Iron Man 2: Review By Lock and Stock

Tony is back and packing punches harder than ever. I think when audiences caught a glimpse at the armour back in 2008, it changed the idea of how technology could be integrated in film (within the film, of course). He wasn't a hero who made a costume out of latex and unused army supplies and decided to train for it or a guy who got powers from a radioactive gamma infection. This was a guy who decided, using his vast knowledge of robotics and energies to build an armoured suit/costume to fight off the many evils out there. All this, worked and proved that the superhero genre was still alive. The film made good bank of 98 million dollars in opening weekend, considering he was a relatively unknown property to the public. Like many action films out there, when they make a good box office run, a sequel is ready for the world.

Now, as a comic fan, I wasn't so familiar with Iron Man comics in general (kill me fanboys). However, I read The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch and how could anyone forget the major event that was Civil War by Millar and Steve McNiven. MAJOR for us geeks means BIG IMPORTANT STUFF THAT KILLS OFF OUR FAVOURITE CHARACTERS AND STUFF EXPLODES, for those of you who aren't into comics and stuff. Nevertheless, these served as excellent reads and gave me a modernised insight on what should have or could Tony Stark and Iron Man become if they were real. Luckily Iron Man:The Movie is based off these stories. Now, like I said, I was completely unaware of the Iron Man universe before Millar and the gang took over, I didn't know who the hell was in his rogues gallery and who the hell made him grind his teeth and piss him off. I was aware of The Mandarin, but then again who isn't. Sorry for the geek tirade.

Now back to the film. Was it worth the wait? Did people really have to blog the hell out of it? Does it make it a better film just because we get to see Scarlett Johansson in a cat suit tighter than tight? What about two Iron armour suits, isn't that a geek dream or just an action film goers? Well here goes the beat down.

First off, why so many villains? I was quite shocked as casting went on. When Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell were placed in the villain roles I began to think to myself if this movie was heading the Spider-Man 3 way. Too many cooks in the kitchen syndrome, I always call it. Not to mention the replacement of Jim Rhodes by Don Cheadle, it could work in The Dark Knight with Maggie Gyllenhaal, now maybe not with Jim.

Well, Robert Downey Jr returns as Tony Stark and Iron Man and what can I say? He does it better than ever, perhaps it was the reason that there was actually a script written for the actors to read off and understand. We also have the return of Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, she may have a dreary role that doesn't hold much water, but still serves as Tony's heart and that's always important. Of course we have the returning cast members of Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson and Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. These two serve as the fillings in the wall and make the story easier for the guy who tends to snore in the theatre and constantly offs himself to the toilet, understand. Now, let's talk about the villains. Mickey Rourke plays the role of Ivan Vanko, a man with a dark past and personal agenda with the Stark family. Sam Rockwell is perhaps the most enjoyable character of the film, I have to say the man is a talent, he knows how to make the audience directly hate him but at the same time just love him, he plays the role of Justin Hammer a rival of Starks. Rourke doesn't make us believe that he is actually in the part. Now, I won't say that he is terrible as one, but I will say that he is one that may be forgotten easier than most. Jon Favreau returns as the man behind the camera and has a slightly bigger (but important) role as Happy Hogan, one that I think the director might have tossed in himself. Jon's done an excellent job directing the films, unlike most directors in the business; Jon actually knows what the fans want to see and how to see it. He also integrates the elements of his comedy background with the hype and intensity of the comic book and source material it is based off. Scarlett Johansson is a beautiful seductress that is sub consciously aware of her actions but however doesn't realise physically that she is interrupting the relationship that Tony has with Pepper. The tight outfit she wears is nothing but eye candy of sorts and will make any man want to just jump in there, she hardly says anything and this may be a problem to her already growing career as an actress and might block her true potential. Aside everything, people may be a tad disappointed to know that Terrence Howard will not return as Jim Rhodes and War Machine. I was not affected by it in any way, though I still miss him deep down, I think that we forget about the last film as a whole because of the bigger scale that this one offers, so realistically I from now on see Don Cheadle as Jim Rhodes. There are plenty of cameos in this one from Stan Lee as Larry King, Olivia Munn as a reporter and an appearance of the late DJ AM as well....a DJ. Not to mention a brief role from a funny man Garry Shandling as Senator Stern, a man trying to put the Iron Man armour away. Don't forget John Slattery as Tony's tough dad.

The film's story is quite simple and is almost like many other superheroic actions on the scene right now, but has a few different elements. The film sees Tony becoming victim of a blood toxicity infection from the chest plate keeping him alive. To make it worse Tony has to deal with the US Government trying to obtain his suits as state weaponry; this is then worsened when a Russian villain Ivan Vanko wishes to obliterate Tony Stark for his father's actions resulting in the death of his own father. As things get cramped up, Justin Hammer a weapons developer decides to use Ivan as a tool for creating a new batch of Iron Man armour drones that are supposed to be self controlled. Thus calling them....Hammer Drones. Throughout the film we see Tony Stark fall in a manner that slightly resembles the Demon In A Bottle story arcs, but still isn't exactly, we notice his alcoholism is really worsening than we saw towards the end of the first film. This even results in a slight battle between Jim Rhodes as War Machine and Tony Stark as Iron Man in Tony's home whilst a ballad of rock tunes is blared. We also have the sexy heat build up between Black Widow somehow interweaving in the love that Tony Stark and Pepper have. In the end, all your expectations are met. They weren't that many surprises and I was expecting maybe to see the character of Justin Hammer fully transform into a suited baddy. It turns out to be a true good versus evil telling of a story, it also looks at one man gaining a problem, solving it and saving all. Not much after that.

Justin Theroux supplies us with an excellent screenplay, mind you that this marks the first time in Iron Man film history that they have had an actual writer brought on board. Theroux has had an experience with political motions growing up in Washington and may have incorporated these elements into the script that made the film what is was.

Matthew Libatique makes a perfect cinematographer offering some mighty shots throughout the film. Lookout for his angle on the aftermath of the Iron Man versus War Machine battle where we realise how much of a drunken and wrongful man Tony is. The sound of the music may not be as iconic as previous superhero films but does well enough to give you the jitters. Among other things, there are a lot of rock n roll and dance references to bands and performers such as AC DC, Queen, Tupac and Daft Punk.

Iron Man 2 is a unique blend of humour and action that many comic book adaptions seem to be neglecting. The effects are made better, it being a massive sequel to a fan growing franchise it may only get more massive. Still, there is a downside to the whole thing. Too many villains and super Hammer drones may mess up the base of the film and the possible political and social message the film is trying to reach out to us. There's a lot going on in this one and this may affect those whom are sensitive to the giant lights of explosions and quick electrical lashes. It may not have the special flare that the first one had.

The film is slowly setting us up to the Avengers project. That may be massive when it does smash through. So until then let's just keep our fingers crossed that Thor, Captain America and Black Widow can also lead up nicely.

Iron Man 2, amidst the action extravaganza and super comical humour earns a decent 3/5 stars.

3/5.

PS. Stay in for the end credits as we get to see another Avengers set up, this time for T****H***beep**O***R.

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