Movie Review: "Iron Man 3"

Twist and Shout.

The third installment in the Iron Man standalone movies, Iron Man 3 delivers plenty of what we've come to expect and love from the irreplaceable Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark - throwaway quips, irrepressible sass, and bucketloads of personal charisma.  That's good, because the storyline has some problems, and logic is not its friend, especially in the third act.  Better than 2010's Iron Man 2, but not as good as the original 2008 Iron Man (admittedly, how could it be?), on the strength of its leading man Iron Man 3 still kicks off the much-awaited summer blockbuster popcorn movie season with plenty of color and action.

Movie Review Review: Friends, Feedback, and Further Thoughts on “Iron Man”

Thinking about identity and keeping up appearances. Aren't we all?

Recently both the Sibling and I (in separate cities) took friends to see “Iron Man.” Both sets of buddies enjoyed the movie immensely, and I thought this might be a good time to step back and look at it again. After all, a reviewer can change her mind after a repeat viewing, or perhaps see things she missed the first time around. The Sibling also says that one mark of a really good movie is its replay value, and it’s true. Really good movies you can watch over and over; just look at our DVD collections. We can’t wait to get “Iron Man” on DVD.

Anyway, for reviews it’s always nice to have the input of other movie fans too. I went back to the theater with some dear friends from college as a “girls’ night out.” (And yes, this gaggle of young women decided to go see a blockbuster ‘boys’ club’ action flick – so put that in your pipe and smoke it, Manohla Dargis. In fact, the theater was about evenly populated with both guys and girls, so there.)

On a repeat showing, I have to say that my original review stands. Here are a few more thoughts from my friends, the Sibling (to whom I just gave the soundtrack), and me too. So here we go.

A Girl Appreciates a Man – or Movie – That Can Make Her Laugh

Everyone caught onto the essential but hard-to-define fun factor. There’s a lot of laughter in the movie, and by laughter, I mean the good kind. The scriptwriters and director Jon Favreau have created a film with a vibrant sense of fun and a deft, light touch. Plus it’s nice to hear friends chortling in the darkness as we pass popcorn around.

A huge part of this is the script. It’s smart, sharp, and witty, filled with snappy dialogue and memorably playful lines, and – thank goodness – it doesn’t waste our time with too much dull, plodding exposition, overwrought origin stories a la Spider-Man, or pseudo-philosophical-existential whining. The script is often a fencing match between characters, only with words instead of foils. There’s a priceless exchange between Stark and Rhodey on an airplane, for instance, and between Pepper and Stark about shoelaces.

The writers have created Stark as someone who seems to be congenitally, incorrigibly incapable of not making smart-aleck comments or hilarious, lightning-fast, deadpan quips. (I caught one this time that I had missed before, and it was so naughty it made me giggle. Look for it in the scene when Stark’s robots are attempting to disassemble his exoskeleton while he’s still in it. Oh, my!) Downey, whose comic timing is spot-on, is like the class clown whom the instructor can’t scold because she’s too busy laughing helplessly – believe me, I know.

Oh, and the Sibling would like you to know that he absolutely loves the bit about the cheeseburger. “Cheeseburger first.” Priorities, man!

The Devil Is In the Details

I hadn’t realized how rich the details were – and they’re so easy to miss in all the action. But here are a few.

~The Sibling points out that on Stark’s workshop table, you can see the Captain America insignia. It’s in the form of a paperweight or something like that. But the point is that right there is a comic book reference. The Sibling “geeked out” and got all excited. Fanboy.

~In the Afghan caves, you can see piles of food aid in large bags. The best chance to see this is in the parting scene between Stark and Yinsen (Shaun Toub). The labeling on the bags actually reads that the food is the gift of the American people and that it’s not be sold – what you see on US food aid sent overseas to troubled areas of the world. So think about it: humanitarian supplies have ended up in the hands of terrorists and evildoers instead of people who really need it. Is this a not-so-subtle shot at corruption and inefficiency in international agencies? Was I the only person who thought about stuff like the UN’s Oil for Food scandal?

~If it looks like the BBC, sounds like the BBC, whines like the BBC, and peddles doom and gloom like the BBC . . . Well, chances are, it’s the BBC – specifically, BBC News. Check out the news report Stark’s watching on TV when he finds out about Gulmira’s weapons cache. The film’s news has no logo on it, but the reporting’s tone and content basically shriek out “I’m BBC!” Come on, there is such a thing as “BBC-speak,” and no news outfit on the planet is as good as the BBC for trafficking in human misery and tear-jerking prognostications of total disaster.

~From the Sibling and his technophile friends: “What the heck is Tony Stark doing using Dell servers? Should he be using, like, a supercomputer?” It’s called product placement, bud. And I hadn’t even noticed the Dell computers in the movie. To the Sibling: YOU COMPUTER GEEK YOU.

Pepper Potts’ Fancy Footwear

Remember my comment in the first review about Pepper’s shoes? As the ladies and I were talking after the film, my friend Alessandra spontaneously declared: “There’s no way Pepper Potts could run in those ridiculous shoes.”

I burst out laughing. The issue of shoes maybe is some kind of female instinct. We KNEW, because at various times we’ve all had to wear beautiful but totally impractical shoes. Pepper’s teetering heels look like they’re four inches high or more, and I guarantee you that if I wore them, I might look fantastic, but I’d be utterly immobilized. And then I’d need big-time orthopedic surgery.

“What’s the Air Force doing driving Humvees in the desert?!”

This was the comment from a friend with a military background. Implied in that too was the idea that hey, somebody else should be doing that desert driving – and that’s the Army. I hadn’t a clue, but my buddy pointed out a number of things; she should get hired as a consultant on the next film with a military presence!

~The female soldier driving Stark’s Humvee identified herself as an “airman.”

~The uniforms weren’t those currently being worn by the US Army.

~Despite all that, the name “1^st Cav” was printed on the Humvees. (Need a refresher on who the First Cavalry Division is? Yes, they’re ARMY.)

~“Those are Humvees we have in the States, not the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

~“If someone’s shooting at you, why would you get out of your armored vehicle?” (Because otherwise Stark wouldn’t end up in his sticky situation? It’s a movie, after all.)

Pet Robots

The ladies were intrigued by Stark’s little pet robots – especially the overly enthusiastic fire-extinguisher-bot. There’s also a rather oddly touching moment with another little ’bot that wins the praise “Good boy.” Not quite R2-D2, but all this makes me want to rush off and see the new Disney-Pixar film “Wall-E” as soon as it opens – its robot star is going to be adorably cute. But I digress.

We’ve Found the Solution for Our Dependence on Foreign Oil! Or Not.

Now I hadn’t thought about this per se, but gentle reader Don did. I give you his comment:

. . . that miniature reactor was pretty cool tech and apt to lead to a lot of great technologies both civilian AND military, possibly even medical.

Think of that baby powering a car, Maddie! No more stupid corn ethanol, no more gas pumps, just seal off the Middle East and watch the mullahs starve as nobody wants their frigging oil anymore.

By George, he’s right! That would be pretty awesome. *grin* Well, I’ve long been an advocate for increasing research and development, for firing up the tech sector, showering down
incentives, and turning the geeks loose to find alternative solutions . . . ! We’ve a lot more potential there than in a million Kyoto Treaties or Al Gore sermons or ethanol subsidy boondoggles. I’ll tell you this now: I have more faith in tech geeks in R&D than in politicians and activists.

Glorious Geek Joy and Tech Lust

OK, this is especially for the Sibling and me, so if you’re not mad about technology, computer wizardry, and the delights of being a brainiac geek or nerd, you don’t have to read this! I’ve tried explaining this, but maybe it just doesn’t make much sense unless you are also a technophile. Anyway, part of why we love this film is its sheer mind-blowing, breathtaking technical wizardry and enthusiastic delight in techno-toys, engineering, and computers. When the Sib and I first saw Stark’s awesome basement workshop, I thought we were going to pass out right then and there. Come on, 3-D virtual rendering, pet robots, Jarvis the AI, and a million shiny cool doo-dads, doohickeys and gadgets! We’re suffering from tech lust. And what’s the Iron Man suit if not the ultimate tech-toy? Heck, you can even use your cellphone hands-free in the darn thing!

That’s another thing too. For us, just watching Stark make the suit through trial and error was one of the best parts of the entire movie. You have to realize that the Sibling and I were always on the science, computing, and tech teams in high school; we used to participate in all kinds of science competitions from Odyssey of the Mind to Science Olympiad to software programming contests and more. I didn’t go to my senior prom because I was at a national science competition with my friends. That was the sort of nerdy, geeky, but delightful and brainy life the Sibling and I shared with our school friends; nowadays I’m just a fan and amateur enthusiast of science and technology (I decided to be a PhD doctor instead of a medical one – do you really want someone like me operating on you?), but the Sib is a professional computer expert. Tech lust is in our blood; our relatives include engineers aplenty. We just LOVE tech stuff. The movie resonated with us on a very personal level—hence the ridiculously rapturous response. Stark takes what the Sib and I love – and makes it so much cooler. The whole thing is some kind of glorious geek fantasy. Oh, and when Stark first went flying outside in his exoskeleton, that was too cool for words – the moviemakers did very well in creating a sequence that captured the thrill of figuring out that wow, you can FLY at super speed. Stark whooping and laughing with delight in his helmet was a great image. What a rush, man. We’re green with envy!

And, yes, I guess you can say that the Sib and I are fans of Tony Stark for the sake of his brains. As the Sib said admiringly, “He’s an inventor. A genius inventor.” I’m taken with the whole idea of using your brains; the entire business in the Afghan caves, with Stark MacGyvering his way out, was a great sequence. Add up all the elements: brains, brawn, humor, and butt-kicking tech—what a potent cocktail. I quote another critic noting that Stark doesn’t have any superpowers in himself, really: “his heroism is all handicraft, elbow grease and applied intelligence.” The result is absolute, unashamed brainy geek joy over the power of creativity, inventiveness, intelligence, and technical brilliance. Besides, (girl-talk here), smart is attractive. And as Alessandra added, “That suit is HOT.” Mmm, you can say that again.

Here’s some Geek Joy and Tech Lust for everybody. Heck, yeah.

Political Rorschach Test

This flick seems to be different things to different people – or at least, people seem to see their own political persuasions reflected in it. I’m only going to say this: I’ve read reviews identifying the movie as both pro-war and anti-war, pro-conservative and pro-liberal, and I think this is all great. Why? Because it means that the moviemakers haven’t overwhelmed the film with any one particular, obvious, beat-you-over-the-head bias. It’s probably too much to hope that the overwhelmingly leftist Hollywood would make movies actually sympathetic to conservative or traditional values and viewpoints, so it’s nice to get a film that doesn’t go around actively stomping on them, blatantly bashing America and the military, and/or inserting heavy-handed political commentary. I might be (to some people, anyway) an evil campus subversive reactionary, but I still want entertainment, not sanctimonious lectures, when I go to the cinema. Really, if you take this film overall, it’s kind of a centrist film. It’s there to have a good time, and it wants you to have a good time too.

I have to say this, though. I don’t think the post-Afghanistan Stark is really as much a liberal peacenik as some people think he becomes. Sure, in a knee-jerk, impulsive decision, he wants to shut down weapons manufacturing at Stark Industries when he comes home. But is anybody an actual pacifist peacenik if he personally dons a weaponized robotic exoskeleton to go unleash deadly force on terrorists? Stark’s self-imposed (and totally unilateral) mission to Gulmira is, if anything, reminiscent of an entirely opposite perspective: he identifies hostiles and civilians in clear terms (no moral ambiguity or moral equivalence there), doesn’t even try to talk to (much less negotiate with) the hostiles, and dispatches them without hesitation. Then he just as decisively disarms the remaining terrorists by blowing up their weapons supplies (and he later tells Rhodey, proxy for the US military, “Looks like somebody did your job for you”). Hm.

I don’t want to get into a big digressionary discussion about the use of force or the role of arms, but here’s a thought: both in the Gulmira incident and Stark’s captivity sequence, it’s clear that there is a time and place for the use of force. Stark and Yinsen, no dummies, both know that their captors aren’t to be trusted.

A related thought is about Stark and his weapons manufacturing. I’ve heard some critics call him a scion of the leftist-bogeyman “military-industrial complex” and/or an unscrupulous arms dealer and profiteer who doesn’t care where his products end up. Is he really just churning out weapons willy-nilly to the highest bidder? I just don’t think so. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t be so upset to see his weapons end up in the wrong hands. The whole point to his “epiphany” is that he discovers that, without his knowledge or approval, Stark weapons are in the possession of the bad guys – and that those weapons are being used against the wrong people. There is one short but important segment where the usually-flippant Stark agonizes that his weapons are now being used against American troops, the very people he meant those arms to protect and defend. He actually uses the words “protect and defend” – that’s pretty significant. Interestingly, Stark doesn’t moan about being shredded by his own weapons as much as he talks about how other people are affected.

As for his entire guilt trip, I think it’s a littlest bit overblown (since it was really Obadiah Stane who was responsible for the arms shipments), but hey, it’s for the plot, right? Thank goodness guilt soon turns into action, not moping and self-flagellation.

In the end, the whole angle about armaments and foreign involvement isn’t the most important thing going on in the flick. This subplot disappears as soon as we figure out that Stane is the one whose machinations are wreaking havoc. Cue the Iron Monger-versus-Iron Man throwdown! Yeah, baby! (Who cares if it’s an echo of every clanking, screeching mech warrior/guyver/Tranzor Z/Voltron/Transformers robo-rumble fight? It’s just darn cool.)

Well, that’s all, folks. I’m going home to see my family in a few days (finally!!!), and I’m sure that, once reunited, my Sibling and I will be going back to the cinemas with all our buddies too.

In general: Look for more reviews and non-academic summer silliness here in the near future!

UPDATE: The Cinema-Mad Sibling has a guest review. Enjoy:

Review: Ironman (2008)

At the behest of a sibling of mine, I was encouraged to hasten my efforts in producing a review for Ironman, as it's been quite a while since I've put forth the effort to collect my ever-scattered stream-of-consciousness thoughts into legible text., if it were ever so simple...So here we go, it's me Mario...

You know, before the trailers and stuff, I never really knew much about Tony Stark or Ironman, or the history there with Avengers, etc. So sue me, with the comic world (i.e. Stan Lee's head) being so crammed with endless characters and stories, hey you're bound to let a superhero or two slip thru the cracks. I was much more a Batman/Superman fan, with Batman Begins to me was being what a superhero origin movie done right. Would IronMan be up to the challenge?

Fortunately, yes, and it indeed exceeded my expectations greatly, and lived up to the all the reviews and the hype, 93% fresh on Rottentomatoes. Renaissance man/actor/writer/comedian/producer/director Jon Favreau put together a production that hones in on audiences want to see: a smart, funny action-filled, character-driven story that balances that all those ingredients carefully, resulting in an enjoyable 2 hours of summer movie.

A quick summary: man inherits family business that makes weapons. Discovers weapons are in the wrong hands the hard way. Uses wit to MacGyver himself from terrorist captivity by protecting himself with an iron suit made from missile scraps and busting out. Perfecting his designs and using technology to fight the enemy, destroying any of the weapons that wrongfully fell into their hands. Finds his purpose, to protect the people. Fun ensues.

Characters were all developed nicely with fun interchanges among them. Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark as the cool hero, genius child prodigy with a penchant for machinery, sarcasm, and women. His character grows from the man we see in the beginning and there is a learning curve in a matter of speaking. This hero is not endowed superpowers by the sun nor midichlorians in the bloodstream. No, he is a normal everyman who has to figure out with his wit and brain how to solve problems. He finds his destiny and embraces it.

The special effects people have outdone themselves. That suit is just bdazz. I'll take two. Cool robot action reminiscent of Transformers and Robocop pepper the movie. Though most of the fun parts were the getting there - seeing Stark's various trial and error outings with the mechanics of his would be superhero garb, seeing that it's not perfect at first, it's not all there at once. Step by step and slowly taking shape, adding realism to the whole enterprise.

I for one would see this again. I saw it twice, and took some friends that would probably have not gone to proselytize 'em. When I first told this girl, she asked is it about Triathlon? Great, this'll be fun, hehe. Well turns out she really liked it and told me so, and that she never would have gone had I not taken her. That's what a good comic book movie should be - accessible to all ages and crowds. Ironman dazzles, shines, and throws in a bit of hot rod red in this summer movie season.

Movie Review: "Iron Man 2"

Shoot to thrill.

It's not for nothing that Tony Stark's first line in "Iron Man 2" is "It's good to be back!" It's also not for nothing that he literally swoops into his scene in the Iron Man suit, steps out to reveal himself in flawless evening dress, and is surrounded by cheering, adoring crowds and alluring showgirls in mostly-not-there Iron Man-inspired outfits. This summer blockbuster is not about to waste time talking; it's going to leap right into the action. "Iron Man 2," though it has its imperfections, is a colorful splash of humor and action, and as I said in my first impression, it is the most sheer fun I've had at the movie theater so far in 2010.


The Good:

First things first: this is a sequel, so it's going to have the one big issue that all sequels have: being compared with the first film, especially one as captivating as 2008's glorious "Iron Man." The 2010 lacks some of the sparkle (for one thing, it can't ever recapture that first thrill of discovery), but it mostly makes up for it with the sheer on-screen personality of Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr., as energetic and quippy as ever).

This time around, the world knows that Stark is Iron Man, and this branches off into several subplots:
~his grappling with what kind of legacy he might leave behind
~the fact that the arc reactor in his chest is also slowly killing him with palladium poisoning
~his clash with a Senate committee (led by a fabulously slimy Garry Shandling as Senator Stern, the embodiment of everything that we hate about politicians!) wanting to confiscate Iron Man technology
~and the machinations of Stark's personal foes Justin Hammer (the always-watchable Sam Rockwell) and Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke)
~the Avengers thread with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)

There's plenty of action, though, and it's all rip-roaring fun from an insane car race in Monte Carlo to the final showdown, and it's all done with color and dash and good music (oh, AC/DC) and plenty of humor. (You'll never hear the term "Ex-Wife" again without a giggle.) Also, two words: War Machine!


The Bad (or, really, the Not Quite As Good):

The movie, as you probably guessed from the plot recap earlier, is full of plot threads and characters. It feels crowded, and it is. There's a sense of trying to do too much with too many characters (especially too many new characters), and the flick would have been better if it had been more streamlined.

I really miss Terrence Howard as James Rhodes. His replacement, Don Cheadle, is fine, but I hate unnecessary recasting of the role (it just bothers my sense of continuity), and in this case Cheadle's Rhodey doesn't have the same snappy sparkle as Howard's. With Howard in "Iron Man," you really got the sense that he was Tony's friend -- often exasperated, but always humorous and reliable. Cheadle's Rhodey mostly seemed annoyed without the affection. In the same vein, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) seems to be harsh without the charm of the first movie.


The Verdict:

Go see this movie, and be sure to stay all the way through the credits.

MM gives this movie a grade of A-. (OK, I admit a little grade inflation because of the sheer pleasure of seeing the irrepressible Stark back on the big screen. Still, when La Parisienne asked me, "Did he steal you from the Doctor?" (though I love Tony, and I could watch him all day) I had to say no. But that's not a fair comparison, really. Apples and oranges!)

The Cinema-Mad Sibling also gives his hearty approval, and so does La Parisienne.  See too this nifty little review by Kyle Smith.

"Iron Man 2" runs 124 minutes and is rated PG-13 for action-movie violence and some strong language.

RottenTomatoes gives the movie a "Fresh" rating of 74%.





Oh, all right. The male demographic in my readership has patiently (or, in the Cine-Sib's case, not so much) indulged me in my faux-salacious purring over Tony Stark. So here's a little treat for you, guys.

Movie Review: "The Incredible Hulk"

Bruce Banner ponders whether anyone qualified is offering anger management classes in the slums of Rio.

Prelude: A ton of reviews insist on comparing "The Incredible Hulk" with its fellow Marvel production,"Iron Man" (with mostly unfavorable results). If I may say so, I don't think that's really fair. These are two completely different movies with two completely different protagonists. Bruce Banner isn't Tony Stark, and it's unfair to expect him to be someone he isn't. Only Tony Stark is Tony Stark, and, really, that's the way it should be. As for me, if I walked into that cinema with the specific intention of comparing the Big Green Guy with the Shiny Flying Suit, then I might as well stay home and save my money, because everybody knows that I absolutely loved "Iron Man" and Robert Downey Jr.'s riveting performance. I frankly doubt anyone can rival that anytime soon -- except Christian Bale. BUT! I went into the theater with Cine-Sib with the intention of seeing "The Incredible Hulk" in its own context and as a movie in its own right, with Edward Norton as the leading man. My first impression was favorable, and I haven't changed my mind.

One more thing. While it's not fair to compare "The Incredible Hulk" with "Iron Man," I do think that it's perfectly legitimate to compare it with Ang Lee's previous "Hulk" film. In this case, I think the new version, directed by Louis Leterrier (of "Transporter" fame), is better -- but of course this is a matter of taste. And I prefer Hulk a la "Transporter" to Hulk a la "Crouching Tiger," OK? Maybe this means that I'm simply not interested in existential philosophy. Maybe I'm a shallow, simple-minded movie fan who wants more "Hulk Smash" and less "cogito -- or, rather-- irascor ergo Hulk." Fine. If you want the Zen of Hulk, go rent the Ang Lee version. I did watch the Lee version again after seeing the Leterrier Hulk (I'm a professional nerd, after all, and I believe in being thorough in research), and my former criticisms of that film still stand. Let's go to the full review of the 2008 reboot, shall we?

One of the most noticeable features of the Leterrier Hulk is the pacing. As in, there's plenty of it, and it's fast. After the seemingly interminable plodding of the Lee version, Leterrier's lightning fast pacing is a joy. The movie hits the ground running from the first scene, and it does not slow down. In fact, the opening sequence itself -- interspersed with the opening credits -- does in a few efficient moments what could otherwise have taken up far longer. It tells the origin story of the Hulk with a few well-chosen images of the gamma-ray accident that produces the Hulk Hyde to Banner's Dr. Jekyll, and so we begin the actual movie already in the middle of the story, with Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) hiding in the slums of Rio in Brazil as he carries his deadly secret within. The wryly humorous labeling of "days without incident" adds to the sense that Banner's problem is an ever-present sword of Damocles hovering over him; let him lose his temper just once, let his pulse race just a bit too much, and Banner the man transmogrifies into the Hulk, a beast he cannot control. And Banner's fear of this is chillingly real, as is the presentation of the consequences this had had on his life. The university-based scientist and researcher is reduced to a fugitive living as a manual laborer in a drink-bottling factory in the sketchy slums of Rio de Janeiro.

Another great feature is Leterrier's deft handling of the story. The action is always intense and, yes, sometimes ridiculous, but whether you think this is good or bad depends on your point of view (the Cine-Sib whooped with glee and shouted out, "It looks like MICHAEL BAY!" -- and he meant it as a compliment). I'm trying to avoid spoilers, but I simply must point you to a couple of outstanding sequences: the cat-and-mouse chase that has Banner running through the slums and over the rooftops of Rio (this reminded me of Jason Bourne) and also the first sequence in which the Hulk appears. Leterrier treats it almost like a scene from a horror flick and shows the audience how not seeing a monster can be even more terrifying than seeing one. I'll add one more note: the subtle inclusion of a bit of humor along the way that helps lift the film from the relentless gloom (a quip about the New York City subway made me giggle out loud -- oh, I've been on that subway!). Somehow the film manages to touch on the deeper issues of Banner's existential problems without making too ham-fisted an effort of it and without belaboring all the fun and action out of the movie.

I have to give kudos to Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. Within the first few minutes of the film, he managed to do what Eric Bana could not in two hours: Norton made me care about his character -- really, actually care. Norton didn't seem to me at first to be an obvious choice to play the tormented scientist; I'd seen him previously only in rather creepy roles in "Fight Club" and "The Italian Job," but there is a quality about him that he draws from and turns into a viable, believable Banner. Norton's not a flashy actor, not an actor whom one associates with lively energy. His is an understated ability to ponder on-screen, to hint and then plumb real depths. He gives the sense that there is more than meets the eye. With Norton, silence can speak volumes, and he proves that the axiom of "still waters run deep" can translate into nuanced character performances. I'd never been much of a Norton fan, per se; I always thought his rather thin, reedy voice was unimpressive -- but here in this film, it works perfectly in his embodiment of Banner the scientist. I couldn't help feeling for Banner the human being; despite his super-strong Hulk persona -- indeed because of that persona -- Banner the man is terribly vulnerable and ultimately alone (and long-time Hulk fans will appreciate the haunting reprise of a certain musical theme here). Beyond that, though, the quietly magnetic Norton deals with complexities that would easily defeat a lesser actor, but Norton is able to command everything from tormented love, indefatigable determination, heart-dissolving fear, and a tough, enduring courage that ennobles the man.

An aside here: I think finally a few filmmakers have grasped the idea that casting actual actors in superhero movies makes better superhero movies overall (well, DUH). The casting of proven, talented, chameleon-like character actors like Christian Bale (Batman), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), and now Edward Norton (the Hulk) have all been creative decisions that helped elevate the films from camp morass to a level of good, even great entertainment. I want more of this -- a lot more. Listen up, moviemakers!

Norton's performance is key, and it is the standout in a cast that is -- to be honest -- desultory. Other characters of varying quality include Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, the love interest who hasn't much to do here (but still more than her Jennifer Connelly doppelganger), William Hurt as Betty's estranged father, the general who is out to capture the Hulk, and Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, the creepily violent military uniform who eventually turns into the Abomination. The Sibling and I agree too that the Hulk persona, aka the Big Green Guy, is drawn with a slightly lighter touch here. Yes, he's still a leaf-colored embodiment of the id gone wild, but this Hulk is able to speak . . . and even able to hint at a personality and life within the monstrosity. This Hulk is capable of speech. OK, well, one word, but it's a word that hints at a soul inside. And all this for me is a far superior presentation of the problematic humanity of the Hulk/Banner.

Other good points: the extensive series of nods and homages to the comic book universe and its fans. There's an amusing note about stretchy purple shorts that made the Cine-Sib laugh. The cameos especially were a nice touch. There's even a cameo by the Banner/Hulk of TV fame, Bill Bixby. But wait, you say, Bixby's dead. Oh, but gentle viewer, you should know that being dead is no reason not to have a Hollywood movie cameo! The Lou Ferrigno cameo was fantastic, and made the Cine-Sib cheer. As for the most anticipated cameo of all, I won't be spoiling it for you because the cat is long out of the bag and everybody knows now: Downey appears as Tony Stark at the end of the movie. (Sharp-eyed viewers will notice the appearance of weapons stamped with the Stark Industries name at the beginning of the film -- a nice bookending effect.) This cameo was a great bit, but it might have actually been harmful to the movie it was meant to support. I mean, honestly, after watching Stark saunter into the frame with the grace of a jungle cat in a designer suit, flashing his devilish grin and oozing his signature charisma, the first thing I thought was, "I just gotta go see 'Iron Man' again!" I didn't want to see him leave the scene. (I guess I'm a fickle movie fan. Here I am, telling you how good Norton is, but show me Downey's Stark, and I start purring about him instead. Oh, tsk tsk tsk and shame on me.)

"The Incredible Hulk" does have its problems, no doubt. While the Hulk himself is a better product of CGI animation than his predecessor, the CGI rendition of the Abomination looked . . . well, artificial, like a Halloween funhouse prop. To me he looked more silly than scary, frankly. The final monster mash between the Hulk and the Abominable is your basic action smackdown between two huge figures, but hey, even so, at the end of the musclebound mayhem, there's a moment that makes you wonder -- how much humanity is in the Hulk? More than you thought?

One practical matter that bothered me: how did Banner get from the jungles of Guatemala to the college campus where his former colleague and object of affection Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) is?

Also, one major idea of the film centers on human relationships. I was endlessly grateful that this flick didn't have the overwrought father-issues of the previous one, but I think it strayed a bit in the other direction. I thought the relationship between Betty Ross and her father could have been better done with just a few lines more here and there. As it stood, it seemed a bit flat to me; perhaps too much had been left on the cutting room floor in favor of the quite good interaction between Bruce and Betty (well, given the limited parameters of Liv Tyler's scripted role as Betty).

In the end? "The Incredible Hulk" may not be quite incredible, and it's not up to the excellence of "Batman Begins" or "Iron Man," but it's certainly a good, solid movie that provides a worthy addition to Marvel's new universe. If Iron Man is the handsome, flamboyant troublemaker in this comic book family, then the Hulk is the quiet, rather bookish, thoughtful one. To each his (or her) own. The Marvel cinema universe is off to a great beginning with its one-two punch combination of these hero flicks.

"The Incredible Hulk" runs for 114 minutes and is rated PG-13 for partial nudity, a brief almost-love scene, some frightening images, and animated violence.

Mad Minerva gives this movie a grade of a solid B for entertainment, actual acting by Norton, and good directing by Louis Leterrier. Yes, I would happily pay to see it again, too -- and probably will. (And this is something I never said -- nor will say -- about the Ang Lee version.)

RottenTomatoes gives "The Incredible Hulk" a fresh rating of 68%.

This is the official website for the film.

Nerd Notes:

The entire movie resonates on a nerd level that's both incredibly moving and yet utterly different from the rock-and roll spirit and total tech-gasms of "Iron Man." Here the human element reigns supreme in the plight of Bruce Banner, a science geek who has to face situations for which he never planned -- and against which he has only his willpower, intelligence, and courage.

Also . . . Frankly, I found it extremely cathartic (oh, grad school frustrations) to see the Hulk and Blonsky's men tear up an entire college campus with fireballs, heavy weaponry, and things that go "boom." Take THAT, administration building!

UPDATE: The Sibling reviews the film here.

Movie Review: "Iron Man"

I raved about this movie right when I saw it, and I haven't changed my mind as I post a full-length movie review! (This review is especially for the Cinema-Mad Sibling. Thanks for taking me to see the movie.)

I hope you’re thirsty, movie fans. “Iron Man” is a huge fresh keg of adrenaline, testosterone, and sheer summer blockbuster movie fun in all its vivid, bombastic glory. More to the point, Robert Downey, Jr. taps this keg with a sledge hammer, wielded with a grin and a wink. Drink up! CHEERS! *Cue here too the excellent soundtrack, thumping and rocking with everything from AC/DC to Black Sabbath. I actually have “Driving With The Top Down” playing as I type.*

Currently the #1 movie in the country, it is quite possibly the best movie of this summer. All subsequent summer flicks have a tough act to follow. If you have been disappointed by the movies so far this year, and if you were disappointed with last summer’s sequel-filled and mostly lackluster movie season, “Iron Man” is a reason to celebrate with loud raucous abandon. And add this note for the bean-counters: You can celebrate too, guys: since its May 2 release, “Iron Man” has been an absolute money magnet, already pulling in nearly $200 million in the US alone as moviegoers flock to the theaters. Of that, about $25 is from the Sibling and me, and we are assuredly going to add more, since we’re determined both to see it again AND bring friends to the party AND get the DVD.

The star of the show (in all manner of ways) is the extraordinary Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead role of Tony Stark, the technological genius, colorful and fast-living playboy, and billionaire weapons tycoon who becomes the titular hero, Iron Man. Frankly, I had my doubts about Downey’s ability to pull off this role. All I could associate with him were rather misty roles as Charlie Chaplin in 1992’s “Chaplin” and as a 17^th-century noble in the arty period film “Restoration” (1995). Add to all this the long parade of degrading tabloid fodder of Downey’s real-life personal struggles with drugs, self-destructive behavior, and time in jail, and I wasn’t convinced this apparently washed-up, battered soul of 43 years had recovered to be superhero material. I have never been so happy to be so wrong about a casting decision.

My kudos to the fine folks who cast Downey. “Iron Man” not only relaunches his career; it hurls that career straight into the stratosphere. He is absolutely perfect for the role, and his performance alone is worth the price of admission. The man can ACT, and he portrays Stark with a mix of witty intelligence, sheer guts, swaggering bravado, frothy insouciance, sardonic humor, towering confidence, and even glimpses of vulnerability that makes Stark a human as well as a hero. You can’t help but cheer for him and forgive his shortcomings and peccadilloes (of which he has plenty). The danger in playing Stark is that an actor may make the character too glib, too slick, too offensively self-centered, too much of an arrogant jerk. Downey made him both real with flaws yet believably super-heroic as a lovable rogue. Iron Man is the awesome butt-kicking robot suit; Stark is the human being within. (Hm, there’s probably a metaphor in that somewhere about technology and humanity, but I’m not on campus and refuse to think deeply!)

(And a note. This is girl talk, so if you guys don’t care to read, you can skip to the next paragraph. I can’t help myself; I have to say it. I am vastly relieved and delighted that the lead in this film is an unapologetic grown man. FINALLY, a grown man – an adult who has some depth and substance to him! Really. Downey, Jr. is not like the endless hordes of effete young pretty-boys who swarm over the cinema screens like a plague of plastic Ken dolls run amok. Thank goodness Orlando Bloom isn’t anywhere near this movie! I don’t care if pretty boys are fashionable. I don’t want one. Be honest, girls: Aren’t you even a little tired of watching sniveling twentysomething-year-old boys preen, pose, and prance around? If I compare them all to cotton candy, pretty but inconsequential and ultimately empty, then Downey, Jr., older, in the prime of life, and bursting with a raw and slightly dangerous energy, was like a gorgeous steak kissed by the open flame. Save room for dessert, though – that’ll probably be Christian Bale as Batman in the upcoming “The Dark Knight,” but I’m getting ahead of myself here.)

A quick plot summary is in order. “Iron Man” is based on the comic book hero of the same name. Don’t worry if you know nothing about the comic books (I didn’t either); the film unfolds its story and leaves nobody behind. Stark, while in Afghanistan to demonstrate a new weapons system to the U.S. military, is wounded in a bomb blast and captured by cave-dwelling Afghan terrorists. (By the way, was I the only person surprised that this film dares to do what most films now won’t do – and depict terrorists as actual bad guys?) His captors demand that he build a weapon for them; he agrees, but while constructing a device to keep shrapnel from entering his heart and killing him, he also builds a crude but effective robotic suit for himself. In fine fashion he administers a gigantic butt-kicking to his tormentors and escapes into the desert, eventually to be rescued by the US military. Along the way, he makes the grim discovery that somehow stockpiles of Stark-manufactured weapons are in the possession of the bad guys. Once back in the States, he builds a second, more advanced flying robotic suit (a process that includes several amusing complications along the way), and turns himself into a weapon. More on this in a minute.

Aside from Downey, Jr., the supporting cast is also solid. Gwyneth Paltrow, returning to the movies after some time off being a mom, is cute and effective as Stark’s assistant Pepper Potts. Terrence Howard has a lovely turn as Stark’s faithful (and often exasperated) friend, Lt. Col. James Rhodes. He also has a few of the best lines in the film, delivered with a lightly humorous touch.

I’ve mostly raved about the film so far. Does it have flaws? Well, all films do. “Iron Man” has a few little things that I can point out, though these are all minor things.

One: The first hour of the movie is nearly perfect (one of its many memorable lines is simply “My turn.” If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. My fellow moviegoers were yelling their delight at this one!). The second half comes up a bit short in comparison, but only in places. My problem isn’t really about the actual plot as much as it’s about character motivation. After escaping from his Afghan captivity and returning to the US, Stark calls a press conference and announces that he will no longer manufacture weapons. He’s horrified to find that some of his armaments have ended up in the hands of America’s enemies, and he now decides that the way to stop this continuing is to stop making weapons at all. Well, OK. That’s one approach. It’s also the wrong one. Seriously, what’s to stop the bad guys from getting weapons from some place else? Meanwhile, you’ve deprived the good guys (i.e, us) of advanced weapons. How’s disarmament supposed to defend us? What you ought to do is figure out how the weapons are leaking to the enemy and stop that. And as things turn out, Stark -- and we -- eventually discover that Stark’s own corporate partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges, who doesn’t quite give enough of a villain performance) is behind these dirty dealings . . . and also determined to get rid of Stark. Cue the nemesis and the ultimate smackdown. (Anyway, on this point Stark was better in his pre-captivity days when he was boldly in favor of peace through strength. Libertas has a few related thoughts as well, so I’ll link to his comments and spare you more of my babbling.)

Two: (Spoiler Alert, so skip this paragraph if you won’t want to hear some details about the final action sequence.) In the final climactic showdown between Iron Man and Stane (all kitted out now in his own robotic suit), I didn’t like the fact that the resolution came with Pepper Potts pushing a button. I mean, REALLY. We see two huge metal hulks engaged in scene-ripping mortal combat, and then the end comes with a mere BUTTON? OK, so it was a button pressed by Pepper’s immaculately manicured finger, but still! It was such an anticlimax. I wanted to see Iron Man personally turning his foe into scrap metal.

Three: There is no way that Gwyneth Paltrow can run for her life while wearing those cute ankle-strap high heels she had on. She’d either break a heel or twist her ankle. It’s just that simple. OK, OK, this third complaint is a joke – well, mostly. YOU try running in these heels, pal.

In the end, what about “Iron Man”? This is not a subtle movie. This is not an understated movie. It is not a movie that concerns itself with morally ambiguous nuances, existential questions, social issues, or political hand-wringing. There is a time and place for all that, but this is neither the time nor the place. This is summer! “Iron Man” is about unabashedly enjoying the movies at last after a wearyingly long stretch of cinema gloom and doom – and it’s about embracing the essence of the summer blockbuster. Look, sometimes I just want to turn off my brain and watch a cool guy put on an awesome robot-suit, make wisecracks, blow stuff up, and save the day. Is that really too much to ask for? It’s all-American action fun, and “Iron Man” delivers like Fed Ex. Pass the popcorn!

“Iron Man” runs for 126 minutes and is rated PG-13 for action sequences, a very brief love scene, and some suggestive language.

Mad Minerva gives this movie a grade of A for sheer fun and summer movie eye-candy.

Yes, an A! MM almost never gives As, so pay attention when she does! (Admittedly, this happened after an intense cellphone argument with the Cinema-Mad Sibling, who argued passionately on behalf of the film . . . and I was so happy to be done with school and so relieved to get a decent movie at last that I was feeling extra generous! Apparently I’m not the only one, because . . .)

RottenTomatoes gives “Iron Man” the astonishingly high rating of 93% (!)

This is the official website for the film.

PS: A Nerd Note: In one scene, Stark and a hostile reporter carry on a conversation that calls out two elite universities by name and slams them for their famous leftist tendencies – a scene that absolutely made me laugh out loud.

What are you still doing here? Get out there and go see “Iron Man”! (And be sure not to leave until ALL the credits are over. There is a cool little surprise at the end of the credits.)

UPDATE: Follow-up comments and a second look here.

It's a Date with Tony Stark: "Iron Man" DVD Release Date is September 30

Dirty Harry has the news: "Iron Man" will be out on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 30. And you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon.

I am so *THERE.* September 30: it's a date, Tony Stark!

And I will be watching endless iterations of that glorious, geek-tastic scene when Stark learns to fly in his garage. Endless iterations.

(Goodness knows I need something to look forward to, since September is that dreaded time of year for students and teachers alike: the start of another semester!)

The Cinema-Mad Sibling Recommends: New Hulk Trailer Features Tony Stark

The Cine-Sib just appeared in a state of delight and pulled this up on the computer. What was it? There is only one word for this where the fans are concerned. Here it is, and it's PG-13. "Nerdgasm."

You've heard by now that the character of Tony Stark will make a cameo appearance in the new Incredible Hulk movie opening next week. Well . . . Get ready for comic book nirvana as the Marvel cinema universe takes shape across films.

Behold!

Movie Madness: Tony Stark Suits Up

Lately there's been eye candy for the guys here (i.e., Zoe Saldana and Heidi Klum in full Trek glory), but it's time for the ladies.

So for La Parisienne in particular -- and for your humble blog hostess too -- I post this fresh photo from the set of "Iron Man 2." It's Robert Downey Jr. taking a break but still oozing that unmistakable, devilish, Tony Stark charm. But is it worth purring over? Hm. Well, it's cooler in terms of sheer attitude than the first photo from the set...

Clothes do make the man.

Movie Review Preview: "Iron Man 2"

I promise I'll post my delayed review of "Iron Man 2" soon! Suffice it to say for now that it is the most fun movie I've seen so far in 2010, and Tony Stark's first line in the film is -- oh so appropriately -- "It's good to be back!"

Oh, Tony. How I've missed you!

As a hint of the review to come, I give you this delightful image from the movie. It captures rather well Stark's sassy yet charismatic insouciance! The shades, the hair, the suit, the doughnuts ... You're a man after my own heart, Tony.

Mmmmm . . . DOUGHNUTS.

Geek Fun: My Little Pony + Iron Man = ?

My Little Pony +Iron Man = PONY STARK, of course!

Via io9, here is something that's even more adorable than the actual Tony Stark. (La Parisienne and Alessandra, this one's for you.)


Pony Stark by ~trillions on deviantART

The Cinema-Mad Sibling Recommends: Movie Madness -- The New "Iron Man 2" Official Trailer!

WATCH IT NOW! Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200. Tony Stark is back!

Link xie-xie to the Cine-Sib, who emailed to me with great excitement this morning. La Parisienne, this is especially for you.

Oh, check out the Pepper Potts kiss (it's not what you might think!), and here's a great quote from the trailer, from Tony to a slimy Congressman wanting to confiscate the Iron Man suit: "You want my property? You can't have it!"

I think I'm in love. Very libertarian love. *hugs the Fourth Amendment since can't hug Tony*

UPDATE: Analyzing the trailer!

Movie Madness: Notes on Lunar Industries and Stark Industries

The cat's out of the bag: in an interview with Cinematical, Sam Rockwell says that his character from "Moon" will be back for a cameo in director Duncan Jones' next film. Yay!

Bonus: The interview was primarily about "Iron Man 2." More yay!

In recent movie-going, Sam Bell and Tony Stark have been two of the most fascinating characters (albeit for very different reasons). Anyway, "Iron Man 2" should be completely awesome with the combined talents of Rockwell and Downey (not to mention Don Cheadle), all of whom will be busy stealing scenes from each other. Scarlett who?

Movie Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The IT Crowd.

I'll say this for the movie poster: It really was a WYSIWYG ad for the flick itself.  Think the poster is confusing and crowded?  So's the movie.  Avengers: Age of Ultron suffers from the Spider-Man 3 syndrome of shoehorning far too many characters old and new into the story, but unlike the disgraceful Spider-Man 3, the sequel to 2012's luminous and practically perfect Avengers is still worth watching.  I don't envy director Joss "God of the Nerds" Whedon his massive task in creating and then offering this follow-up to the same audiences that had adored Avengers.  The pressure to produce a worthy sequel must have been absolutely unimaginable, and I'm not going to complain (too much) that the movie cracks a little under that pressure, especially when I know that the studio's demands must have pushed Whedon's own creative liberty into a corner.  This brings up a host of other issues of various grades of nitpickery, but the short version of my review is this: flawed but still fun, Avengers: Age of Ultron kicks off the 2015 summer movie season in fine style ... and it's almost a certainty that I'll go see it again.  The Cinema-Mad Sibling thought Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) was a better follow-up film to the first Captain America (2011) than Age of Ultron is to Avengers.  Well, he's not wrong.

OK, I'm going to try to talk about the movie without spoiling it for everyone who hasn't it yet. (Once you have seen it, you can take a look at this and join the debate. All I'm going to say now is that Marvel should be careful.  Really, really careful.)  Three complaints, and then a few observations and one unqualified hoorah.

One: The crowding issue.  Yes, I get that Marvel wants to bring all the Avengers back together and give them a new adversary to fight.  I get that.  I also get that Marvel wants to introduce a few new characters.  The problem is that we end up with not enough time with any of the characters old OR new for character development.  This is compounded by the cameo appearances of a zillion other characters who have no real role in this movie but who show up anyway because they point you to other Marvel projects.  UGH.

Two: Joss apparently did not have the narrative room to BE JOSS.  The movie is so stuffed with characters and occurrences that it doesn't have nearly enough time for it, and by that I mean time for him to give us the witty banter and bickering that he's so good at ... and that is so good at character development.  Joss is really good at people standing around and talking ... arguing ... flirting ... hassling ... The witty retort, the sly verbal jab, the underplayed humor.  For a lot of Avengers: Age of Ultron, I couldn't even tell that it was a Joss Whedon movie.  That's not to say that the movie itself as spectacle wasn't entertaining.  I was entertained ... but it felt a little hollow because it didn't feel like Joss's project.

Three: Ultron was a missed opportunity for a couple of reasons.  One is that we really could have done more with Tony Stark and, to a lesser degree, Bruce Banner.  They were the ones who gave rise to Ultron, and I didn't think the movie did nearly enough with the emotional fallout of it.  There should have been.  There should have been TONS OF IT.  That would have been character development and a real meditation on how even the best-laid plans of well-meaning superhero science bros gang aft agley ... because that has some serious real world resonances in terms of tech and artificial intelligence getting out of hand and of protective measures that become themselves perils.  Road to hell, good intentions, anyone?  While we're at it, Ultron is voiced by none other than James Spader himself, an actor who has elevated smug superiority to a veritable art form, and we could have done so much more with that.

A few observations:

•  Give us a Black Widow movie, and the fans will stampede to see it!  Shoot, even give us a backstory movie called Budapest based on one throwaway line from Avengers, and we will rush to get in line!
• There's a lot going on in the movie, but if I'm going to be honest, I'll tell you that the party scene at Tony's is probably my favorite scene because it wasn't jammed full of CGI and special effects and whatever else: it's mostly about people being people.
• Let me save you some time: There's a bonus scene in the middle of the credits but not one at the very end.  
• If we hadn't already in previous movies grown to like and care about the individual Avengers as people, we wouldn't give a hoot about any of them in this movie.  That's not a compliment.  Losing sight of characters' humanity is a mortal sin that no amount of mammoth special effects wizardry can undo.  If we the audience don't care about the people, then we'll have no emotional stake in what happens to them. 

The unqualified hoorah: Paul Bettany is back on screen!   Here's the story behind that.  To be honest, I've had a soft spot for Bettany ever since he played Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (and he's terrific opposite Russell Crowe in Master and Commander).  As much as I love him being the elegantly starchy voice of JARVIS, I'm frankly delighted to see him on screen again.  Yes, I know he's been in some stinkers (*cough* Da Vinci Code! *cough*), but, hey, who hasn't?

Mad Minerva gives Avengers: Age of Ultron a grade of B+. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron runs 141 minutes and is rated PG-13 for various action sequences, a bit of language, and some suggestive comments.

Rotten Tomatoes gives Avengers: Age of Ultron the Fresh rating of 74%.

Next up: I'm seeing the much-ballyhooed Mad Max: Fury Road. (Updated: Now online!)

Movie Review: "Captain America: The First Avenger"

The Star-Spangled Man with a Plan!

In a summer full of comic book hero flicks ranging from the excellent ("X-Men: First Class") to the good ("Thor") to the laughably bad ("Green Lantern"), here's finally a rip-roaring flick with all the colorful comic book fun and adventure that we've all been waiting for.  Marvel's "Captain America" delivers the summer popcorn movie pleasure with panache, unironic good guys-versus-bad guys action, an excellent supporting cast, and a surprisingly charming retro 1940s vibe complete with a splashy song-and-dance number and newsreel homages.  It's Marvel's best comic book superhero movie since 2008's scintillating "Iron Man," and like that predecessor, this movie is, in terms of its hero, almost as much of a delightful revelation, and in terms of some underlying ideas just as ultimately substantive once the rollicking adventure is over.

Movie Madness: "Iron Man 2" in IMAX

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

Now I want credit for mashing up Jane Austen with Tony Stark.

Screw It, I'm Going To See "Iron Man 3" With My Peeps

See you later, darlings!  How I loooooove Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. 

Movie Madness: "Iron Man 3" Trailer

Enough political pundits.  More Tony Stark, please.

 

Movie Madness: Wolverine Premieres, but MM's Arc Reactor Heart Is Elsewhere

It's May 1, movie mavens, so -- FINALLY -- the summer movie season is officially here! Now we have something to talk about besides swine flu, foreign policy flops, and our own imminent economic apocalypse! YAY!

The new X-Men movie premieres today, but the reviews are mixed. Even the Cinema-Mad Sibling isn't excited, and I can't seem to find enough motivation to go out and spend $10 for the thing. Is anyone else excited about Wolverine? (I mean, besides one very enthusiastic fellow from the New York Post?)

Yes, you read that right -- not even the Cine-Sib is excited. (His heart is elsewhere -- he's longing for the "Star Trek" reboot and "Transformers 2." Oh, I'll happily, eagerly throw down $10 for each of those. "Star Trek," by the way, premieres on May 7! Giant alien robots arrive on June 24.)

Then I check my email and find a little gift from the Sibling. Oh, just a reminder about where my superhero preferences really lie. Here is the first official still photo from -- yes, kids! -- "Iron Man 2." Oh, yeah. Give me a playful, quippy Tony Stark (with lots of tech toys) over a scowly, growly Wolverine (with the adamantine manicure issue) any day. Sure, they're both bad boys, but one is actually fun. And Robert Downey Jr. is that good in the role.

La Parisienne, let me share the eye candy both human and technological (note the different stages in developing the Iron Man suit!):

Back in black.

Mmmm, yeah! Better than coffee on this rainy, windy, chilly un-summery morning!

Thanks, Cine-Sib! Next time we're at the cinema together, I'll pay for your ticket -- and maybe even the popcorn to express my appreciation.

Movie Madness: Looking Forward to 2010

From blogfriend Pursuit of Serenity comes this preview of 20 upcoming flicks! I do love movie previews, beginning with the return of Tony Stark. Ridley Scott's Robin might be nice too -- Russell Crowe! -- and of course ever-reliable Pixar is making "Toy Story 3."

Movie Madness: Obsessing About "Iron Man 2"

May 7 CANNOT GET HERE SOON ENOUGH. Everyone here at Nerdworld, from faculty to grad peons to undergrads, is burnt out and exhausted. It's raining horrible cold rain today too. Will the end of term never come? Maybe not, but at least we all have the imminent return of Tony Stark to look forward to.

So here you go, my darlings, a new photo from the flick. Oh, and I want Pepper's dress. Wouldn't it look just fabulous at my next Nerdmoot?