD is all over the place.

I agree about Rourke not getting enough screen time, but the whole cast did a great job. It's true that many of the things that were fresh in the first movie don't feel that way here, but that doesn't diminish the sequel to me. If I can watch the first one multiple times and love it, the sequel doesn't need to blaze a new trail. (Speaking in terms of characters, tone, and performances, that is.)

The only things that make this inferior to the first for me are the birthday party scene (did its job, but still ridiculously over the top) and the second act dragging a bit. Other than that, I had just as much fun with this one as I did with the second.

Jul 18 - 04:57 PM

Doomz Davo

You mean that you had just as much fun with this one as you did with the first. Learn to proof read you stoopid fuck. ;)

Jul 18 - 10:00 PM

King Crunk

I am not a big fan of this movie. It is not really bad, it is just not all that amazing or engaging. Rourke is the bad guy and he is on screen for about ten or fifteen minutes for the whole movie, and Stark's actual storyline was pretty dull and uninvolving. The final battle was amazingly anti-climactic as well.

Jul 18 - 05:19 PM

It definitely wasn't as good or as memorable as the original, but it's still a thoroughly enjoyable action flick. I liked it quite a bit.

Jul 18 - 05:21 PM

Isaac H

This article is so negative. Iron Man 2 WAS NOT A BAD MOVIE. Sure, it wasn't as strong as the first one, but it delivered mostly where it mattered, and it was very entertaining, as the reviews prove! What's with all the hating?

Jul 18 - 05:29 PM

Dylan Davis

I don't know, I didn't find it particularly entertaining. It seemed a bit dull, and it was one of those movies where I forgot what happened as soon as a left the theater. I thought Iron Man 1 was a little less engaging than it should have been, and that only got worse in the sequel because Downey's shtick got stale.

Jul 19 - 11:42 AM

Kenneth W.

It was alright. I agree that Rockwell made a good villain, though.

Jul 18 - 05:29 PM

Brian Barreto

I found Iron Man 2 to be a throughly enjoyable film, but its definitely a letdown, considering how great the first Iron Man was. IM2 felt overstuffed and underdeveloped. The narrative seemed more concerned about promoting the upcoming Avengers film than telling a compelling narrative. This film gets close, of course, but many elements such as Tony dying from blood poisoining or Tony and Pepper's romance were rushed and they didn't have any impact. The CGI was weaker, in my opinion, and so were the action scenes. The only action scenes I liked was when Tony and Rhodes fight against Whiplash's drones and when Whiplash attacks Tony at the Grand Prix race in Monaco. Those were great, but then it was quickly followed by a final battle that was even more underwhelming than that of Tony vs. Obadiah in the first Iron Man film. I'm hoping The Avengers and Iron Man 3 can bring Tony Stark/Iron Man back to his original brilliance onscreen.

Jul 18 - 05:47 PM

Captain Terror

I've never understood why "Setting up the Avengers" is considered such a bad thing about this movie. How is it any different from watching part 2 of any trilogy or series? Did "Empire" spend too much time setting up "Jedi"? I don't think IM2's story suffers because the Avengers are mentioned. And besides, it's an Iron Man movie for cryin' out loud. "That John Lennon movie would've been better if they hadn't kept mentioning the Beatles."

Jul 18 - 05:48 PM

Brian Barreto

You know, "The Empire Strikes Back" is an incomplete film. It's a masterpiece, but to be honest, it could be considered as Part 1 of a two-part film alongside "Return of the Jedi" as a Part 2.

Jul 18 - 06:14 PM

No it's not. In terms of the over-arching story, maybe, but not in its structure. It's quite complete technically.

Jul 18 - 09:31 PM

How - on God's green Earth! - was Empire a complete story?? I'm not dogging it, but it was the DEFINITION of a middle chapter. Two Towers and even Back to the Future II (two obvious middle chapters) are more complete stories than Empire was!

Jul 18 - 11:23 PM

I am referring to the way the movie was structured: it had a 3 act story, an internal conflict that was set up in the first and resolved by the third act. The fact that it was the middle chapter story-wise is irrelevant, it's as much a complete movie as Two Towers. An incomplete movie would be one that cut out the third act of the "fake" conflict, meaning a conflict that isn't the main story-line in the film, and was set up, and concluded, in the second chapter in order to make the movie structurally sound. Screenwriting 101, dude. Empire was all about Luke's self discovery and him gaining confidence in his abilities - it's a complete, self-contained story.

Jul 19 - 03:45 AM

I will give that to you, because I believe the original trilogy is ONLY about Luke - with everyone else servicing his character (I'll be writing a blog on RT about it soon). So HIS story is pretty self-contained. Every other element though seemed to be stalling until the third movie.

Jul 19 - 09:53 AM

Dude... have you always had Count's face on top of Snipes' in your profile pic? I just noticed it lol

Jul 19 - 02:16 PM

Haha! Yea, it's a pic I made in Photoshop years back. Probably pretty stupid, but I found it funny at the time. Still do, to be honest.

Jul 19 - 03:28 PM

Captain Terror

Watcher--my point was that I thought IM2 also had a complete structure, and that any reference to a future Avengers movie was no different than leaving Han's fate unresolved or the "I am your father" thing. You watch Empire knowing that another film is required to tie up these loose ends. For some reason IM2 gets bagged on for it a lot, but it seems to me that other series do it all the time.

Jul 19 - 05:52 AM

Exactly. I completely agree with you and was defending your point :)

Jul 19 - 02:14 PM

Captain Terror

10-4, good buddy. I'm caught up now. LOL

Jul 19 - 03:48 PM

Matthew Younker

I really disliked this film. I'm surprised that Ang Lee's Hulk, Spider-Man 3, Daredevil and the Punisher all had negative responses and not this film. The beginning is "OK" and the middle part ranges from boring to terrible. The scene where he's dancing in the Iron Man suit and then "drops a phat beat" to fight War Machine is a major low point for Marvel films. I hope they realized this films shortcomings and Iron Man 3 is a more polished film.

Jul 18 - 05:52 PM

Big Brother

Not sure that scene would have made the final cut if the DJ wouldn't have died and been a good friend of RDJs, but it wasn't really offensively bad for me either. It seemed in keeping with Starks character and his progressing alcoholism.

Jul 18 - 07:30 PM

Matthew Younker

Wait are you saying that DJ died in real life? interesting I did not know that.

Jul 18 - 07:47 PM

DJ AM died of a drug overdose during post-production, if memory serves me correctly. However, I imagine that the scene would have stayed in regardless. It was SUPPOSED to be a painful way to show him emotionally bottom out. However, I don't think it was painful in the way they were going for.

Jul 18 - 11:25 PM

yeah, it's a damn shame, the dude survived a freakin' plane crash with Travis Barker only to OD 11 months later

Jul 19 - 03:48 AM

I forgot about the plane crash. Holy shit, you're right! It's kinda like The Crocodile Hunter - who constantly put his life in danger with scary-ass animals - getting killed by a little sting ray.

Jul 19 - 12:26 PM

Phillip Kissell

I don't really remember this movie. But a friend bought it today so I will be watching it later tonight.

Jul 18 - 06:13 PM

Matias Sabaj

the writing was a little strange,the characters just interrupt each other when they speak,and not only in a couple of scenes,it's a constant trough the film: Tony interrupts Pepper and viceversa,Tony interrupts Justin Hammer and viceversa,that (slutty) reporter interrupts Justin and viceversa,you get my point.
other that that,I loved the visual style of the movie,the StarkExpo is so cool to look at,the effects are well done (well,maybe a couple of shots looked a bit crappy),and RDJ is charismatic as always,and so is Sam Rockwell.the fight with Whiplash was too short thou (but the "Ex-wife" part was the best :P)

Jul 18 - 06:32 PM

Cyborg Unicorn

I enjoyed this film, and I have to admit i was shocked when i first saw it in theaters, when that guy in the hammersuit got his spine broken in the beginning of the film. I had the most horrified look on my face! Gyah, I wish I had taken a picture of myself! good times.

One reason I think it was hard for this sequel to live up to the original was the casting of Don Cheadle as Rhodey. He wasn't cast in the first so people had to take more time to warm up to him, as well as all the other new characters, and sam jackson, who most people probably didn't even realize was in the first. A similar tactic was used in The Dark Knight, but instead of the love interest who gets tragically blown up, it was the friend who.. beat up Tony Stark and stole his suit? I guess I can see why some people felt disappointed.

And if people thought the movie had too many characters in it, I'm sure Jon Favreau adding himself in to ruin the tone and steal screentime of a scene about Scarlett Johansson/Black Widow didn't help matters much.

Another thing that threw me off in this movie was how Tony Stark fixed his artificial heart. I've seen the movie a couple of times and I still don't quite understand it. Did he create a new element or something? I feel there might be others out there besides me who didn't quite understand what was going on either and were forced to chock it up to "Oh Tony's a genius, and there's no way we can comprehend the complexities."

Other than that, I was very pleased with the movie on the whole, was pleased with Thor afterward, and can't wait for Captain America!
Also, I saw the leaked Avengers preview on youtube. looks pretty cool! you all should check it out before it gets taken down.

Jul 18 - 06:48 PM

I can't tell if you were being sarcastic or honestly asking - since there was a whole series of scenes leading him to where he discovered/rediscovered a new element.

Jul 18 - 10:57 PM

Manuel Granados

Remember our Deus Ex Machina conversation? In this movie I really really felt it like they used it as a cheap excuse. "Ok so only a new element can repair your heart and make you awesome again, here, watch this old footage of your dad mentioning it, have Samuel L. Jackson shout to you that you need to get better...voila! You discovered a new element for your heart!" I don't feel the whole genius thing going on with Peter Parker and other super heroes, but in this particular movie it felt like it was crammed in "he is a genius so he can do it" whereas in the first movie I really felt like he was actually a genius (though maybe I guess we can thank that to Jeff Bridges shouting at guys that they suck compared to Tony Stark, at least for me it didn't feel so forced as in this one)

Jul 19 - 12:20 AM

Cyborg Unicorn

yeah that's more what I meant. I mean Tony Stark creating a new element was kind of the gist i got from having watched it, i haven't watched it recently, but even so I think it did feel kind of forced.

Jul 19 - 12:49 AM

actually his father 'discovered' it but lacked the techinical means to produce it and thus that was on Tony Stark to do if he could.

The Desus Ex comes from the fact that he figured it out right when he did. But that could be called luck too.

Jul 19 - 05:14 AM

I understand your point now, Cyber. For the life of me, I couldn't decode your original statement.

Jul 19 - 09:56 AM

Cyborg Unicorn

Isn't Vibranium what Captain America's shield was made out of? How could they make it if Vibranium didn't exist yet?

Jul 19 - 01:55 PM