1. Watchlist: Iron Man 2

    Iron Man 2 (2010)
    Directed by John Favreau
    Watched 5/5/2010 (Advance Screening) - 1st Viewing

    The first Iron Man film was an unexpected surprise to most movie-goers, even those few that were intimately familiar with the 2nd string Marvel comic book character. It was fast-paced, had great special effects, and maintained a slick style visually and in the edit room. It was also, most importantly, charming - due to the career-saving performance of Robert Downey Jr. as the man in the iron suit.

    The second film in the series plays up all of the above elements, ad nauseum, as if the string-pullers (the aforementioned RDJ and director Jon Favreau) were a little too afraid to really push the boundaries of the first film in any way what-so-ever. The sequel is slick, don’t get me wrong, and hits all the same checkboxes that made the first film such a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of progression going on here, visually or thematically.

    But it’s a comic book movie right? Sure, I guess. But box-checking a prior success does not a great film make. But does it make an entertaining film? I guess on that note, sure again. You won’t be bored watching the film, but you also won’t walk away from it feeling like you have watched anything new.

    Unless you count that room-clearing back-mounted circular laser weapon… that was freakin’ awesome.

    Full review on the next episode of The RotCast!

  2. Iron Man 2 Reviewed: Pick Your Poison

    The first two Iron Man 2 reviews are in, and they are mixed, to say the least. Go in peace, and tread lightly…