Early look at “Iron Man 2″

Sure, we’re just getting excited about this summer’s big movies, but the first Friday in May 2010 will be the opening for “Iron Man 2″.

This is the first official photo from the set, released yesterday, of Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark aka Iron Man.   Shooting started a few weeks ago and the movie is set for a May 7, 2010 release.

Director John Favreau and the crew are trying to keep a lid on the movie so far, but we know ths much: other than Downey, Jr. who returns as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson is apparently returning as Nick Fury, and Gwyneth Paltrow is back as Pepper Potts.   After a very public disagreement, Terrence Howard was cut and Don Cheadle is his replacement as Col. James Rhodes.  Also new to the cast are Mickey Rourke as one of the villians, plus Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Kate Mara.

Possible spoiler: (more…)

NEW TO RENT/BUY TUESDAY: “Chapter 27″, “Iron Man”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Pulse 2 Afterlife”, “Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back”

The summer’s second best movie “Iron Man” and second best comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” are available on DVD this week…. there’s also Jared Leto in a movie about the days leading up to the murder of John Lennon… and a couple of straight-to-video horror movies….

“Iron Man”

I gave it a very solid 8.0 out of 10: Read My Review of “Iron Man”

It also became my 3rd favorite Superhero movie of all time: Check out “Laff’s Lists”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content)

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Thair

Genre: Action/Adventure/Superhero

The Plot: When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

Big Hit at the Box Office: $318.22 million in 20 weeks, 2nd only to “The Dark Knight” this year!

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“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

I gave it 6.9 out of 10: Read My Review of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

(2008) (rated: R for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity)

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Liz Cackowski, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer (more…)

(review originally posted after May 2, 2008)

   “Iron Man”

Sure it was highly anticipated, but not as much for me, before the months leading up to the movies release, I never really knew much about the character, but I ended up loving it, and the way it ruled the box office for the beginning of summer was a sweet surprise!!!  

Robert Downey, Jr. lead a great cast (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard) that perfectly became the characters in the movie… supporting a recent trend in movies of using quality actors in superhero movies, lending even more credibility to the movie… and improving the genre.

Other recent movies to use quality actors : The Dark Knight, X-Men, Hancock, and The Incredible Hulk (2008) – unlike the mostly unknown/untalented actors in old movies.  One of the best examples of that is 1980’s Flash Gordon.  The old superhero movies that were successful used some quality actors: Superman (1978) had Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, while Batman (1989) had Jack Nicholson and Jack Palance.

“Iron Man” also made 3rd on my list of Favorite Superhero Movies.

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Robert Downey, Jr. is great as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the cast is great, the story and effects are great, the characters are fantastic and the level of comedy and tension are just right for the new-age superhero genre.

Just like “The Dark Knight”, “Iron Man” had critical and box office success ($318.22 million in 20 weeks was 2nd only to “The Dark Knight” this year).

It also became my 3rd favorite superhero movie of all time.

My review: was a 8.0 / 10